Offense, Offensive, and Some Defense Too

In last week’s article I talked about how several players and teams would need a few games to shake off the rust since the end of the Spring Season and Fall Cup for some, while for others it would be since Covid-19. Several defenses got lucky as they took advantage of a lack of chemistry and timing, while others simply just made more plays and took the ball away from opposing offenses.  

Some offenses still need some time to get their act together, as the Incredibles, Gryffindor, Team Swoosh, and The Apocalypse have struggled to move the ball consistently, which has resulted in turnovers, stalled drives, and missed opportunities.

Fortunately, there was no shortage of offensive fireworks in Lachine on Sunday night, as several teams lit up the scoreboard.

The game between the Outlaws and Flag Moi L’Sac last Sunday night in Lachine was a perfect example of that. Both Quarterbacks in FMS’s Alex Nadeau-Piuze, and the Outlaws’ Stephen Harripersaud, combined for 13 touchdowns and a jaw-dropping 90 points.

Several Receivers had big performances to help their QBs. Both squads had three different pass-catchers make art least one trip to the endzone. For FMS, Jean-Christophe Morin-Phaneuf, led the way offensively with 5 receptions for 77 yards and a team-high three touchdowns. He scored the game’s first touchdown via a three-yard pass from Nadeau-Piuze. Morin-Phaneuf did not catch the most passes for his team, as that honor went to Samuel Nadeau-Piuze, who had 6 grabs for 97 yards two TDs on a game-high 11 targets.

The team wasn’t done there, as it got a solid outing from Guillaume Robert, as the 11-year veteran recorded five catches for 70 yards and two TD. Despite not adding to the team’s point totals, FMS, also got production from JP St-Pierre, whose two of his three receptions for 40 yards went for first downs.

The Receivers for the Outlaws were rolling as well. Will Power making his long-awaited higher division debut, caught five balls for 82 yards and a team-high three touchdowns. His teammate Justin Lerner was just as impressive, as he recorded two TDs. The Outlaws also got a big outing from James Langshaw, as the third-year player had a team-leading seven grabs to go along with 73 yards and one TD.

The two main factors that led to the win for FMS, was the efficiency of their offense, which faced only one third down the entire first half, which came on the final play. In the second half they were almost as lethal, as their offense went 1 for 2 on third down attempts. The lone one they missed did not matter as they scored a touchdown on fourth down, as Nadeau-Piuze hit his brother Samuel, for a 9-yard score.

The other key factor was the two first-half interceptions forced by their defense, as Harripersaud was intercepted by both Samuel Nadeau-Piuze and Pierre-Marc Lachaine. The Outlaws came away with points on every possession except the aforementioned two. they lost the game (50-40), those lost opportunities cost them the game.

The Braves versus Allstars game was another contest that was not lacking offense, as the game featured a matchup between the greatest Quarterback in FPF history in Kevin Wyeth, and the best Quarterback in the league in Jonathan Maheu.

This was a game that featured big plays and even bigger names. Jacques Void was one of those big names, as the FPF Hall of Famer and 8-time All-Star suited up for the team with the same name. While he may not posses the game-breaking speed he used to have, Void, is still a precise route-runner, who uses his length, knowledge, remaining speed, and a fantastic set of hands to remain a threat on any play.  

This game was close at the half, as the Braves clung to a (4-12) lead. The second half was full of points, mistakes, and controversy, as some critical non-calls went against the Allstars.

The first big non-call play came in the redzone on a drive by the Allstars. Facing a third and goal from inside the 10-yardline, Void, ran a slant underneath the defense, running it from the right to the left side of the field. As Void was running the route, he was held from behind by a Braves defender. The pass by Wyeth was incomplete. There was no call on the play, even though it was clear to everybody watching that there should have been. This is football, and it’s the highest division, where things happen in the blink of an eye. Sometimes calls get missed. It happens. Unfortunately for the Allstars, instead of getting a fresh set of downs, they were faced with a do or die 4^th down. On that play, Wyeth was intercepted in the endzone by Alex Pilon, who proceeded to run the INT back for a touchdown. The Braves then successfully went for the 2-point conversion on a pass from Maheu to Georges Gariépy, extending their lead to (22-12).

Exactly seven plays later, Wyeth would throw a pass to Chris Milard. There appeared to be some miscommunication between the two, as the pass ended up being thrown directly to Braves Defensive Back Georges Gariépy, shutting down another promising Allstars drive.

Controversy struck again, as there appeared to be another missed call that would have gone against the Braves that was not called.

Wyeth and was clearly frustrated as he came to the sideline, as was teammate Paul Lapiere.

The Braves would make their opponents pay, as seven plays after the Beland INT, Alex Pilon would score his second TD of the evening, and Beland would record the 2-point convo, stretching the team’s lead to (30-12).

