All in: Championship Saturday!

Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, after 10 long weeks we are finally here.  The last weekend of the Flagplus Football Junior season, better known as Championship Saturday is here. The Concordia Stinger Dome, home to all the action this year, will be the site where we will crown the 1st annual winner of FPF Jr divisions.

This will be my last article of the season, as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. Is it me, or did the 10 weeks just fly by? I had a blast covering this division. It was awesome meeting a brand new batch of players, and for the first time parents that were not only knowledgeable about football, but in some cases, were just as excited as the kids about playing this amazing game.  

I look forward to next winter when FPF Jr returns, so I can see a lot of the same faces, along with a whole crop of new players and parents that are passionate, excited, and ready to play and watch some great football.

Before I get to tomorrow’s festivities, let’s take a quick look back at last week’s action, and also examine how all four teams got here.

In the Junior Division, we have the Tigers taking on the Buckeyes at 12:30 PM.

The Tigers reached the Championship game by virtue of having the best record in the division (6-1-1).

The Buckeyes clinched their spot by knocking off the heavily-favoured Wolverines last Saturday in convincing fashion, 32-0.

Buckeyes’ Quarterback, Jaden Frenette’s performance, had the look and feel of a showing that was a while in the making. After being inserted as full-time as the team’s QB in Week 8, the speedster made play after play with his feet, but seemed to be lacking a bit in the passing game. His arm strength was never a problem, but his accuracy was always a little bit off. Last Saturday however, things started to finally click for the young pivot and his receivers, as he connected on a season-high 8 passes, and more importantly, finally threw his first touchdown pass.

Frenette wouldn’t rest there, as he ended up connecting on 3 TD passes, as he threw for 97 yards, which was also a season-high for him. On the ground, he was as smooth as ever, as he had 2 carries for 25 yards and a TD.

As has been the case in recent weeks, second QB Ben Arnovitz got in on the action as well, as he went 3 for 4 for 46 yards, including hitting his brother Max for a 17-yard catch and run TD.

On defense, the Buckeyes were just as effective, as defensive leader Jaeden Edghill imposed his will on the Wolverines’ offense, as he recorded a game-high 3 interceptions to go along with 5 tackles.

The Wolverines simply had no answer, for the Buckeyes’ D, as their Defensive Backs Ben Arnovitz, Malcolm De Pooter, Elie Fortugno, along with the aforementioned Edghill and Frenette who also recorded an INT, blanketed their opponents’ receivers all over the field. The dual-threat pass rush provided by speedsters Maya Di Fazio and Max Arnovitz, gave the Wolverines’ QBs problems all game long.

Amari Swayers and Tim Jeremiah, who had been so good as of late for the Wolverines as rotating QBs, were off all game long, as they struggled to generate consistent yardage, and establish any sort of rhythm. When they actually did move the ball, they couldn’t get it into the endzone, as mistakes and drops by their WRs played a huge role as well. Great season, Wolverines!

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In the Sophomore Division, we have the Longhorns taking on the Hurricanes at 1:30 PM.

The Canes assured themselves a spot in the Finals by clinching the best record in the Division with a 7-1 mark.

The Longhorns had to do it the hard way, by knocking off the Crimson Tide in a hard-fought 14-12 win last week.

Things started off poorly for the Longhorns, after giving up an opening drive touchdown to the ‘Tide curtesy of a 7-yard TD by Jayden Hogan, Horns’ QB Juwan Edghill threw a lame duck pass into the endzone that was easily picked off by two-way stud Reece Woods.

More trouble seemed to be on the horizon for the Horns’ as the ‘Tide were starting to march down the field, but just past midfield, Khalil Spielman of the Horns’ came up with an INT of his own off of an inaccurate pass by Avery Lalla, that was behind his intended WR.

On offense, after a Spielman’s 6-yard catch, Edghill found WR Nico Kamke who was playing in only his third game of the season, for a 34 catch by put the team in the redzone. After 3 straight incomplete passes by Edghill, Head Coach Dave Allen put in former starting QB Conor Tomalty who was now a starting WR, back in at QB. The plan which caught the Tide’ off-guard, and led to them taking a timeout on the previous play, was foiled after a bad snap that Tomalty couldn’t handle, led to a turnover on downs.

After the Tide’ had a turnover on downs of their own, the Horns’ with Edghill back behind center moved the ball once again, as he hit Nathaniel Peters for a 16-yard gain, then hit Shaylynn Bentley with a strike for 19 yards as well. 2 plays later the offense finally got on the board, when the QB found the aforementioned Spielman for a 4-yard TD after the WR had shaken off his defender at he goal line.  The game was now tied at 6 apiece.

