And then there was 1…

We did it! Championship week has come to FPF! Make sure you check out the live broadcasts this weekend with a whole slew of FPF casts giving commentary, instant replays, and the football intensity we love to see! Each team gave it their best shot, but at the end of it all, we are left with 2 Matchups that will dictate the Best of each Division: 

5A – LES PETITES CAROTTES vs SLEEPING ALL-STARS

5B – WIN DIESEL vs PARLAY TILTERS

Last week we saw the elimination of THUNDER BUDDIES and RICO RYDERS in 5A, while HOOLIGANS and MACCABEES were eliminated in 5B. Let’s see a quick recap of each game before we dive into the Final Showdown of titans!  

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FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH:

5A: SLEEPING ALL-STARS vs THUNDER BUDDIES

I felt this game was going to be a win for THUNDER BUDDIES, and despite being wrong, it was a hell of a close game! Both QB’s threw 3 TDs, had 1 INT, and over 100 yards which was definitely going to be needed this game, but what was most impressive is that SLEEPING ALL-STARS were down 23-6 after the first half and were able to score 18 unanswered points in the 2nd half to win the game!!! THUNDER BUDDIES took the lead early and thanks to an INT from Simon Dumas scored 3 times in the first half and accumulated an extra 5 points from converts! 

Unfortunately for the BUDDIES, SLEEPING ALL-STARS decided to wake up in the 2nd half and were able to turn the tables! As quick as can be, after a lucky INT from Fidel Honkponou, the ALL-STARS had scored back to back TDs and were only down 23-18. THUNDER BUDDIES were looking for another TD to pull the game out of reach, and ALL-STARS just needed 1 TD to pull ahead! Back and forth, most of the rest of the game resulted in 4th down change of possessions … .until the THUNDER BUDDIES couldn’t hold the damn any longer and SLEEPING ALL-STARS were able to score after a penalty put them right up to the Goaline. With the game on the line, THUNDER BUDDIES got the ball back determined to do what they had not done yet in the second half! They drove the field, moved up due to a penalty, and was ultimately sacked on the last play to end the game! Congrats on a game stopping play by Samuel Cote, but this should also highlight to teams how important converts are! A great performance by both teams, but special shout out to William Power and Fidel Honkponou! Will was the recipient of the 3 TDs for the BUDDIES, while Fidel was able to keep his team in the game defensively with his INT and 3 PDs! 

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5A: LES PETITES CAROTTES vs RICO RYDERS 

I actually thought this game would have been more of a blow out, but the RICO RYDERS held on until the very end! The RYDERS started with the ball and promptly turned it over during their first possession via INT. The CAROTTES took the long road to the EndZone, picking up a penalty and a sack along the way, but nevertheless, Jason Reyes was able to find Xavier Brault for the first TD of the game! When RICO RYDERS got the ball back, they were determined not to make the same mistake and were able to toss the ball to Justin Lerner to respond in kind. With the first half coming to a close, Justin was also able to come down with an INT, giving the RYDERS an extra chance to score – but unfortunately, could not profit. 

LES PETITES CAROTTES started the 2nd half with the ball and decided they were going to level up into LES GRANDES CAROTTES! Scoring on their first drive, Jason Reyes decided he liked the ball so much that he wanted it back, and was able to INT Mathew Yanakoulias, and score immediately with a 40-Bomb to Xavier again! All of a sudden, finding themselves down 18-6, RICO RYDERS step up to the plate and pull out all the stops in an attempt to get ahead. They drive the field and score in 8 plays, calling for the onside kick – the score now 18-12, RYDERS have a chance to win if they can just secure the ball! But the CAROTTES eyesight was just too good and RYDERS turned over the ball in their endzone. Despite additional scores from each team, it just wouldn’t be enough to catch up and the RYDERS had to accept defeat. Shout out to RICO RYDERS who were able to play a fantastic game and give an almost undefeated team a run for their money! Shout out to Dylan Scattolon who put fantastic pressure on the opposing QB and coming away with some key sacks. Also shout out to Xavier Brault (obviously), but also to Jason Reyes! I usually don’t call out QB’s cause they already get so much of the glory, but coming down with 2 INTS is stellar in the playoffs! 

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5B: MACCABEES vs PARLAY TILTERS       

When I wrote briefly last week about how the Semi-Finals were gonna go, I gave the advantage to MACCABEES. They had just beat a fan favourite (ok, my fan favourite) – TUNESQUAD – and I thought it would take a lot to knock them off their high horse. As it turns out, PARLAY TILTERS have A LOT! Outsourcing MACCABEES in both the 1st and 2nd half, PARLAY TILTERS took the semi-final match 33-18. MACCABEES struggled to get their game plan off the ground, and despite Shimmy Cons’ 73 Rushing yards, were unable to keep up with Micheal Hiotis’ performance in the air! Hiotis put up 4 TDs with a 75% accuracy rate, scoring 2 TDs in each half. 

