Bombsquad’s Breakdown (Div 1) – Week 14

And then there was one…. actually two, since I cover two divisions. Both games included double digit victories, but one was closer than the score indicates. So for the final time this season, let’s check out the action!

 

Countdown to detonation

 

D1 Finals.

 

Montreal’s Finest come away with the coveted D1 Championship as they defeat the Expos 40-26. This game was a battle. The first half went back and forth as both teams marched the field and exchanged scored. As the half drew to a close, the Expos were leading by one point and knocking on the doorstep as they had the ball inside the 5-yard line. It came to 4^th and goal with 4 plays remaining. And the WEPL’s very own Moe Khan rushed in and batted down Chad Byers’ pass attempt leaving the Finest with three plays to drive the field. On the second play, Kevin Wyeth sent Marc Champagnie on a hook a go which left Marc wide open, with only the sideline left to stop him, but he was able to tightrope the sideline  into the endzone for the score. After a completed 2-point convert attempt, the Finest were up 27-20 at the half.

 

The Expos kept fighting back and once again they were knocking on the doorstep. On another 4^th and goal rusher Moe Khan stepped up to make a huge play, this time sacking Byers. This was a day for rushers to make big plays. Case in point: Expos snapper Geoff Beauchesne was brought in to rush Kevin Wyeth as the Finest were looking to put the nail in the coffin. The big man from the Expos not only defended the pass as soon as it left Wyeth’s hand, but then he caught it for the big and much needed interception. This was the opportunity the Expos needed. Chad Byers marched his team down the field and put themselves within a single score with time winding down.

 

However, Playoff MVP Kevin Wyeth again methodically marched the Finest down the field. Getting first down after first down until they reached the 10-yard line when Wyeth decided to call his own number and ran it in for his second rushing TD of the game and leaving very little time on the clock.

 

Very shortly after, the game reached 5 plays and QB Chad Byers and the Expos called the game realizing there wasn’t enough time to come back from the 2 score deficit.

 

Once again the Expos come up short in the finals and for the first time in a while Montreal’s Finest are crowned the Champion.

 

D2 Finals.

 

Victorious Secret make a mockery out of the final beating the One Night Stands 54-30, and in this case, the game wasn’t even that close. There is not a lot of explanation when you see a final like this. Obviously one team was better than the other, but why such a difference?

 

Well for starters, unfortunately, we saw the return of the O.N.S. defense from the beginning of the season and more importantly the earlier matchup with V.S., where they allowed nine passing TDs. But that wasn’t the only reason. The O.N.S. offence just was not clicking. They had many dropped balls. Kevin Wyeth had 16 incomplete passes, and I can promise you he does not completely miss that many people. They had a chance very early in the game to try and keep pace with Victorious, and then we had the true turning point in the game. O.N.S. was down 8 points and got the ball back. Then something happened. Andrew Blevings snapped the ball and it just completely slipped through Kevin Wyeth’s hands. A moment that will haunt them. They went from being down 8, to being down 10 to very quickly being down 16. And so the game was over before it ever truly started.

 

But on the other side, I said Paul Lapierre would not have another game like he did in their first matchup with O.N.S. I was right. He did not have 9 TD passes, only 7. And he was on fire in the first half finding every crack and hole in the O.N.S. defense. Lapierre was 17-25 for 230 yards and 7 TD’s. The O.N.S. defense did not stop their opponents until their last drive thanks to the amazing ball management of this MVP QB. Lapierre found receiver Jason Prince for 3 wide-open TD’s. But of course the big story was Rochdi Benabdelkader’s defensive play calling which held the O.N.S. squad to 12 points in the first half. Godfrey Abu was a big contributor as well, with a big pick-6.

 

I guess it proves that practice pays off as Victorious Secret win for the second year in a row with some new faces but the same outcome.

 

BOOM!! Like a cannon shot announcing the end of the season.

 

It was an incredible season in both divisions. It has been a privilege to cover every week, as all of you who played, never made it boring.

 

Congrats to the champs, to the individual award winners and to every one of you who strapped on a flag this season to make this league what it has become, which is the most competitive and well run flag football league in Quebec and maybe even Canada. But it is because of each of you who join a team and fight for the top prize that creates the energy and competition that fuels this league like NOS in a Fast and the Furious film.

 

Thanks to all of you who come out. And I looked forward to seeing you all again. From the sidelines. From across the line of scrimmage and from the huddle.

 

Until next time, another season has been defused.

 

Spring is around the corner and then Winter is Coming.