The Pulse (D5) – Week 1

 

The Pulse (Div 5) -Week 1

 

Welcome to another season where referees aren’t the only ones on the gridiron and where flags are considered as part of the uniform. Yes, the wait is officially over and it is safe to say that FlagPlus Football is back into your weekly routine. I would like to start by saying that it is great to be on board as a new FPF staff member, and I will earn my stripes by attempting to keep you entertained and informed about headlines in Division 5 during the winter season. This is a competitive division and I can’t wait to see what this new season has in store for us all. Welcome to ‘The Pulse’.

Coming into the season, each team wishes to start their 2011 campaign on a winning note. But that can only be the reality for half the teams in each division. A few teams, such as Shaolin Shadowboxers, Mustangs du Gridiron and the Love Cows were humbled in their opener, while others, such as Dragons and Big Birds only lost by a few points in their inaugural games. But success in sports, and FPF is no exception, is measured by wins. And they don’t all have to be pretty.

 

Weekly Recap

 

Pendent Publishing outlast Outlaws in final minutes

 

Who doesn’t enjoy the spotlight and glamour that accompanies a victory? Well, when two teams respectively turn in a solid performance on defense, as Pending Publishing and the Outlaws did in week 1, both are going to get praised on The Pulse. That it was a competitive match seemed to surprise many, but this type of defensive explosion doesn’t happen often in Div. 5. As these two clubs battled for bragging rights, it came down to clutch plays in the second half. Trailing, late in the game, Pending Publishing scored the go-ahead touchdown, as their quarterback was not afraid to air it out downfield. Pending Publishing converted on their extra point to give them the lead with only a few ticks left on the clock and the defense held on long enough to emerge victorious.

 

Lockdown win big

 

Lockdown were methodical while moving the ball, chipping away at the Love Cows’ defense producing long scoring drives in the first half. Lockdown added three more scores in the second half against a remodeled Love Cows defense, that appeared overwhelmed in their season opener. Led by quarterback and receiver Zaf Fardellas, Lockdown could have easily produced more points, which makes you wonder what could have been had they been firing on all cylinders late in the game. It appears that this squad is looking to send a message to the other teams and put a stranglehold on the top spot in Div. 5 early on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good week/Bad week

 

It’s been a good week for the Warhawks, who picked up their very first FPF win, in their second season, last Saturday against Widow Makers. Any time you can start the season with a W, it is always encouraging, but for them to get their first win in over 11 games, is huge. Sure the Warhawks witnessed their share of let downs in the first half, but when the receivers caught the ball, they were a nightmare in the open field for defenders to tackle.

 

It’s been a bad week for:

Not every game is going to run as smoothly as planned. Mustangs du Gridiron got that memo in last week’s beat down at the hands of the Golden Eagles. The big-play element wasn’t there and the receivers had a hard time adjusting to the different defensive schemes presented by the seasoned-Golden Eagles. They need to show more poise in stressful situations and make plays. The score showed that the Mustangs du Gridiron, albeit in their very first FPF game, were completely outmatched losing 46-6.

 

 

Next on the schedule: Week 2 matchups

 

Warhawks (1-0) vs. South Shore Storm (1-0)

 

The Warhawks are off to a surprising start, but this week they’ll face arguably their toughest opponent of the season, the South Shore Storm, who looked potent in their opening game. Both teams rely on a plethora of powerful players to guide their offense and this can be decided by which defense is able to hold out longer in the slugfest.

 

Dragons (0-1) vs. Outlaws (0-1)

 

Revenge is a powerful motivator, and the Dragons will have that going for them during Sunday’s meeting with the Outlaws. This is a confident bunch, loaded with talent. Unfortunately, they were not able to win the opener. I am looking for them to make a statement in their next match and expect to see a ravenous team take the field.

 

Power Rankings

1.     Golden Eagles (1-0) –Head honcho. Key addition at snapper

2.      Lockdown (1-0) – Heavily favored club looked balanced in season opener

3.      South Shore Storm (1-0) – Must build on win and establish their dominance

4.      Thunder (1-0) – Offense was impressive

5.      Warhawks (1-0) – Upcoming game should be interesting

6.    Les Buddays (1-0) – Next two games bode well for 3-0 start

7. Green Machine (1-0) – Offense looked strong in opener

8.      Incredibles (1-0) – Defense fine, but offense needs work

9.      Outlaws (0-1) – Season-opening loss considered a surprise; still a good team

10.  Pending Publishing (1-0) –Emerged victorious despite a few ill-advised throws

The Buzz of the week

Many feel that the Golden Eagles should have moved up in Div. 4 this season. They finished their 2010 spring season with a 5-5 record and it was considered a disappointment since they were expecting to go above .500. With the addition of a few new players and the return of Alexandre David, they are a much stronger team, on paper, than they were in past seasons. Time will tell if they should have made the jump to Division 4 to face tougher opponents like so many of their past rivals have done.

The action continues next weekend. Look for all your updates, right here. Feel free to approach me during the Div 5 games. Let’s talk football! You can also reach me by email at [email protected].