Regular Season Finale: Do-Or-Die Time

Welcome to the Week 10 of the FlagPlus Football Spring Season.

After ten long weeks, this is it. The final week of the regular season is here. For most teams, this represents a chance to move up in the standings, and solidify their playoff standing, while for others, it is one last chance to earn some respect.

For two other teams in particular, this final week is simply do-or-die. Those squads are the #9 seed Les Montagnards, and the #8 seed Lights Out. Separated by 2 points for the final playoff spot in Conference B, they will do battle Tuesday night in Brossard, in a must-see game.
Props to Chief, the FPF schedule maker. Isn’t this what Week 10 should be all about?

A quick tale of the tape between both teams:

Les Montagnards (2-7) versus Lights Out (3-6)

 

Quarterbacks

 

Drew Keiller (Lights Out) 20 TDs / 11 INTs / 10 YPP / 56% Comp / 2 Rush 20 Yards 0 TDs / 10 YPR

Julien Fiset-Cyr (Les Montagnards) 40 TDs / 11 INTs / 10 YPP / 59% Comp / 23 Rush 147 Yards 0 TDs / 6 YPR

 

Even if you ignore the fact that Keiller, is a rookie, and the 20 touchdown difference between both passers, (although Fiset-Cyr, has played in two more games than Keiller) you can’t overlook the superior completion percentage, and the fact that Les Montagnards Quarterback, has a distinct advantage when decides to keep the ball and run.

 

Simply put, These are two completely different Quarterbacks. Fiset-Cyr, is a dual-threat QB, while Keiller, is the perfect example of a drop back passer, who can only inflict damage on opposing defenses with his arm.

 

Advantage: Les Montagnards

 

Receivers

 

Lights Out

Jamal Gittens 34 Rec / 366 Yards / 6 TDs / 11 YPC

Mickey Marini 28 Rec / 326 Yards / 7 TDs / 12 YPC

Isaiah Allard 21 Rec / 305 Yards / 9 TDs / 15 YPC

Brandon Keiller 31 Rec / 230 Yards / 2 TDs / 7 YPC

 

Les Montagnards

Frédéric Viens 41 Rec / 494 Yards / 16 TDs / 12 YPC

Antoine Gagnon-Griffin 24 Rec / 246 Yards / 11 TDs / 10 YPC

Mathieu Girard-Provost 34 Rec / 341 Yards / 7 TDs / 10 YPC

Marc-Antoine Viens 24 Rec / 274 Yards / 3 TDs / 11 YPC

 

Having played against both teams this season, I can honestly say that each squad definitely has playmakers.

Les Montagnards, have been together for a while, so naturally they have a lot of chemistry on offense, which is evident when you watch their play. While they can attack you with deep ball, their offense is best, when working the underneath, and intermediate, via rub routes, out, and especially crossing patterns. Marc-Antoine Viens, in particular, is really good at creating separation on shallow routes in the endzone.

 

The one negative about their offense, is when you take away the short game, and mess up their timing, they struggle to adapt, and move the ball.

 

For Lights Out, with Jamal Gittens, Mickey Mariani, and Isaiah Allard, their game is more about speed and big plays. For what their Quarterback lacks in accuracy and arm strength, Keiller, is good at throwing it up to a spot, and letting his receivers make a play on the ball, especially in the endzone.

 

In fairness to Les Montagnards, while Lights Out have the better receivers, some of their stats got a little boost from their Week 8 contest versus Moist, where the team had a sub at Quarterback, in Jack Zergiotis, who went 15 of 17 for 218 yards, and 9 touchdowns.

 

I think it is pretty safe to say, that while Lights Out, probably would’ve won the game with Keiller, the QB, was not going to drop 56 points on Moist.

 

The one negative about the Lights Out offense, is the inaccuracy of the deep ball by Keiller. As I mentioned earlier, the team has the horses to play that style, but when the ball isn’t always on target, it makes it difficult to sustain.

 

Advantage: Les Montagnards

 

Defense

 

Lights Out: Points Allowed: 214 / PPG 24

Omar Jackson 10 Tackles / 5 INTs / 2 PDs

Jamal Gittens 12 Tackles / 4 INTs / 2 PDs

Kyle McGuigan 17 Tackles / 2 INTs / 6 PDs

Mickey Marini 9 Tackles / 2 INTs / 2 PDs / 1 TD

Brandon Keiller 24 Tackles / 1 INT / 1 PD

Isaiah Allard 2 Tackles / 9 Sacks / 6 PDs

 

 

Les Montagnards: Points Allowed: 330 / PPG 37

Frédéric Viens 10 Tackles / 3 INTs / 3 PDs / 1 TD

Julien Fiset-Cyr 26 Tackles / 2 INTs / 4 PDs

Jean-Michel Drapeau 20 Tackles / 3 PDs

Marc-Antoine Viens 19 Tackles / 2 INT / 1 PD / 1 TD

Khalil Agrebi 3 Tackles / 3 Sacks / 1 PD

 

This category isn’t even close, as speed and athleticism is the difference here. While Les Montagnards have some, Lights Out, posses more.

