FPF Cup Tier 1 Preview

Summer is hanging on for dear life, and autumn is unfortunately around the corner. What that means is the CFL is near the home stretch before the playoffs, college, university, as well as the NFL are back, and so is the latest FlagPlus Football season. Welcome to the 2023 FFPF Cup!

For those of you unfamiliar with how this works, for the Men’s Division, teams are broken down into four tiers. For the Co-Ed Division there are two, and for the Women’s Division there is one.

I am responsible for writing for the men’s Tier 1 division. I can’t lie, I have only played one season of the FPF Cup, the very first one. I liked the idea when it was launched, but I thought that the scheduling wasn’t great, and playing a Div 1/A team one week, then playing a Div. 4/D team the next, didn’t equate to success or finding out how good my team really was. We weren’t.

I also found that because nearly a quarter of the league was either playing or coaching college and university ball, the competition was watered down a bit. Obviously, things have changed since 2017. The schedule is more balanced, and this season alone, we have seen our highest numbers of team registration in every division, which speaks to the popularity of the sport and specifically our league. It also raises the level of talent.

The FPF Cup and the rating system mean that the top division is full of teams. This year we have 11 teams vying for the right to be called champions. Let’s look at each squad, starting with last year’s Tier 1 champs.

Tier 1

Cap Friendly Braves

First off, I love the name. While the man Leo Gervais calls the Bus Driver in Georges Gariépy doesn’t appear to be a member of the team, adding James Drysdale, as his potential replacement isn’t a huge drop-off. Just like the former, the latter is one of the best two-way players in the game.

Speaking of dual threats, the addition of Kristopher Verreault is a huge add, as he made plays on both sides of the ball for the Northern Braves in Co-Ed 1 during the Winter Season. Regulars include the dynamic dual and core of the team in Jonathan Maheu and Mike Pierrecin, to go along with the dangerous trio of William, Trottier, Phil Pharand, and Emile Chateauvert.

Is this version of the Braves as deep as last year’s team? No, but they have the talent to not only defend their crown, or in this cause Bowl, but to go all the way again.

Prediction: (7-1)

Terror Squad 

As expected, FPF Hall-of-Famer Tam Vilaydeth has once again put together a solid team that should be in championship contention. With playmakers like David Centomo, Jean-François Marquis, Laurence-Olivier Viens, Raphael Dagenais among others, this squad can mix and match players at various spots due to their versatility, while also having the ability to win matchups on both sides of the ball.

The team’s schedule is tough to start, as they take on Blessed, #NR, and Cap Friendly Braves in the first three weeks. How this team fares in those contests will speak a lot to how much of a contender this squad really is.

Prediction: (5-3)

#NR

After a rough Spring Season, this team is back and retooled, as they added some serious firepower in Jaylan Grandison and Julian McLaren-Thompson. Both bring speed and length on both sides of the ball, while the latter adds the attribute of being one of the league’s best Rushers of all-time. Even without that duo, size isn’t a problem for this squad, as they also have Ryan Perry, Sanders Armand, Kenny Baye, and Rashawn Perry.

The only question this team has left to answer is who will be playing QB. Cory Pecker’s name isn’t on the roster. In his absence, it appears that Ryan Kastner is the top option. Kastner returned this past Winter Season after not paying since the interrupted Covid season in 2020. In 10 games with the Rainmakers of the 35+ Division, the 2015 HOF inductee threw 34 touchdown passes, 12 interceptions, and 1,609 yards. Last season didn’t work out as hoped when they went with a QB who was coming off a long layoff. Hopefully this season will be different.

Prediction: (4-4)

Maroons 2.0

This team intrigues me and is a personal favourite, as they have a former teammate of mine in Chad Byers making his comeback to FPF after a 10-year (yes, you read that right) hiatus. I played Junior ball on the Chateauguay Raiders with Chad, over 20 years ago, (yes, we’re old) and I’ve seen him play numerous flag tournaments as well as FPF games over the years. Simply put, he was a stand-up guy as well as a teammate, and a phenomenal player who always made those around him better. Ten years is a long time away, and while I am sure he still has a few tricks up his sleeve, a decade off is a lot of rust to knockoff, especially for a Quarterback.

Luckily, Byers, has some playmakers on his side in veterans Matt Bond, Anthony Vendrame, Guillaume Paquet, Kevin Laliberte, and Zackary Alberts-Gill. The All-Star Rusher and future FPF Hall-of-Famer in Alberts-Gill, is also another reason I am puling for this team. He has played on my team for the last several seasons. He is a team-player, who has an infectious attitude. This is his first chance at playing in the top division in several years. He’s hungry for sacks and wants to test himself out against the best of the best in Quarterbacks and Rushers. Let’s see how he and this team does. If Byers can return to his HOF form by mid-season, this team will have a lot more than three wins.

