FPF Playoffs: Division 2 Quarter-Finals Review / Semi-Finals Preview, and Game 7 Magic

The Division 2 playoffs started last Wednesday night in Laval, and they kicked off with a bang, as we witnessed a display of dominance, some shootouts, and two thrillers that went down to the final play. It was only round 1, but it did not disappoint.

Four games were played in total Wednesday night. Let’s start with the one contest that wasn’t so close:

Urgence Médic versus BBallers.

I mentioned earlier that there was a display of dominance, and this is exactly what this game was, as Urgence Médic, set the tone on the first play of the game as Jesse Dupuis intercepted BBallers Quarterback William Trottier and ran it back for a touchdown. You can probably chalk it up to playoff nerves or maybe just a bad play.

The second drive of the game for the BBallers, started off a little better as Trottier was able to connect with Jeremy Murphy on a 23-yard gain. On the very next play, the pivot would find teammate Vincent Beauregard for six yards. After an incomplete pass on second down, and a 1-yard run on third, the team was facing a fourth and three near mid-field. Trottier tried to hit Murphy again, but the duo was not able to connect, resulting in a turnover on downs.

Getting the ball back in prime field position, Urgence Médic, would capitalize immediately, as after a 30-yard catch and run by Anthony Lapointe, and an 8-yard scramble by Dupuis, the QB would hit Receiver Mathieu Houle for a 3-yard TD to extend their lead to (13-0).

The BBallers finally got their act together, as the offense would put together a six-play drive highlighted by 14-and 16-yard receptions by Murphy and Jeremy Augustin respectively, and capped off by a 1-yard score by Beauregard, shrinking their deficit to (13-7)

Both teams would trade touchdowns, before Houle would add his second touchdown of the game to close out the first half. Urgence Médic walked into halftime with a (27-14) lead.

After the break, Urgence Médic would extend their lead with a 23-yard touchdown by Emile Beaudoin. I know I said last week that his name would be Emile “Mr. Pick 6” Beaudoin, but since this was an offensive touchdown, I can’t use it here.

Speaking of returning interceptions for touchdowns, Jesse Dupuis, would do it for the second time in the contest, as he ran one back to the house with three plays remaining which was the icing on the cake. Perhaps Mr. Dupuis, feels like he deserves the title.

The BBallers are a talented team, and they fought hard, but the multiple turnovers by their offense, did them in.

Final Score: Urgence Médic (48-22)

Terror Squad versus All Hooks

This game was a shootout, as both teams combined for 72 points. All Hooks got the scoring started, as they got on the board with a four-play scoring drive that resulted in a 29-yard touchdown pass from Quarterback Charles-Olivier Lavigne to Receiver Jean-Christophe Ferland.

Terror Squad would answer right back on their opening possession, as TS Quarterback Tam Vilaydeth, would connect with Patrick Jérome for an 8-yard TD, that was setup by 17-yard catch and run by Alexandre Poulin-Rioux.

All Hooks would waste little tie responding, as they would regain their lead three plays later, as Lavigne would find Jeremy White for a 19-yard TD.

Terror Squad would answer back once again, as Vilaydeth would lead his team down the field in six plays, as he and Jérome would find each other for another score, this time on fourth down.

Both teams would trade touchdowns to close out the first half, as White would score his second TD of the game for All Hooks, while Serge Pilon Jr would find his way to the endzone for Terror Squad. TS was able to convert the 2-point conversion on a catch by Jérome. After a last-ditch effort by All Hooks to regain the lead fell short of the endzone, the game was tied up 20 apiece at halftime.

The Pilons would continue to make an impact after the break, as Alex Pilon, would cap a five-play scoring drive with a 5-yard TD. On the ensuing offensive drive by All Hooks, Pilon would record the game’s first turnover with an interception off Lavinge.

Terror Squad would make their opponents pay for the mistake, as Nicholas Groppini would score a 3-yard TD, giving TS their first lead of the game.

A few minutes later with All Hooks, looking to get back out in front, their offense would drive the field once again, Lavigne would connect on passes to White, as well as Thomas Coutu and Gabriel Drapeau-Zgoralski, which included a key 4^th down grab by the latter.

Facing another crucial 4^th down, Lavinge threw in the direction of Serge Pilon Jr, and the Hall of Famer made the QB pay, as he intercepted the ball and ran it back to the house to put Terror Squad up (40-20).

All Hooks would score on their next two possessions to narrow the lead to (40-32), but they simply ran out of time.

The difference in this one came down to turnovers, as the two interceptions thrown by Charles-Olivier Lavigne, not only took potential points off the board for their offense, but it also gave the ball back to their opponents, and it resulted in 13 points for Terror Squad.

