The Dog Days of the Schedule are upon us, adding a Flex position and previewing a potential Tanner Marsh game

Welcome and thanks for jumping on to read up on the Division happenings. It was a bit of a lighter week in Division C with just 7 games, but 4 teams had 2 games this week, so there was still some shifting in the division standings. So let’s jump right into it.

Division Talking Points

• Tough Lungs got 2 huge wins on Thursday night to go from bottom of the standings (17th) to the 10th seed and are holding on to a playoff spot.
• Rocco Christiano is actually a really good QB and is keeping his team in games with the dimes he throws and his elusiveness on his runs.
• HSS split their 2 games on Monday, beating Beer Belly Brigade (revenging their embarrassing 48-12 loss to them in the winter season) but lost to a Blitzed Budds squad led by AJ Gomes on both sides of the ballv (60 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs, 1 Def TD, 2 PDs). Was it good enough to land him a spot on the Iggy Magnets Fantasy Team of the Week?
• Do me eyes deceive me? EZW is allowing the 2nd LEAST points against? They have been a franchise always known for scoring points at will, but just as easily giving up points. They’ve always had the athletes to play D, but it seems they’ve concentrated on playing tighter defensively and it’s paying off.
• Ravens making a push and a statement to be considered Div C contenders after rattling off 4 wins in a row.
• Les Montagnards drop both games this week. After starting the season 2-1, they’ve now dropped 3 straight to sit at 2-4.
• The Stoics have only played 3 games so far this season. Their season grind begins on Monday for them. They play 3 games in 8 days and 5 games in the next 13 days. In their next 5, I say they come away with 3 wins and 2 losses. Maybe 3 wins, 1 loss and a tie.
• Air Force 1 lost both their games in heartbreaking fashion; both on the last play of the game on Thursday night. They gave up the TD to Justin Bizzarro Gray vs. Tough Lungs and couldn’t convert their 2 point convert against TOPSZN after scoring to make it a 30-31 game. They are now on a 3-game losing streak and drop to 3-4 on the season.
• With 4 games in the next 16 days, The Commission have a very tough schedule ahead, with opponents like EZW, Blitzed Budds, The Stoics and Vultures.
• Blitzed Budds are starting to heat up. That’s 2 wins in a row. Felix Goulet-Tinawi with 455 yards, 11 TDs and 1 INT in his last 2 games. 🔥
• Two Inch’s Gang averaging just 19 points a game… that won’t cut it in Div C.
• TOPSZN playing in a lot of close games and coming out on top bodes well for their eventual playoff run.
• The Infantry only allowing 6 points to Les Montagnards is a sign of a great defense. Fiset-Cyr scored on his first drive and would not find the endzone the rest of the game. You can tell that with Armand Balla rushing and the aggressive Infantry defense, Fiset-Cyr had no answers.
• The cluster of 1-4, 1-3 and 0-4 teams is a good thing for those teams at the bottom. They will likely be facing off against each other at some point and may need just 2-3 more wins to get into the playoffs.
• Holy hell, Manu Allard-Roy has already been targeted 55 times this season. His 48 receptions and 15 TDs lead Div C.
• I told you Dernst DuBuisson-Desmornes has crazy speed! He’s now T-1st with 8 sacks in just 4 games. He’s averaging 2 sacks per game 👀
• Speaking of rushers, Joey Notaro in his last 3 games… 3 pick 6’s. Did I mention he’s a rusher? As we saw on the IG reel… Rivest: “What’s Joey been eating?” Peeze: “QB’s”.

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Game Recap

Tough Lungs vs. Los Penetradores

This game was an offensive showdown that went score for score, and as many games often do in the middle-to-higher divisions, came down to converts.

After both teams would exchange opening drive scores, a sack from Oli Doleyres put QB Rocco Christiano in a tough 4th and 11 situation that Los Penetradores could not convert. Mathew and Justin Lerner made sure they would pay as after a 9 yard completion, they connected again on a 31 yard TD pass to change the game situation in favor of TL.