With 3 plays left before the half, things got exciting, as Lalla was picked off once again, this time by Kamke, who ran it back to the 2-yard line.

Once again Allen decided to put Tomalty in at QB. The decision however, backfired for a second time in a row, as the QB turned WR turned QB again, forced a jump ball into coverage at Edghill who was brilliantly covered by Tide’ DB Alexi Dubois. Dubois came up with the huge INT, his first of the season, to end the half.

Talk about a huge play by Dubois, and another blown opportunity by the Longhorns to take the lead in this defensive showdown.

Things went much better for the Longhorns to open the second stanza, as they began the half with the ball and marched down the field Edghill started the drive by hitting Kamke for a big 19 yard gain. He then found Bentley and Spielman again on underneath passes. After a 10-yard run by the QB and an incomplete pass, the pivot found his snapper Joshua Peters for an 11-yard TD in the back of the endzone on a chuck and prayer type of pass that likely chould have been picked off.

The ‘Tide, who all season long, had been a quick-strike offense, struggled once again to move the ball, and were forced to turn it over on downs. 

The Horns’ however, returned the favour, as Edghill was picked off after his ball was tipped into the air by former Longhorn Malik James, and caught by Lalla. Once again though, nothing came out of it as the Tide’ couldn’t find the endzone.

After another turnover on downs by the Longhorns as well, the Tide’ had the ball with under two minutes to play.

After 2 incompletions, and facing a 3rd and long deep in their own territory, the Tide’ were bailed out by the zebras, as Horns’ DB Nathaniel Peters was called for a pass interference penalty, after he used an arm-bar to shield WR Malik James from catching the ball on a deep throw down the left sideline. One play later, Lalla took matters into his own hands, as he ran down the right sideline breaking both a Spielman and Bentley tackle for a 16-yard TD.

Now down 14-12, with the game on the line, the Tide’ went for the 2-point conversion to send the game into overtime. Lalla rolled to his right and tried to jam the ball into a tight window for WR Jose Castro, but Edghill jumped in front of the pass and picked it off ending the game. 14-12 final.

High Five

Buckeyes’ Defense

Whenever you shutout a team, you know for sure that you’ll end up on the list.

Jaden Frenette

He finally showed that his arm could match his talents with his feet in what was up to that point his team’s biggest game of the season. Can he do it again tomorrow?

Jaeden Edghill

The Edghill family had a huge Saturday, but the second of four Edghills shone brightest last week against the Wolverines.

Nico Kamke

He was the team’s Most Valuable Player against the Tide’ as he is a big reason why the Longhorns advanced

Shaylynn Bentley

Her game-high 3 sacks, and big catches on offense were another huge reason why her team got the win. Will she have a repeat performance tomorrow?

 

Matchups

Shaylynn Bentley versus Ryan Garber

The Hurricanes QB has shown a flair for running the ball as of late. In their last meeting, Bentley sacked Graber twice, but the pivot was still able to gain 62 yards on the ground. She will have to contain him in the rushing department, and force him to get rid of the ball early for her team to get the W.

 

Trey Bentley versus Jaden Frenette

Both QBs can make plays with their legs. Bentley who has been the best QB in the Junior Division all season, has been making plays with his arm consistently. Frenette finally did the same last week as well. Whichever QB makes more plays, will give his team the win.

Kaiden Dewey versus Jaeden Edghill

This has the potential to be the biggest matchup of the game. Both players have a nose for the ball, and have been making huge plays for their teams all year long.

Juwan Edghill versus the Hurricanes

So far in 2 games against his former team, Edghill has put up 5 Touchdown passes and only 1 INT, while also catching a TD as well. Will he save his best performance for last?

 

Picks (Favourites in bold)

Longhorns vs Hurricanes (Season Series: Hurricanes 3-1) The Longhorns handed the Hurricanes their only loss of the season two weeks ago. A big part of the Horns’ success in that game, was the play of Marcus Pluviose who not only shut down Canes’ two-way threat Gianni Frassetti, but he made huge plays himself on both sides of the ball. Unfortunately, for Dave Allen’s team, Pluviose won’t be playing tomorrow.

While I am sure Juwan Edghill will make plays for his team, his penchant for occasionally making plays for his opponents via interceptions at the QB position is a huge factor that can’t be ignored. For the Longhorns to be successful, they will need their QB to be extremely smart with the ball, and not to chuck 50/50 balls up in the air and hope for the best. They will also need him to spread the ball around the entire field, and not just run to and look to throw solely to his right side. Picking apart matchups will also be huge. Edghill was better in the last two areas last week against the Tide, he will needs to be even better with it this week against the Canes’.

