The Sarwar Report (D1) – 1st Bye Week

After a long off week for the final four playoff teams in Division 1, the action resumes this Saturday. The match ups for the final four are a repeat of the first and last weeks of the regular season which means, each team is facing the other for a third time. So will there be an advantage factor here for the underdogs? Will they use the previous two match ups to fully prepare for their opponents? In all likelihood, I don’t see it happening, but hey, stranger things have happened this season. I will go out on a limb and predict a Montreal’s Finest vs. Expos final. It is the easiest, most logical and rational choice. I know I am getting ahead of myself but will Finest and Expos top the exciting thriller we saw last Winter?

 

 

ALL STARWAR SQUAD

 

As you have no doubt noticed, FlagPlus Football announced the All-Star team this week. I have decided to take it upon myself to make a roster, as I have done in previous seasons, which might be similar to All-Star one but takes into consideration other factors clutchness, intensity, intelligence and so much more. My squad contains players who can either play one way or two-way. So without further ado, here is the Winter 2010 Division 1 ALL STARWAR SQUAD.

 

Quarterback

 

Patrick Chenard – He might not have the suave of Kevin Wyeth, Rick Nincheri or a few others but he is tough as nails and can turn up the heat when push comes to shove. Let’s not forget he won the two-way player of the year award so he can play on both sides of the ball. He can pass, run and defend; a combination that can’t be overlooked. So why am I picking him over the Wyeths, Nincheris, Kastners? It is simple, in the ALL-STARWAR SQUAD you have to be able to play both sides of the ball.

 

Snapper

 

Dominic Lemieux – Despite a dismal season for the CLR Forces, Dominic Lemieux had a great season on both sides of the ball. He had 461 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns but also had 3 interceptions and 1 PD on defense. He has a lot of heart and can play ball with the best of them.

 

Utility (can play one or both sides)

 

Simon Charbonneu-Campeau – Anytime a player can set a record for the most receiving touchdowns in a season, he has a lot of skill. However he is on the ALL STARWAR squad because of his aggressive and beast-like play on the football field. You can throw up a prayer and he’ll answer it. With similar attributes, he is a force on defense as well. His height and aggressive nature makes him a solid asset for easy interceptions in the backfield.

 

Rob Robinson – He has the breakaway speed to burn almost any defender on long bombs. If you cover him deep, he can go short and again use his speed to rack high amount of YAC. He can definitely play defense and thrives on covering big time receivers who line up against him. And did I forget to mention that he can throw the football too? If you don’t believe me, check his stats in Division 3 with VPC.

 

Guillaume Ward – When Kishon Thompson is asked to make a Division 1 All-Star team and he picks you, consider yourself a stud. On Breaking The Huddle, Kishon said he would put Guillaume Ward on his All Star squad which definitely makes him good enough to be on mine. He also managed to put up 544 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns; on defense he had 2 interceptions and 8 passes defended. So anyway you look at it, G Ward can get it done in many ways.

 

Kishon Thompson – Who better to round out the last spot than Mr. Utility himself. We all know Kishon is vocal on the field because he is a leader. Due to an injury, he didn’t have his best season but when he was on the field, he struck fear in the opponents. He is the Ray Lewis of FlagPlus Football. Here is another interesting tidbit; in Winter 2007 Division 2 playoffs, Kishon Thompson filled in at QB for the High Rollerz because the starting QB was running late. It was a first round match up against Notre Dame and Kishon had his team up at half-time but was pulled in favor when starting QB arrived and High Rollerz lost the game, and Notre Dame won the championship. Just goes to show how much of an all round player he can be for his team.

 

That rounds up the ALL-STARWAR squad for the Winter 2010 Division 1 season. The selection was tough because there were many great candidates. The winners have a combination of everything and can play on both sides of the ball effectively. Just look at the versatility that is present in all of the players. They can do whatever is asked of them and will step up to anyone. So you have to ask yourself, would you want to face the ALL STARWAR SQUAD?