After the next Penetradores drive ended with Rocco shimmy shaking down field, making the rusher and 3 defenders miss in the open field, into the endzone, when the Tough Lungs were presented with a 4th down of their own, unlike Los Penetradores, they converted as Lerner was able to hit Brandon Aylward on 4th for the TD. This was an early turning point in the game; Penetradores unable to convert on 4th while Tough Lungs punched it in for 6, with Tough Lungs starting the 2nd half with the ball.

The game overall was filled with big offensive plays. There were 10(!) plays of 20+ yards and 4 plays of 30+ yards. Both defenses did not have their best outings and were giving up yards in bunches.

In order for Tough Lungs to really take advantage of the possession game, their D came up big at the end of the 1st half with a big stop after giving up 30 yards on the drive (10 by penalty and 20 yards to Justin Goodman). The half ended 19-13 in favour of TL, and as I mentioned, they would start with the ball in the 2nd half, which began with a Migdesyan 28-yard sideline go, and ended with Migdesyan punching it in from 7-yards out to put his team up by 2 scores.

After the teams would go three consecutive drives (LP, TL, LP) scoring in 2 plays or less, and the score at 32-25, Los Penetradores forced the next Tough Lungs possession into a punt, but began their drive at their own 1 with 5 plays remaining in the game. A 26-yard scamper downfield on 3rd down from Rocco put Los Penetradores in scoring range on that single play. After an incomplete pass, Justin Goodman would score to make the score 32-31 for Tough Lungs.

Now… you’re 0-3 on the season. Do you go for 1 for the tie (since you want to get any points on the season) or do you go for 2 for the win. I think you go for the win, and that’s what Los Penetradores did. They however, could not convert the 2-pt attempt and fall to 0-4 on the season. Tough Lungs got their 2nd win of the night to move up to 2-4 after starting 0-4 themselves.

Players of the game:

Tough Lungs: Mathew Lerner – 17 completions, 25 attempts, 226 yards, 5 TD, 0 INTs, 2/5 on converts (both for 1 point).

Los Penetradores: Rocco Christiano – 13 completions, 20 attempts, 199 yards, 4 TD, 0 INTs, 3 rushing attempts, 55 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD, 1/5 on converts (1 point).

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Game Preview

One Step Closer (1-4)

vs.

Beer Belly Brigade (1-4)

Let’s take a look at the One Step Closer vs. Beer Belly Brigade game that will go down on July 7th in Brossard. First of all, with Alex Noel injured, and Luis Begin asking Tanner Marsh if he can play Quarterback for them, makes this a very intriguing match up, as this game was going to be “relatively easy” for Beer Belly to now quite difficult. Now that One Step Closer might have Luis Begin lining up as a receiver alongside weapons like Alexis Bessette, Kevin Marcil and Richie Mondesir with an ex-CFL’er throwing them balls, that could be a very, very interesting offense.

If One Step Closer’s offense is successful in racking up the points, they will need to stop Alex Fafard and the Beer Belly offense if they want the W. Fafard is not having the same success as he did in Div 4B in the Winter season, but is still a dual-threat QB that can burn you both with his legs and his arm if you are not disciplined. If Begin rushes him, he can neutralize Fafard‘s ability to run and force him to beat them with his arm.

Fafard will need to be ready to be a pocket passer. If he does, his offense is capable of methodically driving down the field, chewing up the clock, and limiting the number of possessions for OSC. Even though Nicolas Curotte is doing a formidable job replacing Olivier Claveau at the snapper position, I feel like BBB is still missing Claveau. It’s 1 less weapon for Fafard in his attack where he could have Curotte lined up either in the slot or wide. Plus, Claveau is one of the hardest guys to tackle in FPF’s middle divisions, as he often gains many yards after the catch for first downs or touchdowns.