Prediction: (3-5)

Run It Once

Jeff Rosneblatt is back at it again. After falling short in the Division A Finals with his team The Jamesons the 8-time All-Star has taken his Div. B team Run It Once, and added Manu Allard-Roy, Skylar Bayliff, and the underrated Justin Blackie. The new players join a core of Anthony Brisebois, Quaid Johnson (who played in Div. C with Blackie on the Dirty Birds), and James Ohayon.

This team has talent, explosive playmakers, leadership, and chemistry. A playoff spot is all but guaranteed, the one thing they must prove is the most important, and that is can they bring home the championship? We are about to find out.

Prediction: (6-2)

Mongoose

Another team who suffered a heart-breaking playoff loss last spring, Mangoose looks to make a championship push with pretty much the same team they lined up in the Spring Season. The return of Anthony Drysdale is a big addition to the lineup especially on defensive side of the ball.

The team also added Simon and Vincent to inject depth and athleticism to the roster, but their lack of big game experience might be a problem in big moments. They still have an elite Quarterback in Nicolas Schaefer, and weapons in Oliver Suri, Thomas Coutu, and Gabriel Drapeau-Zgoralski. Can they pick up the pieces from their Semi-Final loss, and make that championship push?

Prediction: (3-5)

Never Overtime

This team will be led offensively by Rhami Aboud, Ryan Kharouf, Dynell Pierre and Malu Bukasa. The question is, will that be enough to contend with the heavy hitters of Tier 1, as the last two names on the list haven’t played since 2020 and 2015 respectively.

I could be wrong, but this team has the look of a strong Tier 2 squad that is playing in the top division because of the cap. With games against Run It Once and Blessed over the next two days, and then a showdown with Royaume Luminaire the following week, Never Overtime will have a chance to show they belong in Tier 1 right off the bat.

Prediction: (1-7)

450 Ballers

I can’t be the only one that thinks that this team should be called The Family. The Alexis and Gomes brothers are easy. Quarterback Dan Lazzara and Receiver AJ Gomes go together like beer and football, as does the QB with both Wiltshire and Kerr.  

On the field, this team has speed, explosion, and big-play ability in spades. Their defense is loaded with length and ballhawks, that should lead Tier 1 in forced turnovers.

With Kevin Wyeth, Pat Jérome , Matt Kirouac out of the picture this season, the 450 Ballers have to be considered one of the favourites to make a championship run. Revenge should be on their minds after falling short in the Finals last fall. Can they get it?

Prediction: (6-2)

Royaume Luminaire

Jesse Dupuis and the crew are back at it again. I had the Tag Team song going through my mind as I typed that. This squad brings chemistry and more championship experience than any other team to the table. The return of redzone threat Mathieu Houle gives this already deep and long team even more size on offense to go along with Alexis Gaumont, Nicolas Gendron-Vallée, and Anthony Lapointe.

The team also welcomes back the versatile Emile Beaudoin. The former All-Star who didn’t play in the Spring Season, is a vital part of the team both as a Receiver with his route-running and glue-like hands, and on defense, and on defense as he has returned six out of his 14 career interceptions back to the house.  

The first part of their schedule isn’t nearly as daunting as the second half star. This team has enough talent to go all the way, but how they navigate that latter end will be vital.

Prediction: (5-3)

KGP

Speaking of veteran teams, KGP brings back the usual suspects in Phil Cutler, Jonathan Garfinkle, Gabe D’Amico-Mazza, Julien Paiement, James Acker and others. One name not back at least right now is Quaysie Gordon-Maule. The loss of their best player from the Spring Season leaves a giant hole that needs to be filled. Five-time Al-Star Mathieu Lepage, who has played for KGP in five different seasons, but never in the FPF Cup, will look to help fill the void.

KGP is always good to knock off a contender. This season however, they shouldn’t be looked at as an underdog. They have timing, chemistry, experience, and weapons on both sides of the ball. Who says they can’t go all the way?

Prediction (5-3)

Blessed

After losing to Poseidon’s Kiss in the Division B Finals, Blessed is back at it again. Brining back two-way standouts in Marvin Steinberg and Isiah Allard, along with the rugged and underrated Rory Kelly, should help this team make another long playoff run.

Quarterback Stephen Harripersaud has the smarts and is surrounded but a plethora of talent at the receiving spots. Kevin Wyeth is out of the picture, and with playoff wins over Jeff Rosenblatt and Jonathan Maheu, already under his belt, now is the perfect time to time finally win a championship at the top level. Can the QB and his team get it done? We shall see.

Prediction: (7-1)

Picks (Fvourites in bold)

Run It Once vs Never Overtime – Run It Once

KGP vs Mongoose – Mongoose (Upset Special)

Blessed vs Never Overtime – Blessed

#NR vs Blessed – Blessed (My pick for Game of the Week)

The last FPF Cup Tier 1 Final saw the Braves defeat the Kangaroos (38-32) for the Bowl championship. Who will end up on top this season? Let’s find out.

Good luck to everyone in their games tomorrow and this week. The NFL is back, and so is the FPF Cup. Good times are here!

If you liked the article, hated it, or simply felt like I left something out, please feel free to contact me at [email protected], or on the FPF Facebook page.