As the old football saying goes, a good pass rush makes a secondary look great, and a good secondary makes a pass rush look great. Lights Out is a perfect example of that, as Rusher Isaiah Allard, uses his speed and length, to get after the Quarterback, while guys like Gittens, Marini, Jackson, and McGuigan, a chance to make a play, and vice versa.

 

Advantage: Lights Out

 

 

Overall

 

Coming into this game, Lights Out, has won 2 out of their last 4 games. Their offense however, has been stuck in neutral, as they have only scored more than 20 points once during that span.

The last time they were victorious, was Week 8 versus Moist, where they won (62-28). The victory, capped a two-game winning streak, which was their longest of the season.

Les Montagnards, come into the contest, losers of 3 out of their last 4 games. Their offense on the other hand, has been impressive, as they have scored more than 30 points during the sane time frame.

The one game they did win, was this past week (45-19) against Broccasion, which knocked them out the playoffs. Can Les Montagnards, re-create that magic once again?

This game has toss-up written all over it. Despite their five combined wins, I expect this to be an entertaining dogfight of a game.

Speaking of making the playoffs, the Strangers, got a huge (38-31) victory over Friends in Low Places, Monday night at Stade de Montreal.

The Strangers passing game came out in full force, as Quarterback Gino Di Fazio, threw a game-high five touchdown passes, and Wide Receiver Mike Roy, passed for one as well. The main beneficiaries of those performances, were receivers Junior Spera, and Raffaele Morelli, who caught two TDs each.

The win, allowed the Strangers, to leap-frog Friends in Low Places, who came into the game tied points-wise with them, but the victory, also gave the Strangers, a one point lead on Keyport Lock, for the fifth seed in Conference B.

A few more teams jumped up in the standings, as TOPSZN, and Blue Chips, maintained their maintained tie in the Conference B standings for second place, with wins in Week 9.

TOPSZN, beat Lights Out (39-18), on the shoulders of a strong second-half, that saw them outscore their opponents (19-6).

Justene Edwards, was like a one-man show on the evening, as the 4-year veteran, caught 3 offensive touchdowns, recorded 2 interceptions, ran one back for another TD, and even threw a pass for 28 yards. The only thing he didn’t do, was kick a Field Goal.

A week after getting smacked around by the Junkyard Dogs, Blue Chips, responded in a big way, as they got past Keyport Lock, (27-20) last Sunday at Stade de Montreal.

The contest was a defensive showdown in the first-half, as Blue Chips, led (7-6) at the break.

Both teams woke-up offensively in the second stanza, as they combined for 34 points. Luckily for Blue Chips, they won that half too, as they out-scored their opponents (20-14).

Leading the way for Blue Chips, was Jordan Mitchell, who in addition to throwing two touchdowns to his brother Marcus Mitchell, also ran for a pair of TDs, and registered an interception on defense.

The wins by TOPSZN, and Blue Chips, was key, as it allowed them to stay tied for second in Conference B, due to the Jagerbomb’s (36-24) loss to The Alpha-T’s.

The aforementioned loss by Jagerbomb, also sets up another huge Week 10 matchup, as Jagerbomb, takes on Blue Chips, tomorrow night at Stade de Montreal. Is it me, or does it feel like every Div. C game has been played there lately?

This should be another fantastic game, as it will see two of the most fast, and athletic teams in Div. C, go head-to-head.

Both of these squads are eerily similar. Jagerbomb, has scored 286 points, to Blue Chips’ 283.

Both Quarterbacks, in Jordan Mitchell, and Simon Duchesne, can beat teams with their arms and legs.

From Jean-Felix Daloze, Marcus Mitchell, Felix Fontaine-Larouche, Hennessy Oraye, Cédric Nuckle to Sanders Armand, and Jeremie Lavoie-Patry, each team has plenty of playmakers on both sides of the ball. Even the less-heralded players like Abdul Pierre, and Yannick Doston, have come up with big plays for their respective teams all season.

