Observational Travel, Heavyweights and High Hopes

I went away for a couple of weeks.  Those who follow me on IG or listen to Calling the Audible will know that I was in Hawaii for a couple of weeks.  It is nice to have avoided some of winter’s frigid grasp.  However, it was hard to get back into the thick of things having missed so much league wide action.

That said, I will say that one thing that this trips to the Big Island taught me that there’s beauty in vulnerability.  Under the afternoon sun I stood among many when the entire shoreline was lined with similarly awe-struck, mouth agape denizens and visitors who marvelled at a whale dipping and diving in magnetic acrobatic show.  Under the moon’s cool light my wife and I swam with Manta Rays seemingly soared through the pacific ocean and came face-to-face with us before dancing away in the deep blue sea.  In either case we felt truly small, compared to these large, graceful beasts.

Mauna Kea, would be the tallest mountain in the world if the height included how far it continues under water.  Driving across saddle road at an elevation of 6700 feet above sea level.  Or witnessing the immense gravity of cascading waterfalls, all of which impressed upon us how significant our surroundings are.  Yet, none compared to the moment I stood out at the southern moist point in America, a cliff standing some 50 feet above the cresting waves below.  The next land mass in the horizon would be Antarctica. If that doesn’t make one feel vulnerable, I don’t know what would.

Blues versus Brewers

Div 5b

By Brent Bodkin

This matchup served as a breakout game as well as a battle between Kendell Copeland of the Blues, and Vincent Cheung of the Brewers, as both men made several highlight plays Wednesday night in Laval.It didn’t matter if they were lined up against each other, they just made plays. The biggest of the night came during a three-play sequence in the first half. 

After the Blues opened the scoring with a touchdown pass from Johnny Paradis-Wilson to Rémy Paré, Cheung, would get his team on the board with a 36-yard TD pass from Quarterback Jeffrey Lefebvre that saw the Receiver wrestle the ball from Copeland in mid air for the score. One play after the Brewers’ successful 1-point conversion attempt, Copeland would answer right back, as he put a double-move on Cheung off the line of scrimmage and blew by him for a 40-yard TD.  

Both players would strike again in the second half, as Cheung would start things off with a 40-yard touchdown that saw him take a 15-yard hook near the right sideline, and then break three tackle attempts including one by Copeland, on the way to the endzone. As was the case in the first half, Copeland would respond, but this time with a 1-yard touchdown for the game’s final score.

This game would come down to defense, as the Blues were able to generate two interceptions off Lefebvre, and their offense would turn those turnovers into touchdowns.

Final Score: Blues (28-13)

 Blue’s Clues versus Mongoose

Division 3

By Brent Bodkin

The effects of the suspension of A.J Gomes, were felt in a big way Wednesday night in Laval, as Blue’s Clues led by replacement Quarterback Alessandro Barazzoni, struggled repeatedly with interceptions, inaccuracy, and subpar decision-making, especially in the redzone as he threw two of his four INTs in that area.

The Mongoose defense toyed with the QB, as they baited him into multiple bad throws throughout the game. Maxime Théroux would lead his team with two interceptions. He was joined by teammates Marc-Antoine Bigué and Vincent Malo, who recorded one INT apiece.

The Mongoose offense would take advantage of the extra possessions, as they turned all four turnovers into touchdowns. Jonathan Chevalier and William Tondreau scored a pair of touchdowns, while Bigué would add another.

The only positives in the game for Blue’s Clues was the performance of Anthony Lazzara, who came up with a team-high six catches for 71 yards while providing his offense with a big target over the middle of the field on intermediate routes. The other was Rusher Xavier Couture, who had a game-high three sacks.

 Final Score: Mongoose (31-6)

Fast Not Furious 3 versus Michael Scott’s Tots

Coed 3

By Brent Bodkin

If you watched him play, you would have no idea that Kenny Boutilier had torn his ACL before. The Quarterback looked like Lamar Jackson Sunday night at Loyola, as he juked, deked, spun, cut on a dime, and outraced his opponents to the endzone in Michael Scott’s Tots victory over Fast Not Furious 3. Multiple times throughout the contest, he made his opponent’s defense look like Dwight trying to best Jim, on the course to running nine times for 97 yards and a touchdown.

The majority of his deep ball passes might not have been the prettiest throws, but he chucked it up and his Receivers made plays. He was more successful through the air however via dink and dunk appreoach, as he would connect on touchdown passes to Gino Di Fazio, Jean-Christophe Ferland, and Leah Finkelstein.

