The Championship week and a look back at Winter 2015’s season.

From 4 to 2.

Blowouts.

Two weeks ago, I got all 4 games wrong in my prediction and we saw upsets raining in Div 4. Did some teams run out of juice half-way through the playoffs? Were they figured out? Was a fluke? One thing’s for sure, they gave the FPF Nation a heck of a run for their money, that’s for sure.

Last week, I predicted one of the two games properly; I expected Grip n Rip to take it and also predicted how Backyard Bullies would have a bad night. I didn’t foresee 69ers crumbling that hard offensively against Recipe 4 Disaster’s ability to cover the deep ball though. I ain’t perfect.

The Championship is upon us, we have the last 2 teams remaining and it’ll be a great one. If you haven’t experienced the Road Show in Brossard for FPF’s finale, I suggest you do. It’s a great ambiance, it’s a great experience regardless of you playing or not. We’ll have great field coverage as usual and it’s usually pretty amazing games to watch. I really suggest the FPF nation to drop by; it’s a lot of fun for everyone.

 

 

 

 

Week 16 – Championship Week

 

My final thoughts of the season:

• I didn’t foresee this final 2, even pre-season.
• I’m really happy for both teams that made it; they rocked their way to the finale in a different fashion, which made it pretty exciting.
• Div4 was great all around. A lot of parity, a lot of upsets. FPF did a good job setting up this division properly.
• R4D’s defense really impressed me last week against 69ers.
• There was A LOT of people at Lachine last Sunday. Like, A LOT.
• Tonight’s press-conferences should be interesting. If it’s anything like last year, expect the unexpected. It’s a recreational league after all.

 

 

 

Recap

 

69ers faced off against Recipe 4 Disaster to book their ticket to the Road Show and the incredible experience that is the FPF finale. Let’s be honest, we’ve all talked about how it would be a disappointing season for 69ers if they don’t make it far, well, regardless of last Sunday’s outcome, they made it far and it was a heck of a season for them. That being said, here’s how it went down.

Applebaum started off the game pretty confident even if he was asked, last second, literally, to play defense and allow Ryan Aridi to sit on the bench and nurse his injury. He was dressed, but didn’t play. Rockman subbed as rusher and did a pretty good job at restraining Shea Harbour and forcing poor throws. R4D played the deep ball, pretty much, all game and took away most of Harbour’s reads; we could read the frustration in his eyes from the sidelines.

Kevin Boustany took an elbow to the face early in the game which caused some serious nose bleeding, but nothing more severe; he stepped out a few plays, but was back in time to be the hawk he is known to be.

The game was mostly played in the first half. Yes, it got a bit physical, yes, it’s football. It might be FPF, but it’s still football. 69ers were shutout to NO points in the first half and Shea Harbour’s offense was being outplayed. Applebaum found ways to score. It wasn’t always pretty, but he got first downs and found Farag in back-to-back drives to give his team the lead and they never looked back.

This game was over, sadly, by half time where R4D had the lead 20-0. 69ers managed to find the endzone and get some converts in, but 16 points in the second half wasn’t enough to overcome the lead R4D dug in the first.

 

Recipe 4 Disaster move on to the Championship Game.

 

 

 

Grip n Rip faced off against Backyard Bullies in a mirror game that I expected could go both ways, but would end in a blowout and I was right. Both teams know each other very, very well as Gualano used to be a Backyard Bullies back in the days. Gualano’s offense was struggling most of the game; difficult first few possessions, difficult first and second downs. Gualano managed to convert on third down, but his legs were the real key last Sunday.

Rich Humes lined up differently on defense and it worked for most of the game; allowing only 9 completions to the opposing QB should be enough, but both offenses had a very, very ugly outing. A lot of turnovers on downs, a few bad throws and Rich Humes got stopped one too many times in the redzone. Mark Donohue, Bullies’ rusher, made some incredible play in the second half sacking Gualano on back-to-back-to-back plays from the 2nd down to the 4th to get GnR out of his redzone and give Rich Humes amazing field positioning and even that wasn’t enough to crack GnR’s defense.

The final score ended being 27-7, but it really just looked like a bad offensive night for both teams. Both defenses looked great out there and should be proud of what they’ve accomplished.

Backyard Bullies might not have made it to the finale, but it was a great run nonetheless.

 

Grip n Rip move on to the Championship Game.

 

 

 

 

Players of the week

 

Daniel Farag (Recipe 4 Disaster) : If there’s one guy that kept finding ways to help his QB and find the open zones (even the endzone), it was Daniel Farag last week. He stepped up big and was a nightmare to cover.

Mark Donohue (Backyard Bullies) : Although his team loss, he was the bright star in the mist. Recording 4 sacks on Vinny Gualano is no easy feat, but he managed to take away an endzone drive with back-to-back-to-back sacks to give his team amazing field positioning and kill his opponents’ drive. Incredible.