Like I said earlier, this should be a really good game. Knowing both teams, it will be an offensive slugfest, as both squads know how to find the endzone. Besides bragging rights, the stakes in this one are high, as the winner will have a strong lock on second place, depending on the outcome of the TOPSZN/Omelette You Finish, game.

If TOPSZN, were to lose, and The Commission, were to fall to the Strangers tomorrow night, Blue Chips, if they win, would catapult themselves into first place.

If Jagerbomb won, and The Commission lost, they would stay in second, due to the latter’s (33-22) victory over the former, in Week 6. However, if TOPSZN wins, Jagerbomb is victorious, and TC losses, Jagerbomb would finish second, due to their Week 7 (32-28) win over TOPSZN.

The loser, could drop all the way down to fourth place in Conference B.

WOW, that was a lot of work.

Over in Conference A, the Junkyard Dogs, and Mountain Lions, continued their battle for second place, with wins last week as well.
The Junkyard Dogs, beat a reeling BearSkins squad (25-13), on Monday night. For JYD, it was their fifth win a row, making the, one of the hottest teams in Division C, as we march towards the Real Season.

On the other side, it was the BearSkins second loss in a row. Currently in the 4th spot, but with the Backyard Bullies, and Dirty Dawgs breathing down their neck, the BearSkins, will look to stop their slide, and go into the playoffs on a high-note, when they take on Keyport Lock, Monday night at Stade de Montreal.

Junkyard Dogs Quarterback Jason Rossie, threw for four touchdowns, and did a solid job of spreading the ball to his receivers, as he connected on passes with 6 different targets.

Receiver Jonathan Lyristis, stood out the most, as he led his team with 5 catches for 46 yards, and a touchdown.

For the Junkyard Dogs, it is their fifth win in a row.

Speaking of hot teams, the Mountain Lions, made it seven wins in row, as they beat Omelette You Finish, (43-24) Monday evening, at…by now, you should already know.

The Mountain Lions’ Andrew Langburt, continued his strong play, that has will certainly get him some votes for Two-Way Player of the Year, as he threw for a touchdown, caught a TD, and ran one back to the house on defense.

The team’s regular Quarterback, in Jake Applebaum, continued his march towards QB of the Year consideration, as he threw for 5 TD passes in the win. For the 8-year vet, it was his 14th TD pass, in his last 3 games. After admitting to me before the Spring Season began, that he spent a good part of the winter campaign getting the rust off, due to missing a year after suffering a torn ACL in the 2016 Spring Season playoffs, it is pretty safe to say that Applebaum, is back.

The win for both the Junkyard Dogs, and Mountain Lions was huge. Although both teams won’t be able to catch The Alpha-T’s due to the fact that they both lost to TAT’s already this year, and sit one game back of them, heading into Week 10, they are tied for second place points wise, with 16 apiece.

This week, the Junkyard Dogs play Braves U, while the Mountain Lions, finish with the Dirty Dawgs.

If both teams win their respective contests, the Junkyard Dogs, would finish in second, as long as they give up More than 46 points. Since both squads have the same amount of wins (8), and divisional record (6-1-0), JYD, just has to finish with less points given up than the Mountain Lions. Heading into tonight’s games, the former have given up a Div. C best (175), while the latter have allowed 221.

The Backyard Bullies, got a valuable two points, with (39-25) win over Lobster Dinner. The key to the win for the Bullies, was the performances of Jordan Allard, and Steve Sanner.

After dominating Division C last Spring Season, with 700 yards and 20 touchdowns, on his way to winning the Receiver of the Year Award as a member of The Commission, Jordan Allard, hasn’t come close to finding the same magic this year with the Backyard Bullies.

Coming into Week 9, the 2017 All-Star, biggest game of the year, was a 5 catch for 50 yards, and 2 touchdown performance against The Alpha-T’s, in Week 8. Allard, shattered those numbers last Sunday versus Lobster Dinner, as he came up with 8 receptions, for 100 yards, and a jaw-dropping 5 TDs.

With the ‘Real Season’ just a week away, hopefully last week’s performance by the 8-year vet, will be the boost that his game needs.

On the other side of the ball, ball-hawk Steve Sanner, collected 2 interceptions in the victory, and was a main reason why the Lobster Dinner offense, was held to just 6 points in the second-half. The two INTs, gave Sanner, a team-leading 4 on the season.

In the bigger picture, it was a solid performance for a Backyard Bullies defense, that has been hemorrhaging yardage and points in recent weeks.

