Seven down, three to go.

I’ve been saying, for a while now, that the playoffs is the Real Season in FPF. And it couldn’t be truer in the higher divisions as the feeling in the regular season feels a lot like competitive practice. There’s some trash talk and a lil’ emotion, but at the end of the day, everyone knows the game was just bragging rights; the only one that matters is in a few weeks.

I can’t wait for week 11.

Let’s get started.

Week 7

Tough last play loss for Prospects Squad turn into LGM’s golden opportunity, Braves put on a SHOW on tape, Monstars made a statement, Drop The Mic got a very important win over Spring Cleaning to keep them outside the bottom few, MetaMayhem proved their still the favorite and Dad Bods win amist controversy.

Thoughts of the Week

So, there’s all this talk about the blown call in the 2HD vs Dad Bods game. It was 2nd down. Not 4th. They probably would’ve scored either way. LET IT GO.
I love Prospects Squad’ swagger out there. But you can’t blow an 18-point lead like that.
Monstars vs Spitfire this week has GOT to be the Game of the Week. Probably the most important game on Spitfire’s schedule all season at this point.
Can Spring Cleaning stop the bleeding?
LGM’s remaining schedule: Victory Royale, 2HD, Meta Mayhem. They’ll need at least one upset (two to play it safer). That’s… yeah.
Braves were on full display on that GOTW. Oh, and Jarryd Taylor. OH MY.
So I guess taking vacation did not help Dylan Taylor’s game somehow?
Although Mark Ferraro dropped a key convert, he made up for it with a sick juke on Darnell Kevis Riley AND a game-winning interception. So, I guess it’s all good?
Khan Artists vs Outsiders; 100 points scored combined?
Le Sports Campus vs Dad Bods is bound to be a very exciting game. If you’re at Brossard, stick around.

Players of the Week

Kevin Wyeth: Regardless who you’re playing, 9 TD and a perfect QBR is impressive. Well done.
Jarryd Taylor: 2 offensive touchdowns, a pick-six, 86 receiving yards and some ridiculous catches. That’s what player of the week is all about!
Zack Jauniaux: 187 receiving yards and 4 TDS? SOLID. Oh, and he’s now the frontrunner for WR of the Year.
Andrew Carruthers: 4 touchdowns in one game? YES.

Danny D’Amour: 2 offensive touchdowns and 2 interceptions. ‘nuff said.
Jeremy Anderson: Opened way more often than the stat sheet will show, he was a MONSTER in the redzone finishing with 4 touchdowns.
Jeanslee Alexis: If you don’t know him by now, you’re missing out. 117 receiving yards, 2 TD and a pick on defence; another monster performance.

Recaps

#NR vs Braves: Voted last week’s Game of the Week in a landslide, Braves put on a SHOW for everyone watching that game as #NR were without their starting QB Cory Pecker. Rochdi Benabdelkader is a sure-shot D1 QB, but all things considered, it wasn’t the right pieces for him to succeed and the circumstances didn’t help. Braves got off to a 17 point lead at the half and the rest was history. It’s a great game to watch, go ahead and see it for yourself. Oh, and Jarryd Taylor made some PLAYS out there. Just that highlight is worth watching the whole thing.
Spitfire vs Khan Artists: In a game that started off in all the right ways for Spitfire, they simply couldn’t keep up for 44 minutes. With a 13 point lead at the half, Carmine Pollice’s offence looked REAL good as he kept connecting with his guys and Andrew Carruthers was having a career-night out there, but Khan Artists halftime adjustments felt like they’ve seen the future as they picked off Carmine Pollice on back-to-back-to-back possessions gave them a new life. After dropping 38 points in the second half, there’s something to be said about how KA turned that game and what could turn out to be their season around when it’s all said and done. If they can continue to play like they have in this second half, we’re poised for a sick playoff season. Same could be said for Spitfire and their first half performance, but that fizzled away a bit too quickly, sadly.
Drop The Mic vs Spring Cleaning: Pat Chenard was back at QB for Spring Cleaning and, honestly, he played well. I love to be the first one to take a jab at him, but he did score 38 points and Drop The Mic were forced to sort of keep up, which is exactly what you want. Sadly, SC’s defence, somehow, can’t seem to stop much and Mario Porreca looked like an all-star distributing the ball left and right out there. With the game on the line, late in the game after a score from Mark Ferraro and a nice convert to go up by 1, Spring Cleaning’s offence were tasked with driving the field to win the game. Miscommunication between Pat Chenard and Rochdi Benabdelkader made Mark Ferraro a very happy defender as he got the key interception that turned this entire game around. Once he secured the ball and took a knee, referees called the game and DTM walked away victorious. Matt Bond continues to impress offensively for Spring Cleaning and this DTM roster, with Jaylan Grandison and Jeremy Anderson could really become something difficult to stop down the stretch.
Prospects Squad vs LGM: All season, everyone’s been doubting both of these teams and, with their season essentially on the line, one of the two had a shot at climbing back up the ranks and making a name for themselves. Prospects Squad got off to a VERY hot start and the trash talking couldn’t have been more spot-on, but LGM answered in the second half brilliantly starting off with a sack for a safety that turned an 18-point lead into a 10-point lead (brutal). Prospect Squad couldn’t seem to get back to what worked earlier and struggled in the second half trying to slow the game down and prevent. Down 5 (32-27) with 6 plays left, LGM marched up the field and got to the redzone. A defensive holding call gave LGM one last shot at it and, as the rusher and DB ran into each other, it allowed for Fred Dupuis to connect with a wide open receiver and win the game. Weird way to lose what turns out to be an absolute heart breaker for Prospects Squad. They’ve dug themselves a pretty deep hole at this point, but they’re definitely talented enough to climb back out of. Question is, is there enough time left before the regular season ends.

