The Sarwar Report (D1) – Week 9

 

If someone had said to you, at the beginning of the year, that the Hurricanes wouldn’t make the playoffs, what would have been the common reaction around FlagPlus Football? Would we have called them crazy? Insane? Out of their mind? Probably all of the above! Yet, the reality of the situation is the Hurricanes might miss the playoffs for the first time in team history. More about them and their situation a bit later. (I spoke with Rick Nincheri about his team’s woes) Furthermore, I also had a “heart-to-heart” with Freddy Dupuis and his thoughts on the CLR Forces position of needing one loss from being eliminated from playoff contention. As you no doubt have guessed, this week’s article is all about THE PEOPLE. For a detailed breakdown of playoff picture and scenarios, please tune into this week’s episode of the WEPL, which is posted on our website.

 

Headlines

 

Simply the Finest!

 

Montreal’s Finest have clinched a first overall seed and a birth into the Winter 2010 Division 1 playoffs, for a second straight year. They finished with a record of 7-1, led in points for, and against, in the entire division. Even though they’ve clinched the top spot, they still have a lot at stake. They have the unique opportunity to defeat the Hurricanes this weekend which will probably weaken Hurricanes chances of making the playoffs. Furthermore, the Finest can avoid facing their biggest rival in the first round. Obviously, no Montreal’s Finest players were available for comment as Moe Khan has them on lockdown, but you can see the action between Finest vs. Hurricanes part II live this Saturday at Complexe Sportif Bell in Brossard at 10pm EST.

Hurri-CAN

 

If we took a survey around the league asking the following question “With two games remaining, do you believe the Hurricanes make the playoffs, especially since one of those two games is vs Montreal’s Finest?” what would the responses be? I know there are many who believe that the Hurricanes will make the playoffs, however why not hear the thoughts of the face of the Hurricanes offence, Mr. Rick Nincheri.

 

1. The Hurricanes are below .500, is there any cause for concern from your squad? Are some of the players confident enough to bounce back with two games left?

We are fighting for our playoff lives, so yes, there is concern. But we believe in ourselves and each other, so we have to just roll the dice and see what happens these next few weeks. Just like all teams in D1, if we play well on both sides of the ball, anything is possible.

2. Your road to playoffs will go through your biggest rival. What is your game plan for a game of such magnitude, realizing that if you lose, you might be on the outside looking in?

It sounds boring, but there really is no game plan other than to make my reads and throw the ball. What else can I do? There is no weak link on the MF defense. So we’ll take it one play at a time and just grind it out. Wow, just how many bad sports clichés can I use in one interview!?

3. Looking back at the season, what would you have done differently?

Not quit Nixon’s Renegades. That selfish move has angered the Football Gods and unfortunately my ‘Cane teammates are paying the price. I just hope that I can somehow play my way out of this. Serge has done an amazing job for them, but I should’ve stuck it out and kept up my end of the bargain.

As far as D1, less apathy would be a great start. I’m blessed to be able to play a lot of games during the calendar year, and sometimes I get disinterested. When you play so many games, it’s hard to get jacked up all the time. But trust me when I say that the position we are now in has my full attention.

4. My theory is that the Hurricanes haven’t really lost a step but rather the rest of Division 1 has caught up, talent wise. What do you think about that?

That is an interesting theory, professor. But it is more than talent. The talent is playing well! The other teams have seemingly all raised their game while we haven’t. The games we lost, we really were witness to some amazing plays by our opposition.

5. Any last words for the remaining two games? Do you guarantee you’ll be in playoffs? If so, how do you feel about possibly facing Montreal’s Finest in the first round?

Cue the Jim Mora beer ad… “Playoffs!!??” Seriously, all I can do is take it one series at a time. Heck, take it one play at a time and grind it out. Not the most exciting answer, but the truth.

 

RS: I know I would be a fool to count out the Hurricanes because in the past when they were in similar situations, they proved me wrong. However I feel that this just might not be their year as the rest of Division 1 is very strong but they can always prove me wrong!

Last Call

 

CLR Forces are running out of time and must win the last two games to have a chance at the post-season. This week they face the Expos (3-4-1) who are hot as of late. The irony in this situation is that Expos’ winning streak started a few weeks ago when they beat the CLR Forces, so this could be a chance at redemption. The Expos are tied with Hurricanes but because of head-to-head, they are in fifth place but given the fact that Hurricanes play Montreal’s Finest, this is Expos’ chance to get the last playoff spot.

 

What about the CLR Forces? What are they thinking? What is going on with them? Well I spoke to Frederic Dupuis regarding the state of the CLR Forces and he had this to say:

 

CLR Forces are 2-6, I know you’re more disappointed than anyone else because you had high hopes after you beat Hurricanes in week 1. What happened?

We came out strong and hyped the two first games of the season. The off-season was long and we were ready for the upcoming season. We had a key injury to one of our top defensive players, Olivier Bourdages, and that made it tough for us the rest of the season. Our energy seems to be lacking. We have a hard time having our full roster with no injuries since the 2006 season.

 

2. There is still a small chance for playoffs, how do you approach the last two games? Do you have a special strategy?

Except for the blowout loss against Express, every game finished with a tight score. Furthermore, in each one of those close games, we had a chance to come up with the win but we didn’t. I don’t have any strategy in particular; we just have to come out big and as a team for the two remaining games

3. Are the CLR Forces still confident that they can make playoffs or has everyone lost confidence?

It’s hard building a confidence during a season where you can’t win close games. But we are a bunch of close friends and we know we can make it happen in every game against any team when we all bring the same hype and energy. And I really do believe this.

4. You now face the hottest team in the league who haven’t lost since they beat you guys a few weeks ago. What is your strategy against them given the fact a loss will probably put you guys out of playoffs?

I’ll do my best to be as efficient as possible with the ball and we, on offense, have to score at the right time. On the defensive side only one turnover could make a big difference. Our rusher has to play a hell of a game to contain Chad Byers and all his weapons from the Expos.

5. Any last comments for the last two games? Any guarantees?

Well Any guarantees??? It’s going to be two well played and intense games, and C.L.R. Forces is and will always be a D1 caliber team =).

Thanks for having me.

 

RS: Well there you have it, Freddy Dupuis is not giving up just yet. Knowing this team well, I know they still have some life and energy left in them so if I were the Expos, I wouldn’t underestimate the CLR Forces.

 

Three STARwars of the week:

3. Tony Khoury (Hurricanes) 7 catches, 37 yards, 2 TDs (including the game tying TD)

 

2. Mathieu Thuot (Express) 6 catches, 80 yards, 3 TDs

 

1. Kevin Wyeth (Montreal’s Finest) 21-29, 258 yards, 7 TDs

 

 

No more writing, no more talking. I will let all teams and players do their thing on the field. Every team knows what’s at stake in the last two weeks so I’ll sit back, relax and enjoy all that is about to come! That’s it for this week’s column. As usual if you have any comments/suggestions, email me at [email protected]. Good luck on your match ups this week and I leave you with the following quote:

 

“Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile.” – Vince Lombardi