For the Canes’ they will need their rusher Adam Mahrouse to pressure Edghill into making the mistakes I just talked about. They also need better performances out of Frassetti and snapper Roupen Djourian on the offensive side of the ball than they got last time as well.

On defense, they will also need to contain Bentley, and late-bloomer Nico Kamke underneath, while keeping an eye on Conor Tomalty and his ability to win jump balls over defenders. Nathaniel Peters is also a consistent threat running those in-between routes. The more the ball is distributed around by the Longhorns, the more difficult it will be for the Hurricanes to neutralize them.

Pick: I think the absences of Pluviose and Spielamn will be too much for the Horns’ defense to overcome. Hurricanes 24-22.

 

Buckeyes vs Tigers (Season Series: Tigers 3-0-1)

The Tigers have been the class of the division all season long, but as we saw last week, the Buckeyes are more than capable of pulling off the upset.

For the Buckeyes to do so, stopping, or at least limiting Tigers QB Trey Bentley is going to be huge. To do so, they might have to put Jaden Frenette at rush, which is a tactic they have done a few times with success late in the regular season, and even last week versus the Wolverines. Frenette’s speed and length might be enough to bother Bentley.

The Bucks’ will also need a other big performance out of Jaeden Edghill as he will have the task of not only covering Kaiden Dewey as I mentioned earlier, but he will also most likely be lined up against dangerous WR Lukas Manolikakis as well.

Stopping the run game will also be key, as the Tigers love to hand the ball off to their speedy playmaker Terrence Brown as well.

For the Tigers on defense, they will need to first and foremost stop the run as well. To do that, they must shut down the mobile Frenette, who is averaging an astonishing 21 yards a carry. Without a doubt, that is easier said than done.

The Tigers must also find a way to slow down the aforementioned Edghill, Elie Fortugno, and the MVP of the Buckeyes’ offense, Max Arnovitz. In 4 games against the Tigers this season, the speedy WR who seems to get better every week, has 12 catches for 100 yards.

 

Pick: I think this game will come down to who makes more plays. While the Buckeyes finally moved the ball with some consistency last week, and have momentum coming off of their huge blowout upset win over the Wolverines, they are taking on a much better Tigers team that has been making plays and moving the ball on opponents all season long. Tigers 30-18. 

 

Finally, FPF Jr has given out individual awards to five players in each division, here are this season’s winners:

 

Sophomore Division

Quarterback of the Year

# 7 Ryan Garber – Hurricanes

841 YDS  23 TD  4 INT  71.4%  117 QBR

 

Pass Rusher of the Year

#6 Shaylynn Bentley – Longhorns

12 QB Sacks  9 TKL

 

Receiver of the Year

#5 George Aifantis – Hurricanes

27 REC  291 YDS  11 TD

 

Defensive Player of the Year

#25 Juwan Edghill – Longhorns

24 TKL  9 INT  6 PD

 

Two-Way Player of the Year

#11 Adam Mahrouse – Hurricanes

30 REC  357 YDS   5 TD | 15 QB Sacks  5 PD

 

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Freshman Division

Quarterback of the Year

#10 Trey Bentley – Tigers

922 YDS  22 TD  6 INT  57%  99.7 QBR

 

Pass Rusher of the Year

#12 Brayden Bevan – Wolverines

7 QB Sacks  12 TKL

 

Receiver of the Year

#15 Kaiden Dewey – Tigers

22 REC  335 YDS  8 TD

 

Defensive Player of the Year

#88 Jaden Frenette – Buckeyes

21 TKL  3 INT  7 PD  2 SK  2 TD

 

Two-Way Player of the Year

#6 Camdyn Jeremiah

450 YDS  11 TD |30 TKL  5 INT  5 PD

 

Congratulations to all the winners! You will be receving a personalized trophy this weekend.

 

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Once again ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, this the last article of the season. I honestly had an amazing time watching the games, and writing for you guys this year. Based on a lot of the feedback I got, it seems like you guys enjoyed it too, so thank-you! It was an honor and a privilege.  I definitely look forward to doing it again next season.

Cheers!

That’s it for this week. I will see you guys on the sideline this Saturday.

If you loved the article, hated it, or simply felt I left something out, don’t be shy. You can shoot me a tweet at @BADNEWS51.