The Dubois Awards

The end of the season is a sad event but it also means it’s time for awards! In FPF Junior, we have two sets of awards. The first are the official awards handed out by FPF commissioner Robert Campana in collaboration with the coaches. Those trophies for MVP and MIP (most improved player) are already been given out. Those awards come with a shiny trophy and international recognition (OK, league wide recognition).

The other awards are what I have affectionately dubbed the Dubois Awards. These are my unofficial division by division awards for best quarterback, defender, receiver, rusher and two-way player. Sadly, these awards do not come with fame or a shiny trophy but rather with the satisfaction of knowing that your great season did not go unnoticed. Without further adieu, let’s jump right into the Dubois Awards for the Atom division.

 

The Dubois Awards

Atom

Quarterback of the Year: Gavin O’Connell (Flight School 5)

 Stats: 26 completions, 375 yards, 10 TDs, 3 INTs, 3 sacks. 122 rushing yards and 3 rushing TDs

Gavin O’Connell was simply phenomenal this season. He had over 100 passing yards more than any other Atom quarterback. Not only did he lead in both touchdowns and interceptions, he did all that while throwing the fewest interceptions in the division.

Receiver of the Year: Jordel Springer (Flight School 5)

Stats:12 receptions, 242 receiving yards, 7 TDs

Despite being one of the youngest players in the division, Jordel Springer dominated. His patented blend of quickness and elusiveness made him a nightmare to tackle. 

Defender of the Year Ethan Feldman (Silver Cougars):

13 tackles, 3 INTs, 6 PDs, 1 defensive score

Despite not getting the acclaim of the likes of the last two players, Ethan Feldman had an exquisite season. It was his versatility that made his so useful to his team, he made tackles, defended passes and picked off opposing quarterbacks.

Rusher of the Year: Hudson Rapkowski (Bears)

Stats: 5 tackles, 2 sacks

There aren’t many more thankless jobs in FPF Junior than playing rusher in Atom. Rushing from seven yards is already difficult, but in Atom they rush from 10 yards. Despite the odds being stacked in the QBs favor, Hudson Rapkowski still managed 5 tackles and 2 sacks.

Two-Way Player of the Year: Harley Minzberg (Bears)

Stats: 218 passing yards, 4 passing TDs, 121 receiving yards, 2 receiving touchdowns, 16 tackles, 8 INTs, 1 sack, 5 defended passes, 2 defensive scores

There wasn’t much that Harley Minzberg didn’t do this season. If the Bears needed a receiver, it was Harley Minzberg, if the Bears needed a QB it Harley Minzberg and it they needed a DB, it Harley Minzberg. No matter what he was asked to do, Harley Minzberg excelled.

 

Mosquito

Quarterback of the Year: Markus D’Alessandro (Hurricanes)

Stats: 67 completions, 903 passing yards, 24 TDs, 7 INTs, 4 sacks

All year, I praised Kingston Paquet but there was another quarterback in mosquito who was having just as impressive a season: Markus D’Alessandro. He was simply head and shoulders above the other passers in his division.

Receiver of the Year: Luca Fonsato (McCaig Gladiators)

Stats: 20 receptions, 415 yards, 8 TDs

In just his first year in the league, Luca Fonsato was superb. Be it short passes, long passes or yards after the catch, Luca Fonsato could do it all.

Defender of the Year: Dave Lileka Bolombe (Flight School 3)

Stats: 13 tackles, 12 INTs, 6 PDs, 3 defensive scores

While most may think of Dave Lileka Bolombe as a quarterback, he impressed me more as a defender where he terrified opposing quarterbacks with his 12 interceptions.

Rusher of the Year: Amaziah Simulumbu (Flight School 4)

Stats: 5 tackles, 15 sacks

This has to be one of the most impressive performances from all of FPF Junior this season. Despite rushing from 10 yards, Amaziah Simulumbu still managed to strike fear into the hearts of opposing QBs with nearly two sacks a game.

Two-Way Player of the Year: Damian Moustache-Cumberbatch

Stats: 17 receptions, 305 receiving yards, 11 TDs, 17 tackles, 5 INTs, 3 PDs

On top of boasting one of FPF Junior’s longest names, Damian Moustache-Cumberbatch also boasted some of the most impressive stats in the division. No matter if it was as a receiver or as a defender, he excelled.

 

Pee-Wee

Quarterback of the Year: Connor O’Connell (Flight School 2)

Stats:47 completions, 928 passing yards, 28 TDs, 0 INTs, 3 sacks

Just like his brother in Atom, Connor O’Connell was leaps and bounds above the other passers in his division. He passed for nearly 1 000 yards and most impressively, he did that without throwing a single interception.

Receiver of the Year: Maxime Latendresse (Flight School 2)

Stats: 15 receptions, 337 receiving yard, 14 touchdowns

Maxime Latendresse’s 337 receiving yards are an impressive statistic on their own but even more remarkable was the fact that 14 of his 15 receptions this season were for touchdowns.