There was a scary moment in the game, as after Boutilier scored a TD on an 18-yard run, on the 1-point convert attempt, Receiver Maude Santos Charlebois got hit hard at the goaline by Defensive Back Tony Lalla as she caught the ball and was turning her body around. She appeared to have gotten the wind knocked out of her on the collision. Credit the rookie for surviving a big and arguably dirty hit as she still managed to hang onto the ball to score her second of a game-high three 1-point conversions for her team. Lalla, was sidelined for 10 plays as he was flagged for unnecessary roughness.

Ryan Dobbs was the opposing Quarterback. He didn’t hurt the Michael Scott’s Tots defense with his legs like Boutilier, but he kept his team in it as he utilized the short passing game to march the field, while mixing in well-timed deep shots. The Snapper turned QB was able to connect on touchdown passes to Tony Lalla and Alexandre Noel. His top target on the evening was Receiver Alex Laroche, who led all players with 12 receptions for 89 yards.

Two second half interceptions played a major role in the loss for Fast Not Furious 3, as Dobbs was picked off first by Finkelstein, and then by Boutilier to end the game.

Final Score: Michael Scott’s Tots (27-18)

Silent Ticklers versus Junkyard Dogs

Division 3

By Brent Bodkin

On paper this looked like it was going to be a heavyweight fight, as it featured two veteran teams with championship experience. Unfortunately, it got ugly quickly, as JYD was no match for their opponents.

Offensively, JYD had chances to keep pace, but they put themselves behind the eight ball early as they turned the ball over on downs on their first two possessions, and then Quarterback Jason Rossie threw an interception on their third.

The Silent Ticklers took advantage of the extra possessions, as QB Jordan Panetta would find Adam Rosen for a pair of touchdowns, and Daniel Mancini for another. Three plays turned the course of the game around, and just like that, JYD found themselves behind (22-0) going into halftime.

Things didn’t get much better for JYD after the break, as the Silent Ticklers started with the ball, and they would take seven plays to score, as Mancini would record his second touchdown of the game.

On their ensuing series, Rossie would throw another interception, as he was picked off near the endzone by Tysen Otis Copeland. That INT would come back to bite JYD too, as Rosen would score his third TD of the evening.

JYD would finally cross the goaline, as they would get two touchdowns from Joey Notaro and Rashawn Perry, but it was way too little and way too late, as this was a blowout.

Final Score: Silent Ticklers (36-12)

Air Force 1 versus Beer Belly Brigade

Division 3

By Brent Bodkin

This game was a tale of halves, as the Beer Belly Brigade got off to a fast start. After forcing a turnover on downs, the team would get the game’s first points with an 8-yard touchdown pass from Quarterback Alex Fafard to Matthieu Pilotte. The Receiver would also score the 1-point conversion to give his team a (7-0) lead.  

Air Force 1 wasted little time responding, as their QB Simon Blais, would connect on a deep shot to Antoine Caron for a 36-yard TD. Xavier Collette would score the conversion for his side, tying the game up at (7-7).

The Beer Belly Brigade would retake the lead on a TD reception by Olivier Claveau. They would push their advantage even further as after forcing another turnover on downs, Receiver Jonathan Benoit would score his eight TD of the season and first of the contest.

Both teams would add another score. We reached the break with the Beer Belly brigade holding a (28-15) lead.

The second half was a completely different story, as Air Force 1 stopped turning over the ball, and their defense forced two punts and a turnover on downs as well. They managed to claw their way back to make it a 2-point game with five plays remaining. After another defensive stand, Air Force1  had a chance to pull off the comeback win, but a Hail Mary on the final play of the game intended for Colette, was batted down by Benoit.

Final Score: Beer Belly Brigade (35-33)

Red Nation versus Carababes

Coed 2

By Brent Bodkin

The first half of this contest was a defensive slugfest, as both teams managed to only score one touchdown each.

The second half was a lot more exciting, and it started off with a bang, as after an interception by Red Nation Defensive Back Maëlle Germaine, off Quarterback Samantha Albert, the team was able to extend their lead as QB Allyson Sobol, would find Rachelle Vallieres for a 30-yard catch and run score, that saw the Receiver take a 7-yard crossing route and deke out several defenders on her way to the endzone.

The Carababes didn’t take long to respond, as three plays later, they put up a long score of their own as Albert would connect with Alexia Vitti for a 41-yard touchdown.  

Both teams would turn the ball over on their ensuing drives, but a costly mistake by Red Nation would give back momentum to their opponents, as a sack by Marie-LI Lapierre on Sobol with five plays left in the game would result in a safety, that tied the game up at 14, and give the Carababes back the ball.

Additional mistakes would spell doom for Red Nation, as a 21-yard pass interference penalty on Vallieres, would place the ball near midfield. On the very next play which was also the final play of the game, Vitti would score her second touchdown of the evening as she slipped out of five missed tackles by the Red Nation defense on her way to the endzone.

Celebration for the Carababes, heartbreak for Red Nation.

Final Score: Carababes (20-14)