The Beer Belly offense is the 5th best offense for yardage per game (200.2) but have the 10th (out of 17 teams) most points per game (27.6). So the offense is moving the ball, but failing to score at the same rate. While the offense is doing their part, the Beer Belly defense is averaging the 2nd most yards given up per game (237.6) and averaging the 3rd most points against per game (33.2). This is a stark contrast to their stiff defense last season in 4B. Now going up against better offenses to defend against, they are finding it harder to play the same aggressive defense.

Prediction: All that said, I can see a 28-24 kind of game, I’m just not sure in favor of who. I’ll go with Beer Belly in this one to avoid the 1-5 record and improve to 2-4.

Division C Fantasy Team of the Week

Quarterbacks (2):

QB1 – Mathew Lerner – G1 (Tough Lungs): 20/24, 83.3% completion, 238 yards, 6 TDs, 0 INTs, 147.6 QBR, 0 for 6 on converts.

QB2 – Simon Blais – G1 (Air Force 1): 23/32, 71.9% completion, 220yards, 5 TDs, 0 INTs, 130.2 QBR, 2 Rushing Attempts, 17 Rushing yards, 1 for 5 on converts (1 point earned).

Receivers (5):

WR1 – Félix Gagné – (Ravens): 10 receptions, 11 targets, 103 yards, 3 TDs

WR2 – Justin Lerner – G1 (Tough Lungs): 7 receptions, 8 targets, 100 yards, 2 TDs

WR3 – Xavier Collette – G1 (Air Force 1): 5 receptions, 6 targets, 73 yards, 3 TDs, 1x XP1

WR4 – Justin Lerner – G2 (Tough Lungs): 6 receptions, 9 targets, 89 yards, 2 TDs, 1x XP1

WR5 – Brandon Parent – (TOPSZN): 5 receptions, 6 targets, 87 yards, 2 TDs

FLEX (1):

Mathieu Girard-Provost – (Les Montagnards): 8 receptions, 11 targets, 76 yards, 2 TDs, 1x XP1

Defensive Backs (5) + Rusher (1):

DB – AJ Gomes – (Blitzed Budds): 2 tackles, 2 INTs, 1 Def TD, 2 PDs

DB – Mathieu Girard-Provost – (Les Montagnards): 4 tackles, 1 INT, 1 Def INT

DB – Karl Forgues – (Ravens): 6 tackles, 1 INTs

DB – DonnDre Borden – G1 (Hot Sauce Sports): 5 tackles, 2 INTs

DB – Julien Fiset-Cyr – (Les Montagnards): 2 tackles, 1 INT, 1 PD

Rusher – Joey Notaro – G1 (Hot Sauce Sports): 1 sack, 1 tackle, 1 INT, 1 Def TD

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Week 5 Game Picks 

My Picks are in Bold Green

The Stoics vs. TWO INCH’S GANG

Los Penetradores vs. Les Montagnards

Blitzed Budds vs. The Stoics

Ravens vs. ESU Timberwolves

TOPSZN vs. TWO INCH’S GANG

The Commission vs. EZW

Blitzed Budds vs. Air Force 1

Vultures vs. Tough Lungs

One Step Closer vs. Beer Belly Brigade

Epilogue

Well, that does it for the Week 4 article. It seems that producing Calling The Audible and I are not a match, but at least some sound was produced. If you tune out the booming voices of Peeze and Moe, you can at least hear what they had to say about the week that was in FPF. This week I’ll be on as an analyst, so it should go smoother.

I will be at Loyola this Tuesday scorekeeping on Field 1, which all 4 games are Div C!! So if you want your game talked about in next week’s article, you gotta step up your games and make incredible plays that I just HAVE to write about. There are fewer games this week with no FPF games this Sunday July 3rd, so if your team is off this week, enjoy the time to rest up any lingering injuries you may have! Also, feel free to come say hi before playing outdoors at Loyola on Tuesday, or reach out to me on socials @iggymanz or Ignacio Valdes-Manzanedo on FB messenger to let me know if you like the articles, hate ’em, what you wanna see more of / less of.

Cheers!