Weekday Quarterback (D3) – Week 9

 

The final week of the regular season is upon us and the playoffs are arriving right on time, as Division 3 has really been heating up over the past few weeks. There were some games this past weekend that directly influenced playoff scenarios and while one of the big games that we discussed last week turned out to be a classic, the other was a blowout which surprised yours truly as much as anyone. That being said, while some teams have given themselves a chance to breathe, there are still a few barely treading above water. Certain teams that started the season well are now struggling to get in or are out of the playoffs entirely. I will start with this week’s headlines before giving the conference standings and the final playoff spot scenarios.

Headlines

Briscoe High Hawks clinch South Division with win over DK

In what may have been the most anticipated game of the season, DK and the Briscoe High Hawks played a classic match that ended in a 51-44 score, in which both Quarterbacks played at the highest level. Rochdi Benabdelkader and Scott Kelly put on an offensive display for any spectators who stayed late enough in Brossard on Saturday night. Both QB’s passed for over 250 yards and while Scott Kelly passed for 8 touchdowns, Benabdelkader passed for 7 touchdowns and one interception, which may have been the difference in this game. The biggest story of the game may have been Hawks receiver Adam Bailey who had 9 catches for 157 yards and 4 touchdowns. Bailey could not be stopped and now has 7 touchdowns in his last two games. Whoever finishes in the 4th seed; either the Darkhorses or Broccasion; is going to have a tough matchup, week one, against the 5th seeded DK.

 

GPK get exposed against an angry SWAT team

I mentioned on last week’s episode of the WEPL that I thought SWAT was too good to lose another crucial game on their schedule and it turns out that was the case, as they dealt GPK a 47-18 loss. Nathan Thompson put in one of his best performances of the season, throwing only 5 incompletions and passed for 279 yards and 7 touchdowns. SWAT’s offense was bolstered with Jacques Void being used for their most important game of the season. The trio of Shawn Haney, Jacques Void, and Donald Shepherd combined for 6 touchdowns and were too much to handle for the GPK defense. While Thompson flourished in the most important game of the season, Mike Stagg, who had been great over the past 7 weeks, struggled against a very athletic defense. Stagg threw three interceptions with perhaps the most important one being the interception he threw on the opening drive of the game which set the tone. With this win, SWAT has established itself once again as the team to beat in Conference B.

 

Still many division winners to be decided next weekend

In Conference A, the Darkhorses and Broccasion meet on the final weekend of the regular season to decide their division title. What once was a three horse race, which included the Monarchs, has now come down to two teams. While the Darkhorses have looked like the favourite in the past few weeks, it could all slip away with a loss to Broccasion. Broccasion may be the hardest team to read in all of division three. Some weeks they look like they could beat the best of the best, while other weeks, they can barely get by some of the weakest opponents on their schedule. Which Broccasion team will show up this weekend, in a game that all teams will be watching closely?

Served with Ice and the Maniax have both had extremely strong seasons and while most people picked the Maniax as the favourite to win their division at the start of the season, Served with Ice has the edge by one point heading into this head to head matchup. Jordan Panetta has been one of the most pleasant surprises this season and can cap off a great year with a win versus a very physical and competitive Maniax team. Can Justin Lavallee do enough for his team to help them win the division? It should be good matchup between two of the league’s youngest Quarterbacks.

In the NFC West…excuse me, the south division of Conference B, we have two teams trying to finish at .500 and win their division at the same time. Terror Squad has managed to keep pace with the Bandits despite their tough schedule and can now pass the Bandits with a win and capture the south division crown. This will be the most interesting matchup, in my mind, because the game includes one of the most electrifying players in division 3, Tam Vilaydeth. Can Bandits rusher Anthony Bozzo finally contain the agile Vilaydeth? That might be the question that decides the division title.

Conference Standings

Conference A

1. Briscoe High Hawks (8-1)

2. Dirty Birds (7-2)

3. Warriors (7-2)

4. Darkhorses (5-3)

5. DK (7-2)

6. Snookers (6-3)

7. Sweet Tangerine Dream (5-4)

8. Rude Bwoys (5-4)

Bubble Teams

Broccasion (4-4-1): Can get into the playoffs with a win over the Darkhorses. Sweet Tangerine Dream and Rude Bwoys are both susceptible and could fall out of the playoffs next weekend.

Conference B

1. Served with Ice (7-1-1)

2. D-Boys (7-2)

3. SWAT (7-2)

4. Bandits (5-4)

5. Maniax (6-1-1)

6. GPK (6-3)

7. Trojans (6-3)

8. Flight of the Conchords (6-3)

Bubble Teams

Terror Squad (4-5): Can sneak into the playoffs as a 4th seed with a win over the Bandits.

VPC (5-4): Can still get in with some help from other teams, but it is going to be a stretch.

Cobras (5-4): Another team with an outside chance at a playoff spot, but they will need some help from other teams as well.

 

It should be a great final weekend. Make sure to tune into the WEPL this week as Alex Porras is joined by G.M Kolethros of the Darkhorses, who replaces me due to illness at the time of the filming. It should be a very exciting weekend and I wish all the teams in the playoff hunt the best of luck. To all those who have been eliminated from contention I wish you the best for the seasons to come and hope to see you in the spring. Have a great week everyone.