 

 

 

Previews

 

• Recipe 4 Disaster (6th) vs Grip n Rip (1st)

Previous Matchup : N/A

Analysis : Over the span of the playoffs, Recipe 4 Disaster managed to average 36.25 points offensively and allow 23.5 points with at least an INT per game. Applebaum has been distributing the goods and he’s been doing it really well. Having 5 receivers with 3+ TDs in the last 4 games is fantastic and, well, pretty impressive too. Defensively, R4D has 5 different DBs with at least an INT in the playoffs. Kevin Boustany is leading both sides of the ball with 6 TDs in the last 4 games and 2 Interceptions. Could he be Recipe 4 Disaster’s top playmaker?

Grip n Rip has played one less game, but the experience isn’t something they needed coming in. Averaging “only” 25.67 points per game offensively, they managed to shutout their opponents to a low 8.67 points per game. The most they allowed was to Dragons (13) in the first half before shutting them down completely in the 2nd half. They haven’t looked back since. Most of the offensive TDs go to Anthony Da Silva (4), but Gualano’s receiving corps has 5 receivers with at least a TD in the last 3 games. Could Anthony Da Silva be the key to Gualano’s offense? Can he perform without him?

Both teams employ a very balanced style of offense without a single guy standing out. Sure, both teams have preferred targets, but the offense doesn’t revolve around a single guy and it’s a reason they made it to the finale.

Can Grip n Rip adjust to Recipe 4 Disaster’s offensive trickeries? Will Zenobi get help when Boustany lines up behind the line of scrimmage? Who will step up to reduce Aridi’s effect on handoffs? Does GnR have the personnel to stop R4D’s offense?

 

Can Ryan Aridi counter both Gualano’s and Avraam’s QB style if they decide to mix things up? Will he have help if both QBs line up to throw on the same play? Who’s R4D’s answer to Anthony Da Silva if Boustany lines up on Sean Avraam? Will we see another magical game from Jad Aridi defensively?

Grip n Rip wins relying heavily on their great defense and outscoring their opponents by keeping possessions to a minimum. Gualano doesn’t usually get that many drives and he’s efficient with the ones he’s given. On the other hand, Recipe 4 Disaster thrive with their offense and with a high amount of possessions; they’ll beat you by outscoring out and getting a key INT to create the much-needed gap.

Many questions that will be left unanswered until the very first snap of Saturday’s game. I can’t wait for 18:00 already.

Both styles are very different, but matchup very nicely. It’s basically offense vs defense at this point. Applebaum will need to use more than just trickery to impress GnR’s veterans and it’ll be a matter of who adjusts the best. If Applebaum has another 6 TD game, this could seal the deal for R4D. In a situation where he can’t go out and reach that 36+ points his offense needs, Gualano might end up putting a lot of pressure onto Pollice’s shoulders to raise his double-championship on Saturday.

Key Matchups : Ryan Aridi vs Vinny Gualano, Jad Aridi vs Anthony Da Silva, Kevin Boustany vs Sean Avraam

Prediction : 33 – 27 Grip n Rip

 

 

 

A Look back

 

For my final article of the season, I decided to do things a bit differently and add this particular segment to give everyone something to read before parting ways for the next month. We all know you’ll be back for spring, FPF is too much fun to pass on, but there’s still this one month hiatus before both seasons.

 

• Was Conference A really stronger than Conference B?

I don’t think so. Honestly, I think it came down to the matchups and certain teams had a bad draw. Then again, it all comes down to your performance during the season, so it really isn’t much of a draw.

 

 

 

• Bottom Dwellers

 

This is in no way a stab at any teams for being at the bottom of their division, but rather a look back at their team and what they should do (in my opinion) for the seasons to come.

Justice League : The team isn’t bad. I, actually, liked these guys, but they weren’t in the proper divisions. Maybe they could’ve clinched playoffs in Div5 instead of D4. Maybe register for Div D next season !

Local 89ers : I’d have to say, the message is the same I gave to Justice League; it’s a matter of the division you ended up in rather than the actual team itself. Maybe it’s a matter of ratings, but this team is a D5 caliber team rather than a D4.

Black Ice : Started off the season strong and kinda stopped trying after a while. The problem really was the QB and who was bound to throw week-in and week-out. This isn’t a bad team and it has had success in the past; it will have success in the future. Just one of those seasons we decide to forget.

TCO : I’m utterly disappointed. I expected more from Brent Callender and co, but what is done is done. A strong team without a QB can’t excel. I do hope this squad will come back, it has something special about them.

Sandlot Saints : Inconsistency is the key problem for them. Missing Tim Kraemer a few weeks really killed this team’s hopes. The arrival of Vincent Alessandrini really gave them the edge they needed. The way they played around mid-season was pure D4 caliber.

Eskimo Brothers : Question marks all over. Was this a rebuilding year? Most likely. They have a strong core to lead this team and the return of Shawn Steen can only strengthen the core. I really hope to see them back in Spring; they had a good run last year.

Les Affreux : Maybe Martin Jackson wasn’t ready to step in at QB. Maybe Domon should’ve stuck around a bit longer. Or simply they weren’t in the right division. Knowing they’ll drop to Div D for spring, I expect Les Affreux to bounce back and have a great season.

