Categories: Division B

Division B: Contenders, Pretenders, and We’re Not Sure Yet

With the regular season coming to a close, and the playoffs just a little more than a week away, it is that time of year again. It is time for me to reveal my annual Contenders, Pretenders, and We’re Not Sure Yet article.

The name is self-explanatory, but just in case, I will place all nine Division B teams into the three categories based on the chance I think they have of winning the championship. The Finals are set for the weekend of August 23rd and 24th. A lot can chance between now and then, but based off 10 weeks of action, this is where I think things stand.

I have been writing this article for the last seasons in several divisions. As I tell every team, if you don’t agree with me, please feel free to prove me wrong.

Here we go:

Contenders

Mangoose (8-2)

They have the number one defense, a solid Quarterback, tons of weapons on offense, and the best Rusher in the division. Mangoose currently sit in second place, two points out of first, but with games against Les Verges Folles and Silent Ticklers remaining, there is a very good chance they will finish the regular season atop the standings. 

The only question I have about this team, is can they put it all together when the post-season lights turn on? The talent is there, but when comparing their roster against the rest of the contenders, Mangoose appears to be top heavy. After Marvin Steinberg, Thomas Coutu, and Simon Anctil, who else can you trust to make a play with the game on the line?

Their regular season record suggests they will find a way, but as we all know, the playoffs are a different animal. I think Mangoose can go all the way because of their defense, but they will need some of their lesser-named players to step up and make big plays on both sides of the ball if they want to be the last team standing.

Udaho Idapimps (6-4)

After hitting the midway point of the year with a (1-4) record, Udaho Idapimps turned things around as they have reeled off five straight wins, and head to the post-season as one of the hottest steams in the division. During their turnaround they have been tested, but have stood their ground each time, with statement wins over the likes of Poseiden’s Kiss, Silent Ticklers, Mangoose, and Shake & Bake.

 Was execution, or lack thereof the culprit behind their rough start, or perhaps something else? The bigger question that must be answered, is will we see it pop again during the post-season?

Momentum is a real thing, and this squad has it. They also have cleaned up a lot of the first half issues that led to their shaky start. Can they keep the pendulum swinging in their direction? I think they can.

Run It Once (7-3)

They finished the regular season in first place as they won three in a row and seven of eight to close things out. Every year Quarterback Jeff Rosenblatt puts together a stacked team that can do toe-to-toe with anybody. This season is no different, as Run It Once has size, speed, experience, statement victories, and playmakers up and down their lineup.

Ever year the same question gets asked. Can Rosenblatt lead his team to a championship? When breaking down his game, you can see that he has placed more emphasis on protecting the ball. His four interceptions are the lowest out of the four teams he is currently playing on, and it is his best mark since the 2024 Spring Season.

This might be his best and last shot in Division B. Rosenblatt’s teammates want to win one for him (he has never won a championship as a QB), and the team is currently playing their best ball. The other question that needs to be asked, is if not now, when?

Shake & Bake (4-5)

This team is starting to heat up, they have won three out of their last four games, with the only loss being a Hail Mary 1-point walk-off defeat to Udaho Idapimps on the last play of the game. One of the keys to the team’s recent success has been their defense. Going back to Week 5, the team has allowed only one opponent to score more than 27 points against them. In their five games since that time, the unit has given up an average of 23.5 points per contest.

With a game remaining against the Silent Ticklers next Sunday, Shake & Bake, will have an opportunity to prove that they are the best defense in the division. More importantly, closing with one more win would see them finish at .500, and leapfrog the Silent Ticklers for sixth place.

Defense wins championships. If Shake & Bake can continue their stellar play on that side of the ball and keep averaging 40 PPG as they have on offense, there’s no reason why they can’t make a deep playoff run.

We’re Not Sure Yet

Silent Ticklers (4-4)

This team has too much talent and experience to be sitting at .500, but that is exactly where they find themselves heading into the final week of the regular season.

Losers of three straight, the mark could easily stretch to five, as they close things out with tough matchups against Mangoose, and a resurgent Shake & Bake.

The reason for their struggles has been their offense. During the slide, they failed to score more than 34 points in all three contests. The team’s defense isn’t exactly helping matters, as the unit has given up more than 40 PPGs during that stretch.

To get back on track, Quarterback Jordan Panetta, will need to right the ship, especially on fourth down, as the team has gone one for seven during the span.

On defense, the unit must tighten things up near their goaline. Out of the last 20 touchdowns they have allowed, 13 have come inside of the redzone.  

