From 16 to 8

Man I love you Div4.

The suspense, the intensity, the UPSETS. It has everything. It’s got to be the best division to cover; from veterans to new teams making noise.

To see a veteran team finally have their shot or these great Cinderella stories…

Let’s get started!

 

Week 12 – Quarter-Finals

The Tide came back from a big deficit, B.D. Bandits pulled the craziest upset of the week, Greendale Human Beings’ offence was too much to deal with once again, 69ers dominated, Ghosts looked like an absolute juggernaut, Air Force 1 continues to upset, Mad Bears might just be the best all-around team and Les Verges Folles continue to show everyone why they deserved more respect this season

 

Thoughts of the Week

• At the end of the day, whether you’re “faking/flopping” or not, if you get the call, is it worth it?
• Special Shoutout to Dylan Drake for getting 4 sacks and Shane O’Reilly for those 4 PDs.
• Through my recap and the pods, it does sound like I don’t credit BD Bandits’ defence; but they’re the reason Anton Sakiz had a bad game.
• Crazy that both low seeds come from the same Conference; False Kings?
• Both of Division 4’s finals are on Saturday April 13th. For all remaining teams, make sure all your guys can make it!
• Are they really still upsets at this point if the lower seed win?
• Air Force 1 was a Division 6 team last year. Crazy, right?
• The most exciting FPF weekend is upon us; Semis are usually even better than the Finals! (More games, more excitement)
• I never predict overtime. I just did. Mad Bears close out the game in OT after AF1 comes from behind to tie it on the final play of the game.
• I was initially picking Ghosts to win, but after breaking it down, I just have to lean towards Les Verges Folles’ chances at this point.

 

My Impressions – Quarter-Finals

• Baby Kangaroos vs The Tide: In a game where Baby Kangaroos took an early lead and with the way Eric Maiorino played all season, I wouldn’t anticipate The Tide to be able to come back from behind the way they did, but they rallied. BK had the opportunity to put this game away, but The Tide’s defence stepped up and gave their QB McKernan one more crack at it after a bad INT early in the 2nd half and there they were, The Tide, fighting back the deficit.

 

• Game Changers vs BD Bandits: CRAZY upset. I know BD Bandits is a GOOD defence and they play the type of game that frustrates a lot of offences because they aren’t used to it and get surprised early, but even though Mark Belvedere didn’t have his BEST game, he did enough to win. Anton Sakiz was phenomenal for 11 straight weeks. Sucks he had his bad game against a team that would make him pay dearly the way the Bandits have. Undefeated no more.

 

• Half-A-Stars vs Greendale Human Beings: If Half-A-Stars needed Jordan Prizant for ONE game this season, this was it. In a game vs GHB, it all came down to offence as both defence made some plays, but not enough to really have an impact. GHB’s offence was close to unstoppable and Half-A-Stars had to “keep up” in a way; something they haven’t had to do all season. With their QB under center, they probably would’ve had more firepower, but that’s exactly what GHB is this season; try to keep up with us.

 

• 69ers vs EBROS: The biggest wash of the week; 69ers dominated this game from A to Z. Shea Harbour continues to be a tear since week 5 and his team really rallies around him. Dylan Drake had a monster game rushing and two of their DBs combined for 9 PDs. I think it says enough about how the game went down; I envisioned 69ers to be here in the preseason, they had their slump and I was too quick to jump off the bandwagon. Because here we are.

 

 

• Ghosts vs SWAT: Both offences are/were predictable, but people simply weren’t able to fend them off. Ghosts managed to contain the 3-headed monster a little, just enough. Neither QBs were flawless (Gino Di Fazio had a pick. Francois Martin threw 2), but the pace of the game really played in Ghosts’ favor and the turnovers ended up being somewhat irrelevant. Who cares if you throw 2 picks when you’re putting up 44.

 

• The Sheriff vs Air Force 1: The Cinderella story continues for AF1. From almost not making playoffs, to squeezing as the 8th seed with help, they’ve now taking down the top 2 teams. Another hard fought battle, but no one can keep Edouard Arsenault down and Simon Blais is finally playing great football again! With their great defence and their offence firing this way, AF1 might not be the underdog anymore…!

 

• Mad Bears vs MTL Originals:I did feel like MTL Originals’ had the best roster in 4B, but their QB play is not up to par with the division and it showed this week against a speedy Mad Bears who really took everything away from MTL Originals. Jumping off to an early lead, Mad Bears adjusted well and MTL Originals couldn’t score afterwards. Truly dominating performance from Mad Bears who are more and more looking like a championship team

 

• Lonzo Ballers vs Les Verges Folles: Les Verges Folles called us out for showing them no respect. I told them to win games and they’ll earn it sooner rather than later. They’re proving us all wrong. This was a GREAT game through and through and, yes, Quaid Johnson’ absence definitely hurt his team, but in the end, you play whoever’s in front of you and LVF played hard. Vincent Morissette is a freak, Shawn Lafortune is unguardable and Zacharie Quiviger is ZONED IN.

