Bombsquad’s Breakdown (Div A) – Week 13

Well at least I got that Debbie Downer diatribe out of my system so let’s try to look at the league in a positive and neutral light shall we? I say we shall. So let’s get to the action.

As predicted the Mercenaries defeat the Rainmakers 41-32. This game was a little more lopsided than I expected although the Rainmakers were without Shane Williams, Bobby Mikelberg and Michael Chitayat, but more importantly early on in the match Ryan Kastner ran with the ball, yes I said Kastner ran, and came up lame. Whether he cramped or pulled a hamstring I don’t know, but he stayed in the game like a warrior a la Phillip Rivers. Kastner played a great game but had incompletions at the worst possible moments. On the other side it was business as usual for the Mercs’ offence. Carmine Pollice once again got the job done and led his team to the finals. He was greatly assisted by a phenomenal performance by Jacques Void who made some clutch grabs for 2 TD’s and of course the pillar of the team Paul Lapierre, who chipped in with 2 TD’s as well. Add to the mix a little Stephane Chartrand and this team was off to the races. They made the stops when they needed to and more importantly they used the “Madden” theory to take a huge lead in the second half. (For info on the Madden theory of taking the ball at the start of the second half, see past articles). Needless to say it was a good game. Congrats to the Mercs for moving on to a second straight Spring final and the Rainmakers for a great season.

So now we come to the finals in Brossard. I have heard some complaints about the finals being played there but I think it is a great facility. I hope it is not a sauna this time. But brave a little bridge travel and come out to watch as many finals as you can. Speaking from experience, they are all worth watching.

To see players of any caliber putting everything out there is inspiring. As we like to say outdoor, it’s great to watch teams play balls out! It sounds awful. And for those of you who know where I work it sounds even worse. Somewhere right now Mr. Benabdelkader is laughing like a school girl who won prom queen.

Take the time and come out to watch. I’m sure Rehan will tell you to join me at the bar because according to him I have a moonshine hooked into my veins at all times. Come and watch people you know — or even strangers, put everything on the line to win the title in a league that is their own NFL; their passion, their hobby, their love. Whatever the motivation, it is worth braving a rickety old bridge. And you know who you are who said this to me.

Final Pick.

So here it is. As hard as this is to write, the Triple (cough, cough, sniff, sniff) Sixers take on the Mercenaries at 9 pm in Brossard. We have Karim Chaoual taking on Hall of famer Carmine Pollice. Receivers like Pat Jerome taking on defenders like Teddy Frenette. Paul Lapierre taking on Bruno Colette. JF Marcotte taking on Adi Sharma. Jacques Void taking on Corey Greenaway. Stephane Chartrand taking on Mathieu Thuot. You can’t ask for better matchups (I could because I wanted to be playing against the Mercs but we were defeated by a very solid Sixers team) And the lineup I just mentioned is why.

In past seasons I would have said lock up Pat Jerome and JF Marcotte and take the trophy home. Not this year. In the semi-finals against DA Finest Karim Chaoual tossed the go ahead TD to Raphael Fradette who had 7 receptions in the game. Chaoual is playing great football right now and he is doing what he has to do to win. He is spreading the ball and adjusting to the team he is facing. The problem is he is facing a very dominating Mercenaries team in this particular game. Ironically enough, the Sixers beat the Mercs with Corey Greenaway at the helm earlier this season. Does this mean we might see some halfback plays? Or some plays at QB for Greenaway? I can’t wait to find out.

I know the Mercenaries feel they are ready for this and who wouldn’t be confident with Carmine Pollice at the helm who has won a record 6 championships – all at the highest level, to date. This is definitely not his first rodeo. He’s been down this road and so have many players on the team. You know the names. I know the Mercenaries are thinking over that last Sixers matchup and are planning for anything and everything. This team broke records this season. So I do not believe that are doubting themselves in the least bit.

So you now know what there is to know about both teams and here is my pick. I am picking the Mercenaries. Regardless of what some of you might believe my reasons are, I honestly believe the matchups favor the Mercs. Barely. It will be a very good game and it will go both ways and the Mercs better hope that Jerome doesn’t decide to crown someone on camera. I just believe that the experience of Sharma calling the D and Pollice calling the O will rue the day.

Then again, on any given Sunday….

Glory is at hand,

One game remains.

The matchup has,

Great QB’s at the reins.

Both teams are stacked,

And are ready to play,

The winner ends it,

A championship day.

So come one come all,

Come have a ball.

Big or tall,

Short or small,

We welcome you all.

Sunday at nine,

Is the time,

For gametime,

In primetime,

To miss is a crime.

For directions give me a call,

But remember it’s your dime.

That’s all for now, so don’t have a cow…sorry poem is over. Predictions are welcome and you can reach me at [email protected] but until then another week has been defused.