Teams Are Making Movements

 

 

 

Welcome to Week 8 of the FlagPlus Football Division 7 season. The playoff races are tightening up, and teams are starting to make some moves and statements, as the all-important post-season seedings are about to start taking form. 

 

The team who perhaps made the biggest statement, was the Mogadishu Pirates, who beat the Super Troopers 20-12 at the Stinger this past Sunday night.  

 

The Mogadishu Pirates’ forced Super Troopers Quarterback Gabriel Wiseman to have to beat them via the short game, as the M.G defenders played a perfect blend of Cover 2 and 4/1 defense, that completely took away  their opponents deep ball. Standing on the sideline during the entire second half, it felt like every long ball that was thrown by Wiseman, was either going to get intercepted, or batted down.  

 

It’s a shame that the Toppers offense couldn’t find their game, because the effort put forth by their defense, and in particular Div. 6 sack-master Zackary Alberts-Gill (he had 3 sacks and caused Mogadishu Pirates QB Michael Smith to have to get rid of the ball early on numeroous plays) should’ve been enough to get the win.  

 

On a personal note, it was nice to see Dylan Catellier, back in D6, and reuniting with his former PB n’ Jelly teammates, even if it was only for one night. The FPF vet, who led all receivers with a game-high 69 yards on 4 catches, provided many big plays and highlights last winter for the eventual Div. 6 champs.    

 

If you guys paid attention to my picks last week, you’ll notice that I went with the Troopers in the upset. I have no problem admitting when I am wrong, and…I was wrong.  

 

 After 5 long weeks of losing, Chapman trying to catch passes with his chest, and Peeze looking like he wanted to jump off the top of the Sportira Cage building (It’s not really a long drop, but still)  One Speed: Power, clearly threatened by my Down Goes Chapman Chappernym, (if you have no clue what I am talking about, go back and watch Episode #5 of the Calling The Audible Division 6 podcast) finally won a game, as they knocked off the Farmers 32-25 Sunday night in Lachine.  

 

In getting the win, OSP got huge performances from Will Power (more on him in a bit), Lucas Blanchard, and Peeze, who had his best game as a passer this season, with 214 yards and 5 TD throws. 

 

One Speed: Power also got two huge plays from their defense, as they got key interceptions by Blanchard, and FPF rookie Joseph James. (good job bud!) 

 

Speaking of The Baker Boys, they shocked yours truly, and most of D6, with their 24-21 victory over the Goon Squad Tuesday night in Kirkland.  

 

The Baker Boys, played a solid team game to get the win. On defense, although they struggled to contain Goon Squad Wide Receiver Matthew Gagliardi, who had 118 yards and 3 TDs, they were able to lock down their opponents’ other receivers, hold QB Massimo Cicchini, to 9 total completions, and get 2 key sacks out of Joey Musumeci, that helped his team out in the field position battle. 

 

On offense, although TBB pivot Marc-André Senécal didn’t put up amazing numbers through the air, his 3 touchdown second-half performance ( 2 via pass, and one rushing to go along with 6 carries for 62 yards) also played a huge role in his team’s win. 

 

As coincidence would have it, The Baker Boys meet the aforementioned One Speed: Power this Monday night at Stade Hebert. Will TBB who is fighting for their playoff lives get a huge win that will keep them in the race, or will OSP be able to stay in the fast lane (you see what I did there?) and keep the good times rolling? 

 

One team heading in the wrong direction, is the N.W.O. The veteran squad had a chance to stay one game behind the Warriors In the Conference B Central Division, and their offense, most notably Quarterback Michael Sanchez failed to show up. Not only did he no-show, but he had his worst game of the season, as he threw 4 INTs, (2 of which were ran back to the house) and a miserable QB Rating of 44.9.  

 

Much credit to Channel 4 News Team for not only pulling off the upset, but for putting up a stellar defensive performance. 