Defender of the Year: Matthew Ouellet (Musketeers)

Stats: 21 tackles, 3 INTs, 2 PDs, 1 defensive score

Ever since Matthew Ouellet entered the league, he has been improving exponentially. He started as a quality depth player and he has emerged into a key element of the Musketeer’s defence. This season, he was the most dominant defender in the division.

Rusher of the Year: Malik Sabourin-Danglade (Flight School 2)

Stats: 7 tackles, 13 sacks, 4 PDs

There was no other rushed in Pee-Wee that came close to boasting the numbers that Malik Sabourin-Danglade did. He blew away the competition with his 13 sacks and 4 defended passes.

Two-Way Player of the: Year Lawrence Brassard (Fighting Irish)

Stats: 22 receptions, 236 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD, 18 tackles, 1 INT, 2 PDs

While a lot of players gain acclaim for their play down the field with long catches and interceptions, Lawrence Brassard made his presence felt within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage. On offence, he helped out his QB with 22 short catches and on defence, he had 18 tackles to show for his efforts.

 

Bantam

Quarterback of the Year: Trey Bentley (Flight School 1)

Stats: 70 completions, 1 318 passing yards, 30 TDs, 3 INTs, 3 sacks

It was always clear that Trey Bentley was the most dominant passer in this division. I questioned whether he could throw the short ball and he proved to everyone that he could in the playoffs. Honestly, other than converts, I’m not sure what Trey Bentley can’t do.

Receiver of the Year: Jaeden Edghill (Wildcats)

Stats: 24 receptions, 377 receiving yards, 11 TDs

Jaeden Edghill has been synonymous with success at the receiver position for a few years now in FPF Junior. Watching him play is quite the experience because there is no ball that Jaeden Edghill can’t catch. Out of his 24 receptions, a good number of those fall in the spectacular category.

Defender of the Year: Dylan Koszycki (Islanders)

Stats: 25 tackles, 8 INTs, 7 PDs, 1 defensive score

Dylan Koszycki was an impressive force on the Islanders defence. No matter what job his coaches gave him, he excelled, and he has the stats to prove it.

Rusher of the Year: Jesse Amar (Rebels)

Stats: 2 tackles, 11 sacks, 1 PD

The higher the division, the faster the quarterbacks are at getting the ball out of their hand. The fact that Jesse Amar managed over a sack a game in Bantam speaks to the talent of this player.

Two-Way Player of the Year: Mathis Lamontagne (Flight school 1)

Stats: 19 receptions, 423 receiving yards, 7 tackles, 5 INTs, 7 sacks, 4 PDs, 1 defensive score

Mathis Lamontagne was a dominant force all over the field.  He is such an exceptional athlete that he managed to lead the division both as a receiver with his 423 receiving yards and as a defender with five picks.

 

Midget

Quarterback of the Year: Riley Element (Raiders)

Stats: 108 completions, 1 392 passing yards, 25 TDs, 15 INTs, 6 sacks

Noah Lachance was also in the contention for this award, but he insisted that Riley Element was the worthier.  Riley Element was never afraid to air out the ball and while that high risk system resulted in him throwing quite a few picks, it also paid off since it led Riley Element’s Raiders to a championship win.

Receiver of the Year: Jake Newman (Tigers)

Stats: 21 receptions, 414 receiving yards, 7 TDs

Jake Newman entered the league last year and he has continued to progress in his second season. This year he was even more impressive than the last and he led the division with over 400 receiving yards.

Defender of the Year: Mathis Pilon (Nittany Lions)

Stats: 12 tackles, 8 INTs, 5 PDs, 2 defensive scores

Mathis Pilon was a force to be reckoned with on defence. He terrified opposing quarterbacks with his 8 interceptions, and he was a threat in the tackling game with his twelve tackles. He added to those numbers with five defended passes.

Rusher of the Year: Noah Smallwood (Nittany Lions)

Stats: 3 tackles, 9 sacks, 3 PDs

The quarterbacks in Midget are extremely talented and the ball is spending very little time in their hands. To manage nine sacks against that level of opposition is a very impressive feat. After a two-season break from playing rusher, Noah Smalwood returned to rushing and was a force to be reckoned with in Midget.

Two-Way Player of the Year: Olivier Gauthier (Crimson Tide)

Stats:18 receptions, 388 receiving yards, 9 TDs, 22 tackles, 5 INTs, 7 PDs

Year after year, Olivier Gauthier is the most impressive player in the division. It is hard to pin-point his best position because he excels equally on defence and on offence. For yet another season, Olivier Gauthier excelled on offence and terrified opposing quarterbacks on defence.

 

There you have all 25 of my choices for FPF Junior’s second (and hopefully not last) edition of the Dubois Awards.