Tier 1: One more week to go, marquee matchup, and winless no more?

With one more week to go in the regular season, the action has started to pick up as we march towards the post-season. Royaume Luminaire versus the 450 Ballers was a matchup between two heavyweights. Despite the loss of All-Star and Hall of Fame Quarterback Dan Lazzara for the season with a torn bicep, the 450 Ballers are still formidable as they are now led by Jeanslee Alexis, who has proven to be more than just a replacement Quarterback, as his big arm, ability to escape the Rusher and keep plays alive, brings a whole new dimension to the offense.

That dimension was on full display Monday in St. Laurent, as Alexis, who prior to this game was playing QB for his squad The IG Team in Co-Ed Tier 1 on the same field right before, used his legs to escape the rush of the equally quick and shifty Ethan Adrian, and completed several big passes to his Receivers AJ Gomes, Jarryd Taylor, and Khalil Kerr.

In what can best be looked at as an embarrassment of riches, the 450 Ballers also have the luxury of turning to Jarryd Taylor at Quarterback. The fulltime Receiver and part-time QB made several big throws as he finished the contest three of six for 77 yards and two touchdowns, including a beautiful strike to Gomes.

Royaume Luminaire QB Jesse Dupuis showed after all these years that he is still an upper echelon passer, as he made a ton of big plays for his offense as well. His top Receiver was Emile Beaudoin, who after having a quiet regular season, was coming off a huge three-touchdown performance the week before against Run It Once, called for an encore against the 450 Ballers, as he recorded another trio of trips to the endzone on game-high eight catches to go along with 91yards.

This game was fantastic to watch, as it featured several big plays and back-and-forth action as both teams exchanged momentum-swinging plays and leads. There was some trash-talking (what would you expect from a game with AJ Gomes, although is it really trash talk if you can back it up?), huge catches, some blown coverages, great tackles, and tons of speed. It was only fitting that this game came down to the final play.

On that play, Alexis, after receiving the snap near the shadow of his own endzone, tossed the ball back to his right to Taylor on the double QB-option play that virtually every top tier team runs. For some reason, Royaume Luminaire elected not to send a second Rusher after Taylor, as they let Adrian chase after both passers. Realising the mistake, Taylor took his time, set his feet, and threw a rainbow to the back of the endzone into the waiting hands of Alexandre Poulin-Rioux, who was wide open. Much to the shock of everyone watching (myself included) Poulin-Rioux who played two games for the Alpha-T in the 2017 Winter Season, dropped the ball. You couldn’t help but feel bad for the QB and Receiver, as it was a heart-breaking way to end the game.

Kudos to Royaume Luminaire for proving me right on my upset special pick, and for getting the victory without the services of regulars in Jimmy Dupuis, Alexis Gaumont, and Nicolas Gendron-Vallée.

The Terror Squad versus KGP matchup was also a barnburner, as opposing Quarterbacks in Tam Vilaydeth and Phil Cutler put on a show combining for 10 touchdown passes, and a plethora of big-time throws. They didn’t do it all alone though, as he got some help from Gabriel-Charles Dabe Champagne who led all Receivers with 10 catches for 92 yards and three touchdowns.

The KGP offense took more of a touchdown by committee approach, as Jonathan Garfinkle, Mathieu Lepage, Brendan Parm, Matt Kirouac, and James Acker all recorded a TD.

This game came down to two things. The first was conversions. Terror Squad went a combined 0 for 4 on 1 and 2-point attempts.  

The second, was the last series of the game which belonged to KGP. After Dabe Champahne scored his final TD of the evening, KGP had less than a minute to five plays before the game was over. Cutler started the drive with a 12-yard completion to Lepage for a first down. After A 6-yard pass to Noah Groper, the QB failed to connect with Acker on second, but went right back to him on the next play for a 7-yard gain and a fresh set of downs.

Now 15 yards from paydirt, Cutler’s first down pass was batted down by Defensive Back Zach Jauniaux. Facing a do-or-die moment with two plays left in the game, the veteran gunslinger hit Garfinkle for a TD and the lead.

With one last gasp attempt left, Terror Squad was staring down a loss. Vilaydeth tried to connect with Receiver Laurence-Olivier Viens, but the pass fell incomplete, and they were stuck holding a disappointing loss, as they are still in search of their first win of the season.

I talked about this matchup a few weeks back, but Terror Squad and Never Overtime are set to do battle Saturday night at the Stinger Dome. Two teams looking for their first victory of the year. Despite their faults, both squads have improved over the second half of the season. Who will emerge victorious?

The final game of the week saw the Cap Friendly Braves easily get past #NR, with a (26-6) win last Wednesday in Laval. I watched some of this game while I was scorekeeping on the opposite side of the dome. There was a lot of yelling, some big plays, and a disputed call or two, but other than that it wasn’t much of a contest, as three turnovers and the overall inefficiency of the #NR offense made it hard for them to gain any traction.

On the other side of the ball, the team played hard, as evidenced by the three sacks of Rusher Julian McLaren-Thompson, but they were no match for their opponents who got a big night from William Trottier, as the veteran threw for three touchdowns, and Phil Pharand, who registered two interceptions, one of which he ran back to the house.  

NR has a chance to bounce back and right the ship, as they take on KGP to close out the regular season. Will they be able to find some type of rhythm offensively to match the talent they have their roster, and end their disappointing regular season on a high note?

KGP on the other hand is playing some of the best ball out of any team in Tier 1, as they have won three in a row and four out of their last five games. Their only loss came in Week 5 to Blessed, when they were without starting QB Phil Cutler. One of the keys to the team’s success has been their offense. During the second half of the season, they have averaged 34 points a game.

Wednesday night in Laval will feature a marquee matchup as the Cap Friendly Braves take on Blessed. This game will be worth watching for many reasons. Both teams have one loss between them, their rosters are littered with All-Stars, and each team has a veteran Quarterback who can pick apart defenses with ease.

Another reason to watch will be the defensive battle, as both teams lead Tier 1 in points allowed and plus/minus. The Cap Friendly Braves are also first in interceptions with 18 interceptions, while Blessed is tops with six INTs returned for a touchdown. Ariel Librati, Jonathan Maheu, Marvin Steinberg, Isiah Allard, Mike Pierrecin, Kristopher Verreault, Craig Browning, and James Drysdale, there are several players who can take over a game at a moment’s notice. The first Quarterback to make a mistake, might end up giving the game away.   

Picks

Cap Friendly Braves vs Blessed – Cap Friendly Braves (My pick for Game of the Week and Upset Special #1)

KGP vs #NR – KGP

Never Overtime vs Terror Squad – Never Overtime (Upset Special #2)

Last Week: (3-0)

Regular Season: (21-8-2)

Upset Special: (6-3)

That is it for this week. Good luck to everyone in their games this week.

If you liked the article, hated it, or simply felt like I left something out, please feel free to contact me at [email protected], or on the FPF Facebook page.