The Goal Line Stand (Div D) – Week 1
23-05-2011 12:00 AM
The first week of this year’s FlagPlus Football season reminded me a lot of the blind dates I’ve been on. At the start of the evening everyone is excited and enthusiastic about potential outcomes, but by the end of it half of the participants have gone home unsatisfied.
A new season always brings with it the appeal of the unknown. Will veteran teams live up to expectations? Will a new team emerge as a dominant force? Will rookie teams master the subtleties of the game? Will I ever hear my own name called from Alex Porras’ illustrious megaphone? As the season unravels, the answers to these questions will become clearer and the implications deeper. Week after week Vikings will attempt to slay Dragons, Average Joes will plot to topple Tyrants, Punch Pandas will storm Le Zoo’s gates, and Wildkittens will feign cuddliness right before exposing their claws. These warriors will take to the field every week and allow the smell of freshly cut turf to fill their lungs, and in that moment, they are free.
Division D is always full of fun and surprises, and this season promises nothing less. This will be my 5th season playing for Conference A’s Lockdown. This means that The Goal Line Stand will bring you a weekly perspective from the eyes of the players themselves. After all, what better way to report on the week’s mishaps than to have taken part in causing them. The Goal Line Stand will feature recurring segments which are sure to make you laugh, cry, and protest vigorously for a stricter screening process regarding future columnists. These segments include weekly recaps, video interviews, weekly power-rankings, and vague statistics no one would have ever thought to calculate, let alone report on.
This is where a segway complete with organ music and cheerleaders would transition us into the weekly recap. But my budget has been cut to make room for scented candles in the office. So…
Weekly Recap
Vikings Declaw Wildkittens
The Vikings showed no rust on Thursday getting 162 yards through the air on offence and picking off 4 passes (one of which was returned for a TD) on defense. This is a fun defense to watch, as their aggressive coverage and in-your-face style suggests a very balanced team. Despite this, the Wildkittens only lost by one TD per half. This, while Jamal Garner, who averaged 9.6 yards per carry last season, had no rushing attempts and Adrien Dusautois, who was Matthieu Sola’s favorite target last time they played together in the Winter of 2010, spent some time watching from the sidelines on offence. Expect the Wildkittens to learn from their mistakes this against the Boozers and the Vikings to continue their roll against the Dragons.
Tyrants Topped
Jacob Peterson got 2 more receptions than the rest of his team combined to lead the Incredibles over the Tyrants. And with 4 of his 7 receptions being TDs, Peterson’s efficiency would make for a very impressive batting average. The Stern/Peterson duo could have been a good one to watch throughout the 10-game season, however, it doesn’t seem as though fans will have that luxury. This team has great potential considering under-using last year’s all-star Kevin Libman in their game versus the Tyrants. But can they be as exciting as the children’s movie they proudly display on the chests without Greg Stern at the helm?
Le Zoo Hold On Against Dragons
A 5-point win in FlagPlus Football is as convincing as my grandmother when she tells the customs officer at the airport that there’s no food in her luggage. Nonetheless, Emile Carey of Le Zoo came out blazing with a 99.54 QB rating and Frank Kaye showed his versatility by completing 2 of 3 passes for 26 yards and making 4 receptions for 66 yards and 2 TDs. There were plenty of bright spots for the Dragons, however. Not only did they win the second half – a moral victory – but Simon Dagenais was able to spread the ball around to all 6 receivers evenly and hooked up with a different one every time on each of his 4 TDs. The Dragons ended last season on a 3-game win streak. Hopefully the time off hasn’t killed their momentum.
If You Can’t Beat ‘Em, Join ‘Em
After leading his Golden Eagles team to a 10-0 season this past Winter, Kevin Lubin showed Lockdown why adding him to their roster was a good idea. Lubin stepped into the rusher position after the first half and tallied 4 sacks helping the Lockdown defense shut out UFF in the second half. UFF had 7 different guys pitch in on defense with tackles and was only down by 2 points at half time. Look for UFF to remain competitive and ride the experience of Derek Lefebvre into next week when they face The Incredibles. (Fun Fact: UFF stands for “Ultimate Flag Football” and not “Unitarian Fellowship of Fredericton” as the buzz around the league would have had you believe.)
Boozers On The Wagon
Any way you slice it, a 46-0 win is huge. Alex Nadeau-Piuze threw for 5 TDs and ran for another (probably because he got bored throwing). This veteran has played in D2 and D3 for Turf Toe Inc. and Ducks respectively. The Boozers did a good job on defense as well, limiting opposing QB Mohamed Azab to only 3 completions. However, Azab also rushed 12 times, which would have flag football enthusiasts asking if he’s the Replacements full-time QB or if he was simply biding his time with all the running plays.
Interviews
Equipped with nothing but a video camera, a tripod, and a microphone I unplugged from my friend’s Rock Band game, I headed to the Complexe Sportif Bell in Brossard to kickoff the Spring 2011 season and catch up with some of the players.
This week I interviewed Mohit Arora of the Wildkittens, Chris Williams of the Vikings, Simon Dagenais of the Dragons, Emile Carey of Le Zoo, and David Stein of The Incredibles. Check it out!
Make sure to check in weekly for the latest updates.
By The Numbers
While everyone else is out pursuing personal relationships, moving up corporate ladders, or acquiring various skills necessary to survive, my friend is supplying me with a panoply of statistics which are otherwise indistinguishable from a calculus exam. Don’t get me wrong, I like a good anti-derivative as much as the next guy, but I still suggest you put on your thinking caps before diving into these numbers.
139.84: Boozer’s Alex Nadeau-Piuze’s QB rating. Highest in week 1. 35.47 points ahead of the next highest.
· 3: Chili Con Carne FFC’s average number of yards per catch against. Lowest in week 1. 0.67 yards less than the next best team.
87: Number of rushing yards for Maximum Carnage’s Jason Lachapelle.Most in week 1. 1 yard more than Les Affreux’s Mathieu Domon.
· 3.7: Percent of Lockdown’s QB passes picked off. Lowest in week 1. (Not including Nadeau-Piuze who was the only QB to throw 0 INTs.)
· 13.33: Average number of yards per rush by Flying Comics’ Frank Grenier. Most in week 1.
· 19.05: Percent of snaps taken by UFF’s Francois Raymond in which he was sacked. Highest in week 1.
14.43: Percent of passes thrown in week 1 in which a TD was scored.
58/34: Ratio of TDs to INTs in week 1.
4: Number of teams scoring a pick-6 in week 1.
Power-Rankings
For millennia sports writers have engaged in power-ranking in much the same way that the Inuit pass on the tradition of seal-hunting, or the way that the Bush’s pass on the tradition of war-starting. A banal exercise which is only as trustworthy as its author, power-rankings are fun to read and even more fun to write.
Week 1 will only feature a top 5, but look for it to expand to a top 10 in the weeks to come.
1.Boozers (1-0) – If week 1 was indicative of anything, panic.
2.The Incredibles (1-0) – Proving to be a perennial powerhouse.
3.Vikings (1-0) – Got it done on both sides of the ball.
4.Lockdown (1-0) – Experienced receiving corps, stout defense.
5.Clockwork (1-0) – Good mix of veterans and rookies.
Your quiet tolerance has not gone unnoticed throughout this article, and I thank you for that. I look forward to a long and enjoyable season with all of you. I wish for good luck and safety on the field for the teams and for a cure for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome for myself.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me at [email protected]. I’ve always subscribed to the philosophy that 436 eyes and ears are better than 2. All questions, comments, and violent reactions will be taken seriously. It’s our league, let’s have fun!