 

The only saving grace for the black and white, was that Victorious Secret, who was breathing down their back for 2nd in the Central, suffered a blowout loss to the Rolling Rock (More on both teams in a second), and that the first place Warriors finish with a much tougher schedule than the N.W.O. If the team plays like they did against Channel 4 News Team down that stretch, it won’t matter who the Dubs close out the regular season against. 

 

Another team tripping over themselves is Victorious Secret. After starting off red hot with a 3-0 start, and looking like they finally turned things around in the right direction, the veteran squad has gone winless in their last 3 games, and has looked a lot like the perennial losing team that routinely finished at the bottom of the D6 and Div. E standings. 

 

Over the past 3 games, Victorious Secret has recorded a combined 24 points. With two tough games coming up against the Ravens and the Super Troopers, VS will need to get things turned around in a hurry. 

 

The Rolling Rock’s  previously mentioned win over Victorious Secret was huge for 2 reasons, first, it snapped a 3-game losing streak, and more importantly, it not only kept them in sole possession of second place in the Central due to their Week win over the Channel 4 News Team, but it also keeps them game back of the division-leading Goofy Goobers, who have won their last 3 contests. Good job guys! 

 

 The fireworks went off in the second half of the Sticknmovers 31-26 win over the Bruins , as both teams combined for a solid 6 touchdowns and 44 points, after only putting up 2 and 13 respectively in the first half.  

 

Top 3 

 

Patrick Bohrque (Mogadishu Pirates) – What a game for the rookie, as he had an impressive 3 INTs, and played a crucial role in his team’s 20-13 win over the Super Troopers. He literally pulled a Deion Sanders (yeah, I am old school, and I also think a lot of today’s CBs are overrated) and took one side of the field away from his opponents.   

 

Will Power (One Speed: Power) – The man with the best name is FPF, played a huge role in helping his team get their first W of the season, as the FPF Sophomore had a monster of a game, with 11 catches for 137 yards and 2 TDs.   

 

Kevin Sr. Pierre (Rolling Rock) – The third year player had a whale of a game against Victorious Secret, as he had a season and game-high 9 catches for 107 yards, and 3 TDs, to go along with an impressive 2 INTs. 

 

Honorable Mention: Jared Buck (The Spanish Inquisition) – He only completed 9 passes, but 5 of them went for TDs in his team’s 32-6 win over the FBG. 

 

Shamar Joassaint (Broke Boys) – He was pretty much his team’s only bright spot in their 31-18 loss to the Ravens, as the rookie had 5 receptions for 78 yards and 2 TDs, to go along with 2 INTs, one of which he ran back for a score as well (All team highs). 

 

Step It Up 

 

Domenic D’Onofrio and the Victorious Secret Offense – If it wasn’t for the team’s Defensive Back Joe Marziliano, getting a pick-6 off of Rolling Rock QB Normand Bellemare, VS wouldn’t have scored any points, because their pivot Domenic D’Onofrio, went 2 of 12 passing, for 36 yards and 3 INTs. Yeah, it’s been a while, but the old more picks than completions rule still applies. Step It Up boys! 

 

Dez Nuts – Yes, the team was without their starting Quarterback Justin Ferrara, but zero points is still zero points. 

 

Nicholas Borrelli  (DGC) – Like I said earlier, the more picks than completions rule is still in full affect. In his team’s 32-6 loss to The Money Team, Borrelli threw 7 INTs to 5 completed passes to members of his own squad.         

 

Finally guys, after having a chance to watch almost every single team in the division, here it is, the first official top 8 Power Rankings of the year, otherwise known as the Elite 8.  

 

Elite 8 

 

1. Mogadishu Pirates – Is there any doubt that they are the cream of the crop of D6? 

 

2. Ravens – The only other undefeated team in Division 6, the Ravens aren’t always pretty offensively, but they find a way win, and that’s all that counts. 

