Categories: DivisionDivision ADivision BMen'sSpring

Week 12: Semi-Finals

Plenty down, 8 remains.

Out of our two divisions combined, only 8 teams remain. 4 will have a shot at playing for the title and 4 will go home on Tuesday night. I can’t wait.

Let’s get started.

 

 

Semi-Finals

Spring Cleaning with the HUGE upset, Drop The Mic pulled off a miracle win, Underachievers showed off why I had them ranked so high preseason, Kevin Wyeth remains the juggernaut he is known to be, #NR made a statement last week and Victory Royale got their revenge. Semi-finals are bound to be even more exciting!

 

Thoughts of the Week

  • I’m a bit disappointed in Monstars. Not that they lost, but only scoring 13.
  • Bet or no bet, I’m still happy to see #NR have success in Division A.
  • Time for Khan Artists and Braves to go to work and earn their stripes and that playoffs trip to the finals.
  • I’m curious how much that Indianapolis tournament will impact both Braves and Outsiders on Tuesday night
  • I guess Victory Royale do have the final laugh.
  • Underachievers stopped messing around and it shows. Tough game vs DTM coming up though.
  • Out of the two Div A games, I don’t know which one will be more entertaining. Luckily for me, I’ll be there on Tuesday night.
  • Could Division A be the only division where the Bye Week actually helps and is wanted?
  • With only one game separating these teams from the Finals, I expect amazing performances.
  • I did underestimate Khan Artists and #NR preseason. I don’t backtrack. It’s impressive to see what they were able to do this season. I was wrong.
  • Either way Division A or B ends up being (any 4 matchups), we’re in for a hell of a Final.

 

Recaps

  • Monstars vs Outsiders: The Unofficial GOTW is out and you can all witness it for yourselves. I’ll say, in the first half, I did feel like Sam Mashtoub was being targeted A LOT compared to the other guys, but it worked; first half wasn’t the issue for Monstars. Outsiders’ defence really stepped up and made plays that puts them back in contention status for that DivA title. One hurdle down, two more to go.
  • Dad Bods vs Drop The Mic: The other GOTW. The better one? I think so. I’m shocked to see DTM keeping Dad Bods to 0 points in the first half and ending to halftime with a 21-0 lead. Kudos to Dad Bods for putting up such a remarkable comeback in the 2nd half. There were talks that Dad Bods should’ve left Quaysie Gordon-Maule score with 4 plays left in the game and bid on their offence, but seeing how their defence held up for 3 out of 4 plays, I must say, I can’t condemn their decision to stop DTM. Easy to say in hindsight. All in all, a GREAT game that saw guys make great plays when their team really needed them to. Alex Moreau stepped up in the second half after a tough first half, but that Archer move from Mario Porreca at the end towards Lance Daniels really sums it up for me perfectly.
  • Meta Mayhem vs Spring Cleaning: Bad call or not, Meta Mayhem should’ve been able to put up more than 31 points all game long. The game came down to Overtime where Mayhem started on offence, went to the back of the endzone for Justin McLean, covered by Pat Chenard, and contact in the air made the ball pop out. Mayhem believed a call should’ve been issue, didn’t happen. Spring Cleaning went next, used that momemtum to their advantage, went for 2, got it and sealed the deal. Meta Mayhem couldn’t score after that and Spring Cleaning took it home. Considering both of these teams’ record and seasons, I’m shocked it even went to OT in the first place as MM should’ve been pushing the envelope towards 40+ points, but Alex Holowach wasn’t his award-winning self as he threw 3 interceptions and allowed the game to be kept close. Bitter ending to what could’ve been.

 

Playoff Previews

  • Braves (1st) vs Outsiders (5th)

Previous matchup: 40 – 34 Outsiders

Analysis: Could this be the first time we look at Kevin Wyeth as not Goliath in the story? Coming into this game, there’s no doubt the whole Indianapolis thing will be a HUGE factor, but I also think there’s a lot for Braves to prove here with slaying Outsiders, earning their trip to the finals and adding that stripe to their already impressive franchise history in FPF. At full strength, that Braves roster is the best in the division (and league) and didn’t finish first seed for no reason and this Outsiders’ roster isn’t as invincible as we’ve known Montreal’s Finest to be. This is bound to be a pretty entertaining game all around!

Key matchup: Sebastien Simon vs Pat Jerome

Prediction: 38 – 32 Braves

 

  • Khan Artists (2nd) vs #NR (3rd)

Previous matchup: 36 – 32 Khan Artists

Analysis: Probably the best game in all divisions combined. There’s something unique about both these teams and there’s no one that wants it more than these two teams. In their first ever Division A season, #NR has impressed everyone in their ability to battle it out and made it to the final 4. Just that, is impressive to me and they’ve proven they’re able to back their claims. Facing a Khan Artists team bound to prove everyone (including me) wrong for calling them out earlier this season, they’ve put together the best offence in the division and can’t afford to be one-and-done after such a season. With everything on the line and the chance to win a Division A title, Khan Artists will have to find a way to out duel #NR and keep their temper in-check if they want to prevail against one of the loudest team in the league.

Key matchup: Jordan Moses vs Zackary Jauniaux

Prediction: 44 – 37 Khan Artists

 

 

  • Underachievers (3rd) vs Drop The Mic (8th)

Previous matchup: 32 – 12 Underachievers

Analysis: The last time these two teams faced off, DTM had a fairly different roster and Underachievers weren’t too serious about their regular season record anymore. Yet, the beatdown was real last time. With everything on the line, and a trip to the finals, I don’t think Underachievers will take this game lightly and Drop The Mic have everything to prove. The potential of a true Cinderella story from DTM is too awesome to avoid mentioning, but Underachievers are the clear cut favorite in this one. Finding a way to limit the Mashtoub brothers and containing Theo Bekelis + Jordan McLaren seems like an impossible task, but Drop The Mic is a better team than we’ve been giving them credit for and Mario Porreca just might be able to hang with Dylan Taylor scoreboard-wise for 44 minutes. Will this come down to the last play once again?

Key matchup: James Donald vs Rod Mashtoub

Prediction: 34 – 33 Underachievers

 

  • Victory Royale! (5th) vs Spring Cleaning (7th)

Previous matchup: 24 – 20 Victory Royale!

Analysis: I’ve been down on both these teams most of the season saying they’ve been underperforming and should be playing better. They’ve, sort of, sneaked their way into the playoffs, but with that first round win, I can no longer make fun of either. Phil Cutler has been playing better and that VR defence is as dominant as it gets. Spring Cleaning will need to rely heavily on their defence to make plays for them and keep this to a very low, ugly scoring game, but both of these teams have the ability to do so. Will this be the first high division playoff game that is won with 3 TDs? Maybe not first EVER, but first in a long time.

Key matchup: Patrick Jazon vs Phil Cutler             

Prediction: 20 – 13 Victory Royale!

 

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…! Eagle, still no list? Really. Yes, again. Also, congrats on the win.