The TILTERS dominated the first half of the game by getting 2 INTS – 1x PICK-6 and the other scored on the possession – while also not letting MACCABEES get their footing, or score more than once. MACCABEES made a decision to chuck it up before half-time and were able to score thanks to a 30-Bomb from Jordy Melnik to Mikey Titleman! Bringing them back into the game! Shimmy Cons then decided to turn on the jets and drive his team to the Redzone, where MACCABEES scored, bringing the game to a closer 12-19! But the damage was already done… and another INT from Shimmy Cons would seal MACCABEES fate.

I think the game could have had a different outcome had the MACCABEES been able to force at least 1 turnover (not counting the 1x 4th down stop), but without the sufficient pressure, the TILTERS were able to TILT the game into their favour! Despite barely skating by against GREEN MONSTERS last week, PARLAY TILTERS proved once again that they can compete against the heavy hitters when push comes to shove. But will they be able to compete against the undefeated DIESEL train that knows nothing except WINNING? Shout out to Mikey Titleman for an incredible 2-way performance! 

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5B: WIN DIESEL vs THE HOOLIGANS

This game was a nailbiter! In a game where I thought WIN DIESEL would run away with the game early, but THE HOOLIGANS showed up and started with their shenanigans, making this one hell of a game! Both QB’s went 4 TDs – 1 INT and 160+ yards total, but only 1 could lead their team to victory! WIN DIESEL immediately started off strong, showing just why they are the top seed – a giant throw for 27 yards put Will Sebag in prime positioning to run the 1st TD of the game in. However, HOOLIGANS kept their composure and after the marching the field, were able to match their opponents and get their TD! HOOLIGANS then worked hard to shut out the unstoppable force that is the DIESEL train, but couldn’t, and were forced to once again catch up on Offense, keeping the score within 1 pt going into the last possession of the half. Unfortunately, a giant penalty pushed WIN DIESEL to the endzone and gave them an easy score before halftime. With time running out and only a few plays left, HOOLIGANS were able to keep up and throw in 1 last TD to Danick Coulombe, before grabbing an INT to close out the half! 

At this point, I thought WIN DIESEL would have been rattled. The score was closer than they probably wanted, and HOOLIGANS started off with the ball. A quick back and forth began as both teams fought hard to keep scoring and gain any advantage they could, but unfortunately for HOOLIGANS, it was Felix Sebag who came in with a HUGE 4th down sack to force HOOLIGANS to turn over the ball! The rest, as they say, is history: WIN DIESEL was able to score on their possession, pushing ahead and winning the game 35-28 and avoiding a stressful O.T.! What a Game!!! I didn’t think HOOLIGANS would be able to hang with the top dog, but BOY, was I surprised! Give yourselves a pat on the back because you almost accomplished what no team has been able to do yet – beat WIN DIESEL. Shout out of the game has to go to Danick Coulombe for his 3 TDs and INT that kept HOOLIGANS in the game! Also, Barthelemy Huge deserves a shout out as well: he went 6/6 and caught all 4 of his team’s TDs! Would WIN DIESEL have been able to win had he been any less efficient?   

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GAMES OF THE WEEK: 

5A – FINALS

LES PETITES CAROTTES vs SLEEPING ALL-STARS

It all comes down to this! LES PETITES CAROTTES had a fantastic season, losing only to VICE CITY at the end of the season! They boast one of the highest points scored, and one of the lowest points allowed this season, which is saying something when you have teams like STRAPAHOLICS, DUCKS, and NIGHTHAWKS in your division! The CAROTTES are finding themselves in the FINAL with a heavy hitting squad: Jason Reyes put up 40 TDs this season while picking up over 300 rushing yards. Both a threat on the ground and the air, will he be able to stick to his usual game plan when Cloutier Edouard is running after him?! Jason has shown that he can and will get sacked 1-2 times a game, and Cloutier Edouard can probably push that to 2-4! Not only that, but SLEEPING ALL-STARS defence has tallied 27 INTs (not including the 9 in playoffs) and specialises in taking the ball from their opponents! This is where I expect the CAROTTES to struggle. Jason has been able to put up some great numbers, but will they be enough in the face of this defensive juggernaut? Maybe just don’t throw it to Samuel Omombo’s side? 

To get to this point, SLEEPING ALL-STARS had to play strong teams like the WEST ISLAND HABIBIS and THUNDER BUDDIES, which they were able to do in some close games! Samuel Cote has been able to lead this team into the playoffs with a QB performance comparable to Jason Reyes. Though lower on the ladder, Samuel has put up almost 40 TDs and has been able to ensure his team gets the 30+ points they need to win games. With an TD:INT ratio of 2:1 in the playoffs, he is a smidgen less precise than Jason and despite their regular season performances may be LESS able to hold onto the ball. Turnovers will be the name of the game on Saturday, and despite seeing SLEEPING ALL-STARS defense, I worry that LES PETITES CAROTTES have planted their roots and found their rhythm, so that regardless of the noise the ALL-STARS make, the CAROTTES will be able to push through! 

