Competitive Playoffs Update
Raw Dawgs 45 – 6 PartyCrashers
Unfortunately this game ended up being very one-sided. With Raw Dawgs entertaining their probably now officially 3rd string Qb in Mancini. With three different quarterbacks throwing touchdowns — Jordan Panetta (140 yards, 3 TDs), Benjamin McMahon (86 yards, 3 TDs), and Daniel Mancini (40 yards, 1 TD) — the Dawgs’ offense was basically unmatched. Khalil Kerr led the receiving corps with 90 yards and a score. Defensively, Raw Dawgs were just as dominant. Four different players grabbed interceptions, including Brisebois, Mancini, Kerr, and Bailey Finkelberg. PartyCrashers’ QB Frédéric Dupuis was under siege, throwing four picks despite finding Jordanson Alexis for their lone touchdown. This was always going to be a tall order for the PartyCrashers, and the circumstances made it even tougher. They came into the quarterfinals without their top two receivers from the regular season in Louis-Philip Thibodeau (387 yards, 8 TDs) and Mendel Joseph (353 yards, 7 TDs) plus their defensive interception leader in Mendel. Add to that a roster that never found consistency, with no player logging more than 7 games besides ironman François Hogue (who suited up for all 10), and the odds were stacked against them.
Braves 32 – 24 KGP
The Braves at one point 5–0 start had them sitting on top of the standings but their second half told a different story: a 1–4 skid that included back-to-back losses to Flag Moi L’Sac, a loss to MTL MAGIC and a one-point loss to Raw Dawgs. They dropped from the driver’s seat to the #4 seed, arriving in the playoffs with more questions than answers. If the quarterfinals were meant to be a reset button, they slammed it with authority. KGP, for their part, played a pretty good game as Phil Cutler leaned on Marvin Steinberg (94 yards, 2 TDs) and Jaylan Greaves (76 yards, 2 TDs). KGP attempted to set the tone early as Phil and Marvin connected on a go route the very first play of the game that resulted in a 45-yard Touchdown. It was simply a blown coverage from Braves defense who later had another blown coverage on a 4th and goal from mid field that Jaylan scored with no defender insight. Ethan Adrian generated pressure with two sacks which is insanely impressive considering Maheu had only been sacked TWICE ALL SEASON IN 10 GAMES, Ethan matched this in one playoff game. Stud. But for once, the turnovers never came and Maheu stayed clean despite the constant pressure. For KGP, it was the familiar story of being right there but unable to land the knockout punch. For the Braves, it was survival and rediscovery, the kind of win that could restore the confidence they had in June. After a month of sliding, Maheu and company reminded us.
#NR 34 – 29 Flag Moi L’Sac
The shocker of the quarterfinals came courtesy of #NR a 2–8 team that turned heartbreak into history by stunning the top-seeded Flag Moi L’Sac. For a group that spent the season battling inconsistency, this night became their masterpiece. It wasn’t just the final score, it was how it happened. Tied 16–16 at halftime, Flag Moi was driving late in the first half, poised to take control, when Sanders Armand made the first of his game-changing plays. Sitting back near the sideline, he read Alex Nadeau-Piuze’s throw in the red zone and snatched an interception that kept the underdogs alive. It was the kind of momentum swing that whispered maybe this is possible. From there, Myles Gibbon took over. The veteran QB delivered one of his sharpest outings of the season, completing 24-of-38 for 272 yards and 5 touchdowns. Kenny Baye was unguardable with 112 yards and 2 scores, while Thierry Gerville and Jamal Henry added their own big moments. Every time Flag Moi answered, #NR refused to fade. But it was Sanders who wrote the ending. With one play left, he went up in traffic, ripped down a contested ball in the end zone, and delivered the walk-off dagger — a season-ending touchdown for Flag Moi, a season-defining miracle for #NR. The sideline erupted. Sanders was mobbed by teammates. What should have been a routine top-seed march turned into a Cinderella coronation. After the game, Sanders and Julian McLaren-Thompson laughed about what people would say now, their voices still buzzing with adrenaline. For #NR, this felt like their finals — heart, energy, and belief carrying them further than anyone thought possible. The bracket may call it an upset. They’ll call it destiny.
MTL MAGIC 38 – 34 EZW
Both offenses lit it up, combining for 72 points. Daniel Lazzara was brilliant, completing 21-of-26 for 211 yards and 5 touchdowns. Nicholas Groppini (84 yards, 2 TDs) stretched the field, AJ Gomes (56 yards, 2 TDs) dominated the red zone, and Jesse Dupuis and Felix Boutet added scores of their own. But EZW’s Jeremy White nearly stole the show, going 27-of-42 for 283 yards and 5 touchdowns. Nathan Desjardins caught two scores, while Etienne Laurence-Gervais (79 yards, 1 TD) and Alexandre Barros (64 yards, 1 TD) made plays all over the field. EZW exploded for 26 second-half points, turning what looked like a comfortable MAGIC win into a nail-biter. In the end, interceptions from Groppini and Gomes proved decisive. MAGIC’s defense bent but didn’t break, and their offense was just efficient enough to survive. EZW fought to the final whistle, but Lazzara and company advanced with a 38–34 win.
Semifinal Matchups
Raw Dawgs vs #NR
On paper, this is a Dawgs team that just dropped 45 points last game vs an #NR squad that went 2–8 in the regular season. But after shocking Flag Moi L’Sac, #NR has nothing to lose. Myles Gibbon has proven he can trade scores. Still, the Dawgs are loaded with depth and balance while they can spread the ball, and overwhelm teams defensively.
Prediction: Raw Dawgs
MTL MAGIC vs Braves
This is the matchup everyone circled once the quarterfinal dust settled. Two teams with championship pedigree, two quarterbacks playing at the top of their game, and two offenses that can light up the scoreboard. Their defensive identities might decide it. Whichever defense lands a big play — a sack, a pick, a denied convert — could swing this into the finals.
Prediction: Braves