Final Score: Terror Squad (40-32)

KGP vs The Apocalypse

I stood on the sideline watching the game, and as it unfolded, the only thing I could think of was that it was an instant classic.

The Apocalypse kept the night’s trend of fast-paced scoring alive, as Quarterback Jeff Rosenblatt hit Anthony Brisebois for a 40-yard touchdown on the opening play of the game. KGP would answer right back, as Quarterback Phil Cutler would need only four plays to march the field culminating in a 30-yard TD pass to Quaysie Gordon-Maule. Both teams would miss their 2-point conversions, so the game was tied (6-6).

Rosenblatt wasted little time answering back, as one play after connecting with Brisebois for a gain of 17 yards, he found Receiver Adam Rockman for a 23-yard touchdown.  Right one cue, KGP would repsond, as Cutler found Receiver Gabe D’Amico-Mazza for a touchdown.

Each team would score once more before halftime. The Apocalypse would hold a (19-18) lead at the break. The second stanza would see even more scoring, as both teams combined for 45 points.

Fast forwarding to the final possession for both teams, The Apocalyspe, would score a go-ahead touchdown with four plays remaining, on a touchdown by Matt Bond. The TD gave them a (39-36) lead, and capped a strong second-half by Bond, who repeatedly carved up the KGP defense with yards after the catch.

On the final drive of the game for KGP, Cutler was able to connect on a checkdown pass to D’Amico-Mazza, before hitting Gordon-Maule for a 29-yard gain. Cutler would cap off the drive with a 6-yard TD strike to Jonathan Garfinkle.

The back-and-forth affair came down to the final play of the game. After conceding the extra point to KGP, The Apocalyspe tossed a Hail Mary attempt thrown down the middle of the field in the direction of Paul Lapierre. The pass would be batted down in the endzone by Garfinkle.

Final Score: KGP (43-39)

Party Crashers versus #NR

This contest was another thriller, as both teams exchanged big plays, some tense moments, a little physicality, and some trash-talking too.

The Party Crashers wasted little time joining the party on offense, as they scored three plays into the game via a touchdown by Phil Pharand.

#NR, who only had six players for the game, came back with a response four plays later, as Kendal Mayers would open the scoring for his team with a 21-yard touchdown.

Former McGill Redbird Slot Receiver Emile Taillefer would help the Party Crashers regain the lead, as he and Quarterback Frédéric Dupuis, would hook up for a touchdown.

#NR would answer with a university combo of their own, as former Calgary Dino, and HEC Creighton winner, Quarterback Adam Sinagra, would hit ex-Concordia Stinger Quaid Johnson for a 19-yard TD.

One play after the failed 1-point conversion attempt by #NR, the Party Crashers would put themselves back on top with a bomb to Francois Hogue for a TD. The momentum was short-lived, as five plays later, Sinagra found Receiver Matt Kirouac for a 9-ard TD.

After forcing a turnover on downs with a fourth down stop near mid-field, with four plays left before the half, the Hall of Famer would score his second TD of the game on an 18-yard TD pass from Sinagra, on a beautiful corner route by Kirouac.

#NR would score first to start the second half, as Travis Moses would find his way to paydirt. The momentum did not last long, as Nathan Laflamme would reply with a touchdown for the Party Crashers.

The Party Crashers defense would step up for them next, as they would prove the saying that football is a game of inches true, as they would stop the #NR offense on fourth down, when Kendall Mayers made a catch, but was tackled less than a yard from the first down marker. 

PC would turn that defense into offense, as Taillefer, would get his second touchdown of the contest, on a sharp post route. The TD would tie the game up (33-33).

Looking to take back their lead, #NR tried to march the field, but a pair of fourth downs stood in their way. After successfully converting the first one on a Sinagra pass to Quaid Johnson. Unfortunately for the team, they failed to convert the second attempt, as a pass intended for Mayers, was broken up by Pharand, giving the ball back to the Party Crashers.

Three plays after the big defensive stand, Dupuis, would find Camille Riel for a 3-yard TD.

With their season on the line, #NR, had one last chance to win the game. The drive did not start out in a positive way for the offense, as they mixed in two incomplete passes and a Rusher Interference penalty.

With two plays left, #NR was able to get a jolt of hope, as Sinagra was able hit Travis Moses on a slant pattern, which the Receiver would take twenty-two yards, setting up a fantastic finish on fourth down.

Sinagra, would go to the well one time too often, as he tried to hit Moses again on a slant, but the pass was broken up by Olivier Bourdages inside the endzone.

Final Score: Party Crashers (40-33)

Four solid games. What a way to kickoff the opening round of the playoffs. Now, onto Round 2.