The Allstars would get a late touchdown from Quaid Johnson before the Braves Mike Pierrecin would round off the scoring, but it clearly wouldn’t be enough.

Just to be clear, I am not saying the Braves won the game because of blown calls. They were clearly the better team Sunday night. They made less mistakes than the Allstars, and they made their opponents pay for theirs. The non-calls played a role in that the game would have been probably closer than the final score suggests.  

After only generating six points in the second half of the Party Crashers’ (27-6) win over Team Swoosh in Week 1, Frédéric Dupuis, and his offense hit the ground running, as they knocked off All Hooks in an upset (41-26) victory Monday night at Stade Hebert.

Dupuis sliced and diced the All Hooks defense to the tune of 220 yards and six touchdowns on 17 of 29 passing. Dupuis was in a giving mood, as he threw TD passes to five different Receivers, including two to Camille Riel.

For All Hooks, the biggest factor in the loss was their inability to score in the second half. Except for a 7-yard touchdown from Quarterback Charles-Olivier Lavigne to Receiver Gabriel Drapeau-Zgoralski, the team failed to score on their other three possessions of the second stanza. That is clearly not a recipe for success.

Matchups

David and Nicola Centomo (Got-Skills) versus Samuel Nadeau-Piuze and Alex Nadeau-Piuze (Flag Moi L’Sac)

Since we are dealing with two sets of brothers, I am not going to waste time talking about chemistry, since both pairs already have it.

What I will look at are the numbers. Samuel leads his team in targets and receptions with 20 and 15 respectively. He is second on his squad with three touchdowns. On the other side of the ball, he has an INT, three tackles, and is tied for the team-lead with his brother Alex in pass deflections with two. Both players played a big role in their team’s win over the Outlaws.

For the Centomo brothers, Nicola, is coming off an impressive six TD pass performance, in his team’s (41-24) win over The Apocalypse. David led the team in catches, yards, and touchdowns in the contest, with 6, 80, and 2 respectively.

After both teams lost in Week 1, they each righted themselves last weekend. Whichever squad wins their second in a row this week, chances are both sets of brothers will play a key factor.

Anthony Brisebois (The Apocalypse) vs Georges Beland (BBallers)

I have been calling McGill Redbirds football games for several seasons. During that time, I have had a chance to watch Guillaume Beland help build a solid McGill defense, that when firing on all cylinders is one of the best in the country.

Beland, has played on some successful defenses of his own in FPF as well, most notably as a member of the Braves. As a member of the BBallers, Beland had four tackles to go along with two sacks and an interception that he returned for a touchdown last Saturday against Terror Squad. Beland will need the rest of his team’s defense to step up their game tomorrow night when they take on The Apocalypse.

This Apocalypse team has some offensive firepower when it isn’t turning over the ball, (six INTs so far). It starts with Anthony Brisebois, who leads the way in catches, yards, and trips to the endzone. Currently sitting at (0-2), The Apocalypse will need to wake up offensively, as only two teams have scored fewer points than them in Divisions B – Team Swoosh and Incredibles – This team has a Quarterback with championship experience on their roster in Jeff Rosenblatt, and good weapons at Receiver in addition to Brisebois, with names like Jonathan Lyristis, Stephan Osman, and Paul Lapierre especially in the redzone. Will this be the week that the team wakes up and puts more than just a few touchdowns on the board?

Phil Cutler (KGP) vs Urgence Médic Defense

Phil Cutler and the KGP offense have started the year looking like they are in mid-season form, as they have scored 89 points through two games. The number is impressive, but their competition doesn’t inspire the same type of confidence, as it came against Team Swoosh and the Incredibles, the third and fourth worst defensive teams in Division 2.

Tonight, in Lachine, Cutler and KGP will get their first real rest of the season, as they take on Urgence Médic in Lachine.

Cutler is a championship Quarterback, with a ton of weapons at his disposal in Gabe D’Amico-Mazza, Julien Paiement, Jonathan Garfinkle, and Mathieu Lepage just to name a few. The offense will need to bring their A-game, as they are taking on a defense full of championship experience of their own in Jesse Dupuis, Emile Beaudoin, Marc-Antoine Vallée, AJ Gomes, and Anthony Lapointe. This should be a thriller. Let’s see who comes out on top.

Picks (favorites in bold)

Terror Squad vs Outlaws – Outlaws (Upset Special)

 Urgence Médic vs KGP – Urgence Médic (My pick for Game of the Week)

The Apocalypse vs BBallers – BBallers

Gryffindor vs Braves – Braves

Flag Moi L’Sac vs Got-Skills – Flag Moi L’Sac

Incredibles vs #NR – #NR

Allstars vs Party Crashers – Allstars

Last Week: (8-1)

Upset Special: (1-0)

That’s it for this week. Stay safe, and good luck to everybody in their games. 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