Weekday Quarterback (D3) – Week 14

If I had written this article almost immediately after watching the Division 3 finals, I probably would have told been writing about the Darkhorses and how this team went on a Cinderella run that could just not be stopped no matter what happened. They began their run by beating three teams that most people considered serious championship contenders and then finished it off by beating a very consistent GPK team. Claiming that their run was a fluke would not be fair to the Darkhorses, and after watching that championship game, I think it was more about finding the chemistry they needed all season at the right time.

I am of the mindset that in sports you often get what you deserve at some point. This championship is the perfect example of a team getting what it had earned throughout the season. During my conversation with Rick Cummins and GM Kolethras the week before the championship game, they mentioned to me that their regular season schedule was easily the toughest schedule of all the playoff teams. They played 7 of their 10 regular season games against playoff teams and eighth game against VPC, who is a playoff quality team and were finalists last season. The Darkhorses needed help sneaking into the playoffs after week 10 but who can blame them after seeing their schedule. If there was ever a team that was going to be playoff tested, it was the Darkhorses. GM Kolethras and Rick Cummins had this team ready to compete and they would not allow this team to waste their opportunity. Once they got that first playoff win over the Briscoe High Hawks, it was evident that this team was not going to roll over for anyone. They continued to take punches from the best QB’s in the division, yet they refused to hit the mat. At the end of the conference finals against the DK it looked like their run might come to an end, but once again the Darkhorses defence refused to quit and they shut down Rochdi Benadbelkader and his offense in the overtime period. At that point, they never looked back.

The championship game kicked off with lots of action on both sides. GPK had the first offense possession and looked like they were going to have their way with the Darkhorses as they scored easily after a great touchdown catch by Jason Smith. The Darkhorses responded with a touchdown of their own without much resistance from the GPK defense. It was on the second possession of the game for GPK that things began to heat up. Deep in their own half of the field Mike Stagg threw a pass towards the sidelines and the Darkhorses Jason Edwards made a great play on the ball and picked it off before easily running back into the end zone for a touchdown. It was a crucial play by a guy who tends to come up with big plays when his team needs them most. Just a few plays later on the next possession, it looked like GPK was going to even it up but another pass was picked off by the Darkhorses, this time by Rick Cummins, who looked like the Rick Cummins prior to his knee injury as he returned it the entire length of the field for another Darkhorses defensive touchdown. Those two touchdowns looked to completely deflate GPK for the rest of that half. The Darkhorses chased Mike Stagg after a third interception and things looked very bleak from there. That being said, Erik Lagarde came in at the end of the half and got GPK back on the board to keep his team within two scores.

The second half saw Leon Holder put a strangle hold on the game as he led the Darkhorses offense down the field to put them up by three scores to start the second half. After Erik Lagarde again cut the Darkhorses’ lead to two scores, Mike Stagg came back in for GPK. From this point forward, defense had little effect on the game. Both teams had no trouble putting up points but if you are GPK it was not good enough to win the game. GPK would eventually narrow the gap to 9 points but that was as close as they could get. Leon Holder and the Darkhorse defence were just too much to handle and they showed that they are truly a championship calibre team.

Following the game, the trophy presentation was a very festive one for the Darkhorses as they made sure to not let the moment pass them by. The cigars came out and the team looked extremely pleased with their performance as they should have. This team is everything you want in a championship team. Nothing was handed to them and they were forced to work hard all season long in order to get where they were. They proved to us all that once you get into the playoffs, all things are possible. Is that not what we all play for?

The All-Playoff Team

I decided that this year it was worth releasing a list of the guys who truly made a difference for their team at the most important time of the season. Here is the first edition of the Mancini All-Playoff team.

Offense

QB: Leon Holder – Darkhorses

Snapper: Ryan Joyce – GPK

WR: Steve Tassy – DK

WR: Matthew Brethour – GPK

WR: Mitch Chiba – Trojans

WR: Sean Kennedy – Darkhorses

Defense

Cornerback: Jason Edwards – Darkhorses

Cornerback: Wayne Burke – Darkhorses

Half Back: Sean Avraam – Trjoans

Half Back: Rochdi Benabdelkader – DK

Safety: Erik Lagarde – GPK

Rusher: Jean-Michel Alerte – DK

I will give one final award to a guy that I thought was the most important part of his team’s run throughout the playoffs. I mentioned this in my first playoff article and I will say it again. I thought this player had to be the best player on the field in each game in order for his team to be successful in the playoffs and he was unbelievable in whatever position they needed him to play. Look through the stats and one name will stick out everywhere and that player is Erik Lagarde of GPK. He was the most important player throughout the playoffs and in my opinion was the best player despite his team losing the in finals. Erik Lagarde gets my vote for Playoff MVP.

Congrats to both teams for all their hard work this season and I hope that we will see most of you back for the spring season in a few weeks. We are only a few months away from crowning another FlagPlus Football Champion, and if the Darkhorses have taught us anything, it could be you! Thank you to everyone, and best of luck to all of you next season.