 

3. Warriors – They’ve been back for a while now. The only thing that prevents them from being higher on the list is their Week 2 loss to Victorious Secret, which feels like a lifetime ago, and the fact that so far this year, they have had the luxury of facing a predominantly soft schedule. While the loss can’t be erased, the soft sched will be, as the team finishes off the regular season with Pardon My Swag, the Smokin Axolotls, and the number 1 team on this list –  the Mogadishu Pirates. 

 

4. Pardon My Swag – They have looked impressive the last week, as they blew out a scrappy Sons of Mitches team last Sunday night in Lachine. The tough part of their schedule starts Tuesday night with a game versus the Warriors in Kirkland, followed by games against teams all in the power rankings.  

 

5. Savage Mode – In case you were wondering, strength of schedule plays a part in the rankings (as well it should). While they have one less point than the Goofy Goobers (10 to 9), Savage Mode has played and beaten tougher teams than the next squad on the list. 

 

6. Goofy Goobers – Yes, it might be unfair to put the double G 6th, because you can only beat the teams who are on your schedule, but besides relying on their beatdown win over the Rolling Rock, and a potentially tough game remaining against a slowly improving The Baker Boys squad, we won’t really find out how good the Goofy Goobers really are, until playoff time rolls around. 

 

7. Smokin Axolotls – They have played arguably the toughest schedule so far out of any team. What Stef Fennes’ team needs to do is remember what got them to the championship game last spring. Playing as a team and executing. So far this year, they’ve been a bit of a up and down squad that likes to argue amongst themselves. Stef has the defense taken care of, but their best player – Quarterback Jordan Rossie – needs to take control of the offense, and lead the team as we get ready for the playoff grind. With big games remaining against the Broke Boys, Warriors, and Pardon My Swag, it will be interesting to see what happens. 

 

8. Rolling Rock – The veteran squad almost dropped off the list completely, if it wasn’t for their aforementioned win over Victorious Secret, that reminded everybody that they still are a legit threat to win the championship. Up next for the Rolling Rock, is a date with the Mogadishu Pirates tonight at Brossard at 6PM. Will we see an upset? 

 

Picks (FAVORITES IN BOLD) 

 

Goon Squad vs Blitz Babes – Goon Squad 

 

Mogadishu Pirates vs Rolling Rock – Mogadishu Pirates 

 

Sticknmovers vs Farmers – Sticknmovers 

 

FBG vs Bruins – Bruins  

 

Los Avocados vs Channel 4 News Team – Channel 4 News Team 

 

DGC vs Super Troopers – Super Troopers 

 

 Cette Équipe Là vs The Spanish Inquisition – The Spanish Inquisition 

 

Broke Boys vs Smokin Axolotls – Broke Boys (Upset Special #1) 

 

Sons of Mitches vs Greendale Human Beings – Greendale Human Beings 

 

Savage Mode vs Dez Nuts – Savage Mode 

 

One Speed: Power vs The Baker Boys – One Speed Power (Upset Special #2) 

 

Victorious Secret vs Ravens – Ravens 

 

N.W.O vs The Money Team – The Money Team (Upset Special #3) 

 

Rogue Squad vs Goofy Goobers – Goofy Goobers 

 

Warriors vs Pardon My Swag – Pardon My Swag (My choice for Game of the Week, and Upset Special #4) 

 

Last Week: 8-6-1 

 

Season Record: 35-26-5 

 

That’s it for this week guys, I’ll be back next week with a re-cap of the Week 8 games, and a preview for what’s on tap for Week 9.

 

Just a reminder once again, to tune in to the FPF YouTube channel, or on the flagplusfootball.com website, on Tuesdays from 9PM – 9:30PM, to hear the Division 6 podcast, hosted by Paolo Della Rocca, Stefan Fennes, Antonio D’Aversa, and yours truly. It’s a lot of fun, you guys should check it out, it gets better and better each week.  

 

Take care, and enjoy the games!

 

If you loved the article, hated it, or simply felt like I left something out, feel free to contact me at [email protected]