 

The Vikings, and Dirty Dawgs, battled to a (32-32) tie Tuesday night in Brossard. (Finally, somewhere else!!!!)

These two teams were very similar in this contest, as both Quarterbacks in Nicolas Gendron-Vallée, and Ryan Lelinowski, each threw for 5 touchdowns, and around 170 yards. (175 for Gendron-Vallé, and 172 for Lelinowski).

Both teams also had a dominant performance by Wide Receivers, as Simon Gauthier, and Philippe Kotrbaty, of the Vikings, combined for 9 catches, for 156 yards, and 4 touchdowns, while Dave Chitayat, and Derek Sigler, teamed up for receptions, for 105 yards, and 3 TDs.
If all that wasn’t enough, both teams also scored 19 first-half, and 13 second-half points.

More importantly, the tie, gives each team 1 point, that for the Vikings, guaranteed a playoff spot, while for the Dirty Dawgs, it put them in the 6th seed, one point behind the Backyard Bullies for 5th place, and 2 points back of the BearSkins for 4th, which is huge, as the Dirty Dawgs have already beaten the BearSkins, back in Week 8.

 

 

Matchups

 

Frédéric Viens (Les Montagnards) versus Jamal Gittens (Lights Out)

 

A huge game, with a playoff spot on the line. These are the best players on their respective teams. Who will carry their team to the post-season?

 

Leonardo Lanni (Moist) versus Johnathon Louis (Broccasion)

 

For Moist, this is their last chance to get a win this year, while for Broccasion, they want to end the season on positive note, after going through a more than disappointing season, and having their playoff hopes dashed last week.

These are the best playmakers on either side. Who will have the bigger performance?

 

Leandre Ethier (Braves U) versus the Junkyard Dogs Defense

 

Despite their (0-8-1) record, Braves U, have actually been playing their best football of the season over the last month, as the team has lost 3 out of their last 4 games, by less than a touchdown. Two of those losses, have come against playoff teams, in The Alpha-T’s, and Strangers.

Over that span Quarterback Leandre Ethier, has thrown 15 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. Ethier, will be in tough, as he faces the best defense in Division C, in the Junkyard Dogs.

Led by Rob White, Rory Semerjian, Alexandre Noel, and Jonathan Williams, this unit is fast, smart, and athletic. They will have their hands full however, as they will be taking on the Braves U dynamic receiving trio of Mike Pierrecin, Jean Christophe Bouvrette, and Jonathan Maheu, who have combined for 85 catches, for 1,009 yards, and 26 touchdowns.

Will Braves U, be able to make enough plays, and get their first win of the season?

 

Elite 8

 

1. The Alpha-T’s (Last Week: 1st)

2. Junkyard Dogs (Last Week: Same)

3. Blue Chips (Last Week: 4th)

4. Jagerbomb (Last Week: 2nd)

5. Mountain Lions (Last Week: Same)

6. The Commission (Last Week: Same)

7. TOPSZN (Last Week: 8th)

8. Dirty Dawgs (Last Week: 7th)

 

 

Picks

 

Friends in Low Places vs Vikings – Vikings

Blue Chips vs Jagerbomb – Blue Chips (My pick for Game of the Week #1)

Omelette You Finish vs TOPSZN – TOPSZN

Strangers vs The Commission – N/A

BearSkins vs Keyport Lock – Keyport Lock

Moist vs Brocassion – Moist (Upset Special #1)

Lobster Dinner vs The Alpha-T’s – The Alpha-T’s

Backyard Bullies vs Game Changers – Backyard Bullies

Lights Out vs Les Montagnards – Les Montagnards (My pick for Upset Special and Game of the Week #2)

Mountain Lions vs Dirty Dawgs – Dirty Dawgs (Upset Special #3)

Braves U vs Junkyard Dogs – Junkyard Dogs

 

Last Week: (7-2-1)

 

Season: (50-27-3)

 

Bonus Pick:  France vs Croatia – Croatia (Upset Special #4) – Yeah, I know France is the better team, and the heavy favorites, but it feels like Croatia, has just a little bit of magic left. In all seriousness, can you remember a better World Cup than this one? Great games, upsets galore, action-packed extra time, and tons of penalty kicks. What more can you ask for?

 

That’s it for this week, I’ll be back next time with a re-cap of Week 10, and a first round playoff preview.

Good luck to everybody in their games, and enjoy the World Cup Final!

If you loved the article, hated, or simply felt like I left something out, feel free to reach out to me on Twitterc@BADNEWSB51, or by e-mail at [email protected]