Whisperers : They seemed to have found their groove late in the season and really started to shine once chemistry started to sink in. Maybe they lacked practice together, maybe they were simply unlucky. I liked this team and I hope this isn’t the end of the experimentation.

Certified Flyguyz : Flyguyz still suffer from a lack of QB after so many seasons. The core of this team is incredible, but Etienne Chauvin wasn’t the answer they were looking for this season. Once they find it, they’ll win a championship.

 

 

 

• Middle of the pack

 

I won’t go through every single team here since I gave much of them a lot of press over the span of the season, but teams named here are teams that belonged in Div4 and should come back in Div C if they do come back. I believe they’ve got something good going on and the same group of guys, maybe with an extra playmaker, could really make noise with the added experience.

Shmoney : Strong core, lacked experience. Could really strive and have another great season in Div C if they come back in spring.

ZOO : Same team could have a good season; it was just a bit of bad luck. They could also lose a few guys and fit the Div D cap to become a powerhouse. Both way works.

Les Duck Dynasty : Strived from week 6 and on out. The experience will have them succeed. They could add a FPF veteran and compete in Div B if they wanted to.

Punt Returners : Started off strong, finished poorly. This team had the elements they needed, but sort of fell apart. Really hope they’ll consider coming back.

TrapStars : Their first good season in a long, long time. The key additions were the reason they became successful. The extra experience Vincent Richard acquired will be helpful next season.

BMS Goats : If they can keep their composure, this team is a pure D4 caliber team.

Ball Busters : Great all-around. Fell short. Definitely should come back for more.

Team Ethnik : A great upset shows they can ball with any given opponents. Div C bound.

Ghosts : A tough loss to a powerhouse in the playoffs doesn’t mean they weren’t up to par. Div C bound next season.

SouthSide Ballers : When JC Mercille came in the mix, SouthSide Ballers really became the team they were meant to be. Either have him back or find a suitable QB, because this team is talented.

Mustangs DG : A good run that finished on a bitter note. Injuries are always tough, but I hope this won’t be the end of the Mustangs franchise.

A-Squad : An emotional finish to a rollercoaster season. A-Squad is Div C bound.

Show me your TDs : A tough outing doesn’t mean they shouldn’t ball in Div C.

Bruthers : Fell short, but the added experience will make them a vicious team next season.

Dragons : A tough loss to Grip n Rip doesn’t mean this team couldn’t compete.

Longhorns : Started off a bit too slow, but finished amazing. If they can keep the momemtum going, they will roll hard into Div C.

Lobster Dinner : They really pulled it together to finish the season strong. A tough loss in the playoffs doesn’t mean they should move up or down. They were at the right spot.

Playground : Started off fantastic before hitting a rough patch. They had a decent finish, but the mid-season game was too weak to slide into the playoffs. This team has A LOT of potential

 

 

 

• Top Tier

 

I decided to label this group the “top tier” not because of the success they’ve had in the post-season, but because of the success they’ve had over the span of the entire season. These guys were the powerhouses of D4 and most of them should consider taking a step forward into Div B. Maybe add a guy or two and take the leap; that’s how you grow! The current roster will most likely fit Div C again, but with the added experience, you might have another blowout season. Might be a better fit upwards rather than to stay put!

Recipe 4 Disaster : Div B might be a bit far-fetched with the exact same squad. Adding some playmakers could make them a Div B team, if not, Div C bound regardless of Saturday’s outcome.

CREAM Team : A strong core that should consider the move to Div B.

Coyotes : The ratings might push them upwards, but they’ve shown they can ball with any given opponents.

Crisp : This team wasn’t Div4 caliber pre-season and they’ve really blew out opponents but lost when it really mattered. I can’t see them in Div C, nor Div B.

6 Fast Guys Plus Ryan : Div B bound. No doubt here.

69ers :

Maloudes : With a better QB; Div B. With Frezza; Div C. He really improved.

Game Changers : In my opinion, Div B bound; with guys coming back from injuries, this team can and will compete in Div B.

Backyard Bullies : They need another playmaker on both sides of the ball. The same team belongs in Div C, with a few added personnel; it could make noise in Div B.

Marco in the Middle : Tough to say where they’ll land next. Same team belongs in Div C, but the core players belong in Div B.

Grip n Rip : With an extra player, this team could excel in Div B.

Two and a half Dans : They’ll have a tough time in Div B, but they’ve always showed they can win regardless of their competition. I hope they move up.

Shamrocks : This team shouldn’t fit Div C anymore. It’s Div B bound.

 

 

 

This is it for Saturday’s version of my article. I hope you enjoyed it. If you didn’t, you can always blame G.M. Kolethras for having a real life or the person responsible for hiring me in the first place. I can always be reached on Twitter @DagenaisFPF like many of you have done in the past. Our email also works: [email protected] but Twitter is the new era, get with the times. It’s been a great ride.