This team isn’t as deep as their winter squad, and it shows in tight games. Still, I think they have enough talent to win it all. At the same time, they also have the look of a team who could be one and done. We will find out shortly which way to they go.

Pretenders

FINS UP (6-4)

When I started writing this article on Thursday, I had this team on the contender’s side. A shocking (31-30) loss to a two-win Les Verges Folles squad this weekend changes it for me. The addition of Charles Verreault to LVF for the contest was a big one, as the two-time All-Star had three receiving touchdowns, but if you’re FINS UP, you need to be able to overcome that and find a way to get the win.

The win cost FINS UP not only two points in the standings, but also a shot at finishing second in the division.

Several times throughout this season I have talked about the talent and depth that FINS UP has. There is no change in my stance on that, as I think they have enough of both, to win the championship. The one thing that has changed however, is that I don’t trust them to do it.

Poseidon’s Kiss (5-5)

Talent has not been the problem with this team. Consistency has been. From an ever-changing roster, the inability to win one-score games as they did in the first half of the season, to finishing the regular season on a five-game losing streak, this team is the absolute definition of a squad that is backing into the playoffs.

Another issue to add to the pile, is what will be the status of their best player in Jahnai Lewis-Copeland, who is about to start training camp for the McGill Redbirds, in just over a week. Will the dynamic two-way player even be available if Poseidon’s Kiss makes it past the first round of the post-season? The same thing applies to both Emerson and Tyson Peterkin, who will be off to camp with the Champlain Cavaliers and Vanier Cheetahs respectively around the same time as their teammate.

What started off as a promising and potentially championship worthy season as recently as Week 5, has resembled a takeoff followed by a crash and burn.

Never Overtime (2-8)

All offensive is great if you love points, shootouts, and back-and-forth games, but when it comes to winning a championship, or even making a deep playoff run, defense helps with that, and if you don’t play it, you won’t go far. That has been the case all year with Never Overtime. They have one of the best Receiver duos in FPF in Mack Dessources, and Rhami Aboud. They have combined for 105 catches for 1,344 yards and a jaw-dropping 28 touchdowns. Those two have been the epitome of elite, and not just this season.

As a team, Never Overtime has six interceptions, and four sacks. The only defense with less in both categories is the last place Les Verges Folles. The team needs some force multipliers on this side of the ball.

With two wins apiece, Never Overtime should make the dance, as they have the head-to-head tiebreaker with Les Verges Folles. The only way they don’t qualify for the post-season, is if LFV pulls off another upset and knocks off Mangoose this Thursday night in Laval. Assuming they don’t, while Never Overtime could make it an interesting game, I don’t see their defense getting enough stops to prevent them from getting knocked out of the first round of the playoffs. 

Les Verges Folles (2-8)

Let’s start with the positives. They shocked Division B with a 1-point win over FINS UP this past Thursday night. Their Quarterback Thomas-Charles Paradis, had his best game of the season, throwing for 209 yards, five touchdowns, and a 67.7% completion percentage. In the big picture, he also showed that if he is surrounded by elite Receivers (he also had four-time All-Star Francois Rocheleau) he can be a solid Division B QB.

Adding more high level talent would also allow the team’s playmakers in Carl Bernola, Nassim Ouadhi, Nicolas Prince, Philippe Mathiew, and Vincent Morissette to take on a secondary role, where they could thrive.

Another positive, is despite losing the head-to-head tiebreaker vs Never Overtime in Week 5, Les Verges Folles can still make the playoffs provided they beat Mangoose this Thursday.

Now on to the negative. It has been a tough season for Les Verges Folles. After having a solid Winter Season in Division 3, the decision to jump to Div. B has not worked out for this squad. Turnovers, roster inconsistency, and a lack of top-level talent hurt their chances of competing this season.

The question now becomes, did Les Verges Folles learn a lesson and stick to Tier 2 this upcoming Fall Season, or do they jump to Tier 1 and see what happens? We will find out shortly.

Picks

Les Verges Folles vs Mangoose – Mangoose

Mangoose vs Silent Ticklers – Silent Ticklers (Upset Special)

Silent Ticklers vs Shake & Bake – Silent Ticklers (My pick for Game of the Week)

Last Week: (0-2)

Regular Season: (0-5)

Upset Special: (0-2)

I will be away on vacation starting today, so unfortunately, I won’t be writing any other articles for this week. I will have an eye on the action however, so when I get back the week of August 4th, I will start writing something for you guys. Until then, Dunn’s River Falls, and a ton of Appleton and goat are calling my name.

If you liked the article, hated it, or simply felt like I left something out, please feel free to contact me at [email protected], or on the FPF Facebook page.