 

FINAL FOUR

 

(1) Montreal’s Finest vs. (4) Express

Season series: Finest won both (Week 1 – 26-20, Week – 11 40-26)

 

Montreal’s Finest – Despite the fact Kishon Thompson and Mike Harrington are out with injuries, they have managed to win convincingly. So then, is there even a weakness that opponents can exploit? They are like Centrum, complete from A-Z. Kevin Wyeth is playing better than he ever has and every player on the team is versatile enough to help out on offense and defense. Props to the Montreal’s Finest for returning this season with a similar roster from their championship season last Winter; it is one of the main reasons they are successful. As for the match up this weekend, they will have to play the same way against the Express as they did back in Week 11. There is not much more to say except “Just do your thing boys.”

 

Key match up: Since Patrick Chenard is becoming a passing QB, the key match up will be the Montreal’s Finest trying to neutralize the most dangerous receiver in Division 1, SCC.

 

Express – They definitely took a step back when they lost quite easily to the Finest in the last regular season game. They better have used the two weeks to forget that loss and prepare for this Saturday’s game. They have to improve on a lot of things. First, use SCC as a main target but also as a diversion to get the ball to other receivers. The first week of the season, without SCC, Express lost a close one but with him, they lost by 14 points. It is natural to have a go-to receiver (27 TD passes) however when you face the Finest, you better have depth and involve ALL five receivers. Furthermore, I firmly believe Express have the athletes to play solid defense and might be able to engineer a stop or possibly two against Kevin Wyeth. The question mark will surround Patrick Chenard’s ability to spread the ball efficiently. This is the difference between the elite and above average QBs; the elite run an offense in which the open receiver gets the ball rather than relying on one or maybe two receivers to carry the team.

 

Key match up: Andrija Zecevic will need a MVP type game against Kevin Wyeth. Although Kevin Wyeth has a fast release, Zecevic has to find a way to be effective on the pass rush.

 

Prediction: The Express will try to stay with the Montreal’s Finest, score for score and the game will be within reach at halftime. However the Finest defense will adjust and stop Patrick Chenard while still continuing their offensive domination. Winner: Montreal’s Finest

 

 

(2) Expos vs. (3) Rainmakers

Season series: Split (Week 1 Rainmakers won 35-27, Week 11 Expos won 25-13)

 

Rainmakers – Rainmakers have always had chemistry and that is why they have been so successful for so long. They had a few health issues with some of the players this season but managed ways to win big games and finish third overall. The question is: are they ready to take the next step in the playoffs? Ryan Kastner had a solid above average season however due to the fact he had 21 sacks is worrisome. The Rainmakers offensive players including Derek Kastner, Lee Kiley, Charles-Antoine Sinotte and Michael Chitayat must bring their A+ game because Rainmakers are not going to win on a defensive effort. Furthermore, the Expos defense has really stepped it up in the last 2-3 games. The bottom line for the Rainmakers is total offensive domination.

 

Key match up: Ryan Kastner vs. P-O Brunet and Teddy Frenette (two former Rainmakers, combined for 4 interceptions last game)

 

Expos – The season series was a split between these two teams however Chad Byers was not present in both games. Therefore having him behind center is a big boost for the Expos. Furthermore the Expos receivers look very comfortable in their roles. So if the offense is not a concern, will the Expos defense have success against Ryan Kastner? I definitely think so. The pass rush led by P-O Brunet and Teddy Frenette has been lethal. Additionally given the fact that Ryan Kastner is easy to sack will make it tough for the offense to have a rhythm. But let’s be honest, although they are both very good, I feel Chad Byers is just a better quarterback than Ryan Kastner.

 

Key match up: Chad Byers vs. Charles-Antoine Sinotte and Benjamin Leger

 

Prediction – The Expos lethal offensive attack combined with their recent improvements on defense will give them the slight edge over the Rainmakers. The real Expos team wasn’t the one we saw in the first 3-4 weeks but rather in the second half of the season. By that logic the week 11 match up saw the Expos holding the Rainmakers to 13 points and intercepted Ryan Kastner 4 times. Winner: Expos

 

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There will not be any games next weekend because of media and press conference week but I’ll still bring you updates and news/rumors for the Division 1 finals. Also I will discuss which Division 2 teams are ready to make the jump up to Division 1 in Winter 2011. Good luck to the final four teams this weekend. That’s it for this week’s column. As usual if you have any comments/suggestions, email me at [email protected]. I leave you with the following quote:

 

“If it doesn’t matter who wins or loses, then why do they keep score?” – Vince Lombardi