Power Rankings

Outsiders (5-2): With a win this week, they’ll most likely stay at the top of the mountain for the rest of the regular season. IF they win.
Braves (5-2): Coming off the most impressive win of the week, Braves are as hot as it gets.
Khan Artists (4-2-1): Big showdown against Outsiders this week should determine the top end of the Rankings. Can Khan Artists pull the upset twice in the same season?
#NR (4-3): I won’t put too much stock into last week’s loss as they were without their starting QB. Let’s see how they bounce back this week against Ocean’s 12.
Monstars (4-3): Impressive win last week over Ocean’s 12. Let’s see if they can continue to play this way against Spitfire this week and solidify their playoff spot.
Ocean’s 12 (3-3-1): Roster inconsistencies continue to plague this team (and Ryan Kastner), but it hardly matters as long as they’ve got their guys for the playoffs.
Spitfire (2-5): If they can play the rest of the season the way they kicked off Week 7’s game, they’ll surprise more than one opponent in these last few weeks.
Freshmen (0-7): Second time this season they’ve managed to put up 30+ points. Slowly, but surely improving!

Meta Mayhem (5-2): I always say, you gotta beat #1 to become #1. Well, they did exactly that so here they are.
Underachievers (6-1): They might be the #1 seed on the FPF page, but they no longer are the top team in my power rankings. Let’s see if they can clinch it back by season’s end.
Dad Bods (6-1): A lucky bounce going their way? You don’t get to a 6-1 record with one lucky bounce.
Victory Royale! (5-2): Every week I doubt them and they prove me wrong. This 5-2 record is starting to make them look LEGIT.
2HD (3-4): This revamped-revamped 2HD might actually be a better option; they won’t be stuck playing with 5 or 6 again, hopefully.
Drop The Mic (3-4): Amist their ever changing roster, they manage to compete and push themselves upwards. I’m curious to see who’ll actually be on this team when Week 11 comes rolling in.
Spring Cleaning (2-5): Can they stop the bleeding? They hold the H2H over LGM, but their last 3 weeks won’t get any easier.
Le Sport Campus (2-5): With a favorable last 3 games, it’s tough to imagine Le Sports Campus trending in any other direction but upwards.
LGM (2-5): Impressive comeback win keeps them alive in the playoff race. Can they close out the rest of the season?
Prospects Squad (1-6): Heartbreaking loss may end up biting them in a few weeks if they can’t overcome the current deficit. We’ll know in a few weeks where they truly stand.

Predictions

Braves vs Freshmen: Braves
Khan Artists vs Outsiders: Outsiders
#NR vs Ocean’s 12: Ocean’s 12
Spitfire vs Monstars: Monstars

Meta Mayhem vs Prospects Squad: Meta Mayhem
Le Sports Campus vs 2HD: 2HD
Dad Bods vs Spring Cleaning : Dad Bods
LGM vs Victory Royale!: Victory Royale!
Underachievers vs Drop The Mic: 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…! Vacation Eagle is the laziest thing I’ve ever seen. Like, worse than a sloth.

Week 7: Fighting for the top spot