Playoffs baby.

I’d like to start off by thanking the four currently eliminated teams: Freshmen, Spitfire, Prospects Squad and LGM for being part of this season’s events; it wouldn’t have been the same without you guys.

Whatever happened in these last 10 weeks DOES NOT matter. If you have a shot at playing in the playoffs, lay it all on the line on Monday night; there’s no going back.

Let’s get started.

Week 10

Outsiders proved a point against a depleted Spitfire, Freshmen balled out one last time, Khan Artists set the tone for their playoff run and locked up that bye “week”, Monstars entered the playoffs stumbling, Underachievers costed Sean Avraam’s award, Prospects Squad failed to show up for their game, Victory Royale get their rematch this week and Le Sport Campus gained just enough momemtum for an exciting round 1.

Thoughts of the Week

Braves and Dad Bods locked up that #1 seed. Yet, only Braves get that bye week.
The backlash from this season’s award winners was actually pretty quiet. SnubSZN over?
Congratulations to Sebastien Simon who had a stellar season in his first DivA/D1 participation and locked up that DPOTY award.
Pat Chenard hasn’t thrown in a few weeks now. Maybe that’s the break he needed?
Will the bye week hurt or help Khan Artists and Braves?
Am I the only one who forgot everything about the regular season?
2HD vs Victory Royale is probably game of the week, but seeing Dad Bods for the billionth time is funnier to me.
Sorry Sean Avraam.
Is Paul Lapierre the best redzone target in FPF?
Good to see you back out there Domenic Benevento!
Kevin Wyeth winning the Kevin Wyeth award? Smh.
Speaking of Kevin Wyeth, I don’t even recall the last time I saw him play in the opening playoff round.

Players of the Week

Sean Avraam: Steps in for Cory Pecker and puts up 242 passing yards, 7 TD and a perfect QBR. I see you, Sean.
AJ Gomes: Two dirty interceptions (one for six on the first drive of the game) really set the tone for week 10’s game. Oh, and an offensive touchdown with like 47 receiving yards too.
Pat Jerome: 100 receiving yards and 4 Tds doesn’t just go unnoticed in Div A.

Tam Vilaydeth: Stepping in for Le Sport Campus at WR and DB, he had an instant impact tallying up 56 receiving yards, 3 touchdowns and a pick on defence. Maybe he should’ve been with them all season?
Eddy Lee: Another big week for Eddy Lee defensively; he kept tormenting the opposing QB. Even though he dropped “easy interceptions”, he still made solid plays all around.
Justin McLean: 87 receiving yards, 2 TD and a pick on defence. What feels like just another week for Justin McLean explains why he earned that two-way player of the year award in Division B this season!

Recaps

Dad Bods vs Underachievers: In what could’ve been a battle for first place, Underachievers got off to a terribly slow start as Dylan Taylor struggled to figure out Dad Bods’ defence and kept throwing in Eddy Lee’s vicinity. Down 21-0, they did find some traction after an interception to push things back into a fighting chance at 21-14, but Dad Bods’ lead was too great to stumble out of and kept a two-score lead the rest of the way. As solid as Underachievers’ roster actually is, there are moments where we wonder what is happening and could they actually be underachievers… With the playoffs finally here, there’s no room for another bad outing and they’ll have to flip the switch if they don’t want to go home early.

Khan Artists vs Monstars: In a game that decided who ends up with the bye week, Khan Artists showed up to play while Monstars didn’t. Rod Mashtoub had one of his worse outing of the season and was simply not himself after throwing a pick-six to AJ Gomes on the opening drive. Khan Artists’ offence looked unstoppable as Daniel Lazzara picked apart whatever the men in purple were trying to do and found Paul Lapierre way too easily in the redzone time and time again. Sure, Monstars made some plays here and there offensively, but the game felt out of reach early and, I have to give it to Daniel Lazzara, he played as good football as it gets. With the bye week earned, Khan Artists get to sit back and watch how things unfold before they get to step into the ring next week.

Individual Awards

Division A

Quarterback of the Year: Kevin Wyeth

Receiver of the Year: Zack Jauniaux

Defensive Player of the Year: Sebastien Simon

Two-Way Player of the Year: Jonathan Maheu

Division B

Quarterback of the Year: Alex Holowach

Receiver of the Year: AJ Gomes

Defensive Player of the Year: Vinny Gualano

Two-Way Player of the Year: Justin McLean

Playoff Previews

Monstars (4^th) vs Outsiders (5^th)

Previous meeting: 38 – 27 Monstars

Analysis: When was the last time Kevin Wyeth played in the opening round? I don’t even remember. Is this how you beat him in the playoffs? Or will he have another perfect week and make Monstars’ life a living hell? Last time they faced off, it came down to a single stop late in the game on a 4^th down and allowed Rod Mashtoub to march the field and strike the game winning touchdown. I expect a similar game where a team will lead based on converts most of the game and there will be one stop to end it on a two-score lead. Can Outsiders finally find a way to play defence and generate that infamous stop to allow Kevin Wyeth to find them the game or will he need to go out there and throw 8 Tds; last one of the final few plays to get his team to the next round?