Semi-Finals Preview

Terror Squad vs Urgence Médic

Previous Meeting: Terror Squad (33-25) Week 6

In the first meeting, Terror Squad was able to come away with the win, in a game that was only as close as the final score indicates due to a touchdown by Urgence Médic’s Gabriel Wiseman on the last play of the game.  

I fully expect the rematch to be a much closer game, as both teams are better than what they were at the midway point of the regular season. Both teams have mobile Quarterbacks, a plethora of playmakers, and championship experience. They also have defenses that are aggressive and can turn defense into offense in the blink of an eye.

There are not too many times you can say this, but the other team in this case Terror Squad, has more talent than Urgence Médic. The question of course that needs to be asked, is will that be enough though to see them complete the sweep?

This game has other questions that will need to be answered, and multiple matchups that will be worth watching. They have gone head-to-head before under the playoff lights, but who will the matchup the battle between Patrick Jérome and AJ Gomes? Which defense will be able to produce a turnover and run it back for a touchdown? Can Urgence Médic do enough to slow down the Pilon brothers? Can Terror Squad contain Anthony Lapointe and Alexis Gaumont? Can Vincent Malo force Jesse Dupuis into a costly mistake, and can Marc-Antoine Vallée do the same with Tam Vilaydeth? Who of the trio of Alexandre Poulin-Rioux, Jasmin Rioux, or Tommy Roadley Trohatos, will be responsible for covering Mathieu Houle in the endzone?

These are clearly two elite teams set to do battle. This contest should be a shootout, and I expect it to top what we saw last week. As I said earlier, the edge in talent goes to Terror Squad, so I am going with TS in this one.

Final Score: Terror Squad (45-42).

KGP versus Party Crashers

Previous Meeting: N/A

Two explosive offenses will hook up for the first time this season, in what will be the biggest game of the campaign for both teams.

As mentioned above, both squads are coming off impressive opening round playoff wins. KGP, is the definition of champion pedigree, as no matter how big a hole they find themselves in, the team never losses confidence, and almost always finds a way to pull out victory from the jaws of defeat.

The Party Crashers do not have the championship experience of their opponents, but they do have speed, grit, determination, and a resiliency about them that they wear on their sleeve.

Standing on the sidelines during their game against #NR, there were multiple times throughout the contest when it appeared that the Party Crashers were about to fold, as their opponents would either force a turnover or come up with a momentum-grabbing play, but to their credit, PC would settle down, and find a way to answer back, especially on the defensive side of the ball where PC held the high-powered #NR and their decorated QB offense to just six second half points .

The speed and physicality advantage goes to the Party Crashers in this contest. The veteran know-how and playoff experience go to KGP.

I also give KGP the edge in talent and execution. One fact that also can’t be ignored, is the fact that even though they went head-to-head and pulled off the semi upset win over #NR, the Party Crashes still did struggle to put away a team who was short-handed with only the minimum six players needed to field a team. I am pretty sure they won’t have that advantage this week.

I expect a lot of points to be put on the board, but I also believe KGP will advance.

Final score: KGP (42-30)

If you’re a sports fan, I am sure you have noticed all the Game 7’s that have been going on this weekend in both the NBA and NHL. I am sad but not really surprised my Bruins lost (Don Sweeney needs to go), happy the Maple Leafs pulled a Maple Leafs, shocked by the Phoenix Suns no-show, intrigued by the New York Rangers, impressed by the Dallas Stars and Jake Oettinger, in awe of Connor McDavid, and left feeling a little cheated that Giannis had no help against the Celtics. Most importantly, just like with the FPF post-season, I feel excited to see what the next round has in store.

Sports are awesome, and Game 7 is magic. Hockey, basketball, or baseball, I will always make time to watch. While you’re not always guaranteed to see a great game, the essence you get from that phrase, is something only true sports fans can relate to. The icing on the cake is when you get a classic game, that will live in your mind and in some cases in your heart forever. In football, we don’t have that, but what we do get is that every playoff game is essentially the same thing. You have no redo’s, bring your A-game, or go home. It is as simple as that.

 Picks (favorites in bold)

(3) Urgence Médic vs (2) Terror Squad – Terror Squad (My Pick for Game of the Week)

(5) Party Crashers vs (1) KGP – KGP

Regular Season: (50-22-1)

Last Week: (4-0)

Playoffs: (4-0)

That’s it for this week. Good luck to all four teams Tuesday night. I will see you guys at Loyola.

If you are wondering where Division 1 is at, don’t forget, they kick off their opening round of the playoffs/Semi-Finals next Tuesday May 24.

If you liked, loved, or hated the article, or simply feel that I left something out, do not hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected], or reach me on Instagram @brent_b51