 

Players of the Week

• Joey Taylor (Baby Kangaroos): Stepping up for his team with 8 receptions, 60 yards and 3 TDs. He did as much as he could’ve.
• Alex Joltopuf (Greendale Human Beings): The unstoppable snapper strikes back with 7 receptions, 70 yards and 2 TDs!
• Rico Tulino (69ers): An interception and 5 PDs. Yes, FIVE.

 

• Charles Verreault (Ghosts): We knew he’d be fed and still put up great numbers; 6 receptions, 111 yards, 2 TDs.
• Edouard Arsenault (Air Force 1): When his team needed big plays, he stepped up once again: 3 receptions, 89 yards, 2 TDs
• Jeremi Durand-Tremblay (Mad Bears): Monstruous performance in the quarter-finals with 8 receptions, 88 yards, 4 TDs, a pick on defence + a PD

 

Previewing the Semi Finals

• The Tide (2nd) vs B.D. Bandits (4th)

Previous matchup: 26 – 20 The Tide (Week 1)

Analysis: B.D. Bandits excel at confusing opposing QBs and forcing them into awkward situations where they make mistakes. This simply won’t happen to Doug McKernan. Over the years, there’s only a handful of QBs who can really frustrate Steve Sanner as a defensive playcaller and I believe Doug McKernan will add his name to that short list tonight. Without their defence creating an abundance of turnovers, it’ll come down to Mark Belvedere to create a spark with his unorthodox way of playing QB. If he’s able to run around and “create plays”, this Tide defence might just be frustrated enough to take them off their game. But it won’t be easy and it will not look pretty.

Key matchup: Jordan Allard vs Chris Pinsonneault

Prediction: 33 – 27 The Tide

 

• 69ers (1st) vs Greendale Human Beings (4th)

Previous matchup: 39 – 18 69ers (Week 10)

Analysis: If you look too quickly, you’ll think that 69ers have this one in the bag after that week 10’s performance, but the team they faced back then isn’t quite GHB; they played with Brandon and Danny Aylward. I fully expect GHB’s offence to find ways to frustrate 69ers and force Shea Harbour to keep up. If there’s one QB this season that’s been keeping up with everyone, it’s Shea. Give credit where credit is due, he’s having a monster season and 69ers might just be the most complete team in 4A. If Dylan Drake can put enough pressure on Danny Aylward and Dean Demetriou is in good enough shape to run with Alex Joltopuf, we might see someone not named Alex Joltopuf or Brandon Aylward have the bulk of the targets!

Key matchup: Rico Tulino vs Brandon Aylward

Prediction: 36 – 33 69ers

 

• Mad Bears (5th) vs Air Force 1 (8th)

Previous matchup: Mad Bears 18-12 (Week 1)

Analysis: A lot of things change from week 1 to week 11 in FPF. Mad Bears had a completely different team in Week 1 (yet still won) and Air Force 1 weren’t as good as they are now. This game will look NOTHING like their former meet up. Speed against Speed. I’m super excited for this game as both teams counter the other really well and it’ll come down to which QB makes the least mistakes. Sebastien Thibault has been on a tear all season and there’s absolutely no reason to doubt him. On the other hand, Simon Blais is finally waking up and looked GREAT last week. With their championship ticket on the line, who’ll make just enough plays to elevate their team to a shot at seeing their name on the Trophy?

Key matchup: Samuel Leblanc rushing Sebastien Thibault

Prediction: 26 – 25 Mad Bears in OVERTIME.

 

• Ghosts (1st) vs Les Verges Folles (2nd)

 

Previous matchup: 25 – 6 Ghosts (Week 4)

Analysis: Will Les Verges Folles have learn enough from their previous matchup to slow down Ghosts’ offence? Is Zacharie Quiviger the guy to carve up that Ghosts’ defence? Vincent Morissette might be the best suited player to make Francois Martin’s life a nightmare, but let’s not forget the talent that this Ghosts’ roster is playing with and their ability to make plays for their QB when he needs them to. I have a feeling LVF’s defence will keep them in this game for the entire 44 minutes, but it’ll be up to Quiviger, Shawn Lafortune and Nicolas Saro to keep the score close; they need their best offensive game of the season here.

Key matchup: Vincent Morissette vs Alexis Gaumont

Prediction: 32 – 26 Les Verges Folles

 

That’s it for me this week. Hopefully this will trigger you just enough to drop me a message either via email ([email protected]), twitter (@DagenaisFPF) or in person. Remember, I didn’t do this to you, YOU did this to you. Until next time…! Fine, you were right, we did do a Championship preview podcast. Urgh.