Key matchup: Theo Bekelis vs Serge Pilon Jr

Prediction: 47 – 38 Monstars

#NR (3^rd) vs Ocean’s 12 (6^th)

Previous meeting: 33 – 28 #NR

Analysis: Moe Khan and I talked about this matchup earlier this season when they played each other and how good the rematch actually would be in the playoffs. Well, our wishes came true. #NR is looking to make some noise in their first Div A playoff run and Ocean’s 12 has a lot to prove this season. Moe Khan said it best, if Ryan Kastner cannot win with this roster, he won’t with any other. This is the right team for Kastner to succeed and it all falls on his shoulders; we know the guys around him will make plays and his defence will keep opposing Qbs honest. In a loud, physical rematch from a few weeks ago, expect tempers to flare and force players to be at their best if they want to keep their focus. Can Ryan Kastner avoid the one key turnover he’s been known for in recent seasons and push Ocean’s 12 past the first round?

Key matchup: Travis Moses vs Justin McLean

Prediction: 37 – 32 #NR

Dad Bods (1^st) vs Drop The Mic (8^th)

Previous meeting: 31 – 15 Dad Bods

Analysis: Our week 11 Game of the Week! With Theo Ojeaha in the lineup, opposing QB fear testing him over the middle and are forced to throw in coverage on the sideline; that’s when Eddy Lee and Alex Moreau step in and really shine. Luckily for Drop The Mic, their QB Mario Porreca fears nothing and will take a handful of shot early. If he can keep Dad Bods’ defence honest, there’s a chance he’ll be able to keep up with Dad Bods’ offensive abilities and turn this game into a very exciting matchup. They’ve got the speed and the talent, but DTM will have to avoid the crucial drops if they want to be able to keep up with the #1 seed on Monday night.

Key matchup: Ryan Lelinowski vs Theo Ojeaha

Prediction: 38 – 32 Dad Bods

2HD (4^th) vs Victory Royale! (5^th)

Previous meeting: 27 – 22 2HD

Analysis: In games where Joey Taylor isn’t able to put up 35+, we see how good that 2HD defence really is and why it’s been such a successful franchise. With Ryan Aridi rushing Phil Cutler, we’ll see a handful of too early releases from the latter and 2HD’s defence should be able to ride a high most of the game. The only question is whether Joey Taylor’s system will prevail against a bunch of FPF veterans who knows what’s coming now. Victory Royale, on paper, has one of the best roster in the division, but haven’t played like it all season. If Phil Cutler can find his safety blanket early and abuse a matchup he likes, there’s a chance VR has the lead and forces 2HD to play from behind; not one of their strenghts. In what will be the best game this week, I’m curious to see if either team will even reach the 30 point mark.

Key matchup: Gabe D’Amico-Mazza vs Joey Taylor

Prediction: 27 – 20 Victory Royale!

Meta Mayhem (2^nd) vs Spring Cleaning (7^th)

Previous meeting: 29 – 26 Spring Cleaning

Analysis: There’s something tricky about this matchup. All season long, we’ve made fun of Spring Cleaning’s record and play, but there’s too much talent on this roster to think this is the easiest matchup for any team. If Pat Chenard can focus and play QB the way he has in the playoffs in the past, this could turn out to be a VERY interesting game. Meta Mayhem remains the favorite and their offence should be able to dissect whatever SC throws at them, but there’s something about having “the easy matchup” that could really bite you in the ass. If Alex Holowach remains true to his QBOTY self and throws 7 TD, defence won’t matter.

Key matchup: Matt Bond vs Justin McLean

Prediction: 45 – 32 Meta Mayhem

Underachievers (3^rd) vs Le Sport Campus (6^th)

Previous meeting: 45 – 34 Underachievers

Analysis: As good as the players on Le Sport Campus are, their lack of depth is really hurting their chances this season to make a deep push. In a division this deep, QB tend to pick on the 4^th and 5^th DB and Le Sport Campus, sadly, doesn’t have the same luxury as others do in this division. Unless Mat René can find a way to revive his Winter form and put up 40+ points, Underachievers may grab a lead early and never look back as Dylan Taylor shakes off last week’s performance and propel his team back into contender status. Can anyone even guard Jordan McLaren if it comes down to it?

Key matchup: Corey Greenaway vs Rod Mashtoub

Prediction: 38 – 25 Underachievers

That’s it for me this week. I know it might not have been the longest of articles, but, to be fair, you guys haven’t even started playing yet! I’m looking forward to Sunday and the season’s kickoff. I’ll be scorekeeping Tuesdays in Brossard, feel free to stop by and say hi! Until next time…! I got nothing for you this week, Eags. Maybe be at LBB next time.

Week 11: Playoffs baby!