Both teams have been able to find some PICK-6 success in the playoffs, while also raking in a great number of INTs, however, the one discrepancy is their Rushers. While SLEEPING ALL-STARS have a rusher that can put the pressure on, get the needed sacks, and force some bad throws…. I worry that the CAROTTES will not be able to put the same kind of pressure on Samuel Cote. Without a pressure heavy rusher, we may see Sam take advantage of it and try to run to keep plays alive or move the field with his legs! This will inevitably put more pressure on the defence to play aggressively and stop routes, which can eventually lead to mistakes and a drop coverage here and there. CAROTTES will need to find a way to put pressure on Samuel Cote while also maintaining possession of the ball on offence as much as possible! 2 weeks ago, had you showed me this match up, I would have said LES PETITES CAROTTES take this game easy… But after an exciting Playoff run and enough upsets that I have had to eat my words, I actually think SLEEPING ALL-STARS are favoured in this match – as long as they can shut down the Jason and Xavier Brault combo that pushed Xavier Brault to the #1 receiver of 5A! The crucible of teams the ALL-STARS had to face should prepare them better than the matches the CAROTTES had… though I always love a good underdog story! Can’t wait to see this heavy hitting, defensive game live!  

Prediction: LES PETITES CAROTTES 32 – 36 SLEEPING ALL-STARS       

PREDICTION RECORD: 33-23 

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5B – FINALS

WIN DIESEL vs PARLAY TILTERS

The end is here! What we’ve all been waiting for; and what a journey it has been! WIN DIESEL crushed their way through the division handedly, outsourcing their opponents by 2-4 TDs in most of the games, with the only close games given to MACCABEES and HOOLIGANS. Will Sebag showed his competence this season by keeping both his INTs and SACKs to under 5 each, all while throwing up a Personal Record of 45 TDs. Now, when each game is an elimination game, he has been able to elevate his performance even more! Scoring 12 TDs in his last 3 games, Will has continued, if not surpassed, his own season and is having a phenomenal showing in the Playoffs. But what is a QB without good receivers!? Probably still a good QB to be honest… but no one would know! Lucky for Will, he has extraordinary receivers in Marcus Lynch, Jake Holman, and Barthelemy Huge who are able to highlight his talents! Marcus and Jake were the go-to targets in the regular season, and continue to be threats on the field, but with Barthelemy Huge coming up big last game against HOOLIGANS, PARLAY TILTERS will have their hands full trying to cover all this talent! Defensively, WIN DIESEL also has the edge: Having only allowed 111 points in 10 games, they are clearly the best defense in the division and have allowed less than 50% of the points that the TILTERS have. Marcus Lynch has been their defensive shield, accumulating 3x PICK-6s in the regular season, but will that be enough to stop one of the top 5 running QBs of the division – Micheal Hiotis? Felix and Will Sebag have been sharing the rusher position and sacks this season, but that might come back to haunt them as Hiotis gets his engine running and they struggle to contain him! 

PARLAY TILTERS come into this game as the BIG underdogs. Finishing 5-5, PARLAY TILTERS found themselves struggling in the regular season against teams like: LES TONDEUSES, LES SACRIFIES 2, and TUNESQUAD. I assumed they would lose out in the first or second round of the playoffs, but each week the TILTERS have surprised all of us and taught me that there is still some fight left in this dog! Micheal Hiotis has had an even better playoff run than his regular season (much like Will Sebag), and he is looking to be the upset king of the Playoffs! With big wins over TOP G, GREEN MONSTER, and MACCABEES, it looks like nothing can stop the TILTERS from winning it all! Antonio Venturino has been stepping up to the plate and continues to be the #1 target for his team, but that doesn’t mean that the rest are duds. The Peters (Ntoulis and Cote) have been able to bring in most of the playoff TDs, and at 3 a piece, it will be hard to cover all 3 threats without creating holes in your defense. 

I’ve been doubting that the TILTERS would be able to have the firepower or defensive stopping power to keep up with WIN DIESEL, but seeing them recently and taking into account Julien Salvatore’s great season of 12 sacks, it might just be enough pressure to force WIN DIESEL to make a mistake! That’s what this game will come down to: who makes the first/most mistakes. TILTERS will need to play an almost perfect game to be able to keep up with WIN DIESEL, but, if they are able to keep the turnovers to a minimum, while making a stop or 2, TILTERS will have a chance to bring it all home as the underdogs! 

Good luck to all teams playing on Saturday and may the Playoff Gods smile down upon you! 

Prediction: WIN DIESEL 40 – 32 PARLAY TILTERS 

PREDICTION RECORD: 42-27

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And that’s a wrap! Last article of the season! Thanks for hanging with me and taking the time to read my Blurbs. Hope to see you on the field next season or when I write about your team in the Finals! GOOD LUCK!