Tier 2: Sunday Showcase

It‘s the Quarter-Finals Sunday showcase in Tier 2, as we have four matches that will see the winners advance to the Semi-Finals next weekend. Let’s take a look at the matchups:

(2) Fins Up versus (9) Jagerbomb

Previous Meeting: Jagerbomb (38-22) Week 5 

Jagerbomb advanced by beating Kiss My Outlaws (26-25) on a game-winning TD by Jean-Felix Daloze with two plays left in the contest.

I watched the first meeting at Laval. Jagerbomb got the win, and credit to them for doing so, but there should be an asterisk beside the victory, as Fins Up was without their starting Quarterback in Will Power. The 8-time All-Star is expected to be in attendance tonight.

To get the win, Fins Up will need to use their speed advantage and attack the Jagerbomb defense with James Langshaw, Joey Notaro, DonnDre Borden, and Hinsley Adams. Power can air it out, and he will need to do so and take advantage when the opportunity presents itself.

On defense, the unit will need to pressure QB Simon Duchesne, and create turnovers. The key to doing that will be to force the Jagerbomb offense to become one-dimensional, and rely on the deep ball. 

For Jagerbomb to advance, they will need to take away the deep passing game from Fins Up, and force Will Power to have to settle for checkdowns. 

On offense, Duchesne will need to find weakness in the Fins Up coverage, move his Receivers around to create mismatches, and spread the ball around as he did in the first meeting. 

I think today’s rematch will be closer than the first meeting. These are two evenly matched teams, and I feel that this game could go either way, but the presence of Power has me giving Fins Up the edge.

Prediction: Fins Up (36-32)

(3) Idaho Udapimps versus (7) Shake & Bake

Previous Meeting: Idaho Udapimps (49-40) Week 11

Shake & Bake advanced by blowing out Beer Belly Brigade (45-24) in the Stinger Dome yesterday afternoon.

One week later and we’re back at it again! In last week’s contest, both Quarterbacks were spectacular, as Marc-Andre Reeves and Brady Ohanessian combined for 13 touchdown passes. The only difference was that Reeves along with teammate Emile Descoteaux both threw an interception. 

To make it two playoff wins in a row, Shake & Bake will need to avoid the turnovers that played a big role in the loss last Sunday. Reeves will also need to mix up his offense against the Idaho Udpimps defense. Too many teams try to test them deep early, and then when that doesn’t work, they have to stick with that formula once they get too far behind. Balhawks in Marvin Steinberg, Jerome Hovington, Manu Allard-Roy, and Danick Coulombe thrive on that. You must make them have to guess what you’re doing, and make sure to implement the short and intermediate passing attack into your game plan. Reeves has the weapons to accomplish that, the question is will he do it again? 

On defense, Shake & Bake will need to play aggressive, try to jump routes, and take away the deep ball from Ohanessian. Last week, the unit was only able to generate one pass deflection. They will need to raise that total significantly. 

For Idaho Udapimps, they will need to have a repeat of the offensive performance they displayed last week, as the team moved the ball, and showed the ability to score in a variety of ways from anywhere on the field. They also must attack the vulnerable areas of the Shake & Bake defense. 

On defense, the team must slow down the duo of Felix Hudon who led all players with nine catches for 141 yards to go along with two touchdowns, and the underrated Denis Martel, who had a game-high three TDs, and came up with several big catches for his squad as usual. 

I am not going to try and convince you that this is not my pick for Game of the Week…Day. It is, without a shadow of a doubt. I expect his game to go down to the wire, and I think we see an upset.

Prediction: Shake & Bake (46-44) Upset Special

(1)Vultures vs (11) Never Overtime

Previous Meeting: Vultures (37-28) Week 10

Two weeks later and these teams are going head-to–head once again. In the first meeting, the Vultures jumped out to a quick lead as they scored on the third play of the game, and then intercepted Never Overtime Quarterback Ryan Kharouf one play after the conversion attempt, and turned that into a TD four plays later. The Vultures would add two more scores, and hit the break with a (24-6) lead.

Never Overtime would find their spark offensively in the second half, as they put up 22 points, but the Vultures added 13 of their own, to earn the victory. 

To avoid the sweep, the Vultures will need to first and foremost play a complete game. Secondly, the team will need to take away Snapper Kevin Donnet, as the underrated veteran Receiver is the security for Quarterback Ben McMahon, and his go-to target especially in short yardage situations.

In the redzone, Never Overtime must make sure to defend the back of the endzone jump balls to the trio of Sanders Armand, James Drysdale, and Felix Clairmont.  

On the other side of the ball, Kharouf must look to avoid interceptions, as every member of the Vulture’s defense are ballhawks that aren’t afraid to jump routes, and break-up passes.

For the Vultures to advance, they will need to force Kharouf to have to complete passes in tight windows throughout the contest. From Anthony Drysdale to Chris Thelasco, this unit provides sticky coverage, and aren’t afraid to play man-to-man, which usually works out to their advantage.

The team will also need to make sure they don’t take their foot off the gas, in the second half as they did the first time around. They allowed Never Overtime to control the ball, and get a couple of late scores. 

Seemingly every year, Never Overtime has at least one upset up their sleeve come playoff time. They pulled one off on Wednesday versus Backfield Penetration. I don’t think they will do it again this time.  

Prediction: Vultures (40-28)

(4) The Infantry versus (5) Les Monsieurs Chats 

Previous Meeting:The Infantry (24-12) Week 8

In the first meeting, The Infantry used a dominant defensive effort to hold Les Monsieurs Chats to a season-low 12 points, while picking off LMC Quarterback Nic Centomo twice.

On offense, substitute Quarterback Jaosn Rossie who was filling in for Sean Semerjian, had a solid outing as he threw for three touchdown passes, and picked up 42 yards rushing.

To get the win today, The Infantry will need another strong defensive effort, to slow down LMC. Quayside Gordon-Maule who had a pick-6 in the first meeting will be looking to add to his total, as he will try to bait Centomo into throwing passes in his direction.

On offense assuming Semerjian is active, his main job will be to deliver the ball on time, and try to find holes in the LMC defense that he can exploit. He must be careful though as ballhawking Safety Charles Cossette patrols the backend of the LMC secondary.

For LMC to get the win, they will need to score more points, as 12 clearly isn’t enough. The other thing they must do is disrupt the timing of Semerjian, and not allow him to get into a rhythm. Making him hesitant to throw the ball and getting him off his mark, could swing the game in their favour.

This matchup should be a good one. I feel it will be close, but I think The Infantry emerge victorious with a late score.

Prediction: The Infantry (30-26) 

Picks 

Vultures vs Never Overtime – Vultures 

Fins Up vs Jagerbomb – Fins Up

The Infantry vs  Les Monsieurs Chats – The Infantry 

Idaho Udapimps vs Shake & Bake – Shake & Bake (Upset Special and my pick for Game of the Day)

Playoffs (3-1)

Regular Season: (36-16-1)

Upset Special: (5-6-1)

That is it for today. Good luck to everyone in their Quarter-Final games. 

Two articles in 24 hours is challenging when you’re also trying to prep for play-by-play work, but fun at the same time. I’ll sleep sometime tomorrow night. Shout-out to Denis Martel for letting me know about my mistake in the previous article. That’s what I get for trying to finish at 3 AM. 

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.