Bombsquad’s Breakdown

Bombsquad’s Breakdown End of Spring Season Edition                  

Well, y’all you have seen me on the podcasts and if you haven’t well, I am the annoying guy who used to write for these divisions and I wanted to chime in on this past spring regular season. Instead of recapping matchups, I figured I would recap teams from the past season. So without further ado…

Countdown to detonation…

Div B

11. Certified Flyguys. Major props head out to these guys for stepping up into a higher division and without a QB no less!! I hear they were supposed to have someone who couldn’t make the season in the end. Well amazing job boys. They definitely have a talented group of players as was displayed in week 9 when they managed to win with a very average QB but then lost due to that same mediocre QB being ineligible. I think teams should watch out for Fred Mallette in the future on offense and Laurent Ladouceur as a formidable two way player. We salute you!

10. AMJ Campbell. Benoit Groulx decided to try his hand in Div B and everyone agrees he throws a nice ball. I think with a consistent supporting cast every week, this team can do some damage. I will be curious to see what sort of team they field in the winter session. Stephane Groulx was the main weapon for this team leading in every offensive category. And both Groulx’s showed they read a defense pretty well along with Jasmin Rioux. All I can say is come back in the winter with a full squad of guys ready to go to war every week and I think your record will change dramatically!!

9. Darkside. Wow, what can we say about the latest incarnation from Gino Di Fazio??? How about the team of a million faces? This was the team that scrambles for players before each game scouring the sidelines for players to fill out the roster. This team just could not build enough chemistry to actually make a legitimate run. Sad to say but that is the truth and I was a part of this debacle. Back to the drawing board. Need a full squad before the season starts that is for sure. The team did display the phenomenal talent of Jourdain Alexis. He of the quick feet and speed and his hands aren’t bad either. The only player to make all 10 games was the QB.

8. Daron World Wide. The first playoff team. Alex Lever had a decent season and even almost defeated DA Finest. But they couldn’t win the big games to avoid landing eighth. The issues may have started with the fact that only 3 players made all 10 games. This is a team that can be very dangerous given how long they have played together much the same as the Glads. Matthew Bishara had a great season receiving and continues to develop as a legitamate threat. Steve Sanner was the defensive leader with 4 picks in 8 games. They face the KGB Champs and absolutely have the ability to win this game.

7. The Wolverines. What can we say about this team? They are so hot and cold it is unreal. Tony Tabet went from a perfect game one week to having his team getting massacred at the hands of #NR who they unfortunately…or maybe fortunately face in round 1 of the playoffs. This is a very good team with a lot of talented players, especially the double threat of Eric Kavaldjian and Raffi Bastadjian who have 17 TD’s between them and lest we forget defensive player of the year Theo Bekelis. They can do damage but can they avenge that destruction that was their game against #NR? My gut says no but I have been wrong many times before.

6. O.N.S. Now here is a team without an identity. They used to be a strong defensive team but they gave up over 35 points 6 times this season. The offense has Kevin Wyeth!!! Oh, but he is snapping- in a very strange four point stance I might add. Throwing is Paul Lapierre to a very talented core of receivers including Jamil Springer and Serge Pilon JR. who managed 11 TD’s on offense and 2 pick 6’s on D. So who are they? Great question and they better have an answer soon as they face the Legends in round 1. They can definitely score at will and the defense has proven it can get the stops but they lost in week 10 to the Legends. Will history repeat itself?

5. The Commission. Leon “FBG” Holder was the man at the helm this season. They struggled against the higher ranked teams losing to their first round opponents, the Hustlers, and won the lower ranked games. Holder had great chemistry with Hakim Kasbi-Filiatrault who was the main scoring weapon all season. Big thing to remember is Alex Hovington scored 6 of Holder’s TD passes on the season is not eligible for playoffs. Not to mention the only playoff player besides Hakim with more than 5 TD’s is Sean Kennedy. Who is going to step up and fill the huge gap in scoring???? Maybe Samer Asmor but only time will tell. This will be a very interesting game.

4. The Hustlers, who better figure out how to hustle themselves a win with both QB’s suffering injuries that could prevent them from even playing. Both Sean Avramm and Carmine Pollice alternating manning the bridge this season and both were very successful. Pollice the better QB, but is also a HOF player at that position so no surprise there. Alex Pilon led the team in scoring with 15 TD’s in 6 games while Adam Ciampini showed his offensive abilities with 10 TD’s. This team has a great all round defense and the top rusher in Yves Thomas. They hold a narrow 2 point victory over Avraam’s former squad who I am sure is gunning for revenge. But who will be throwing? That remains to be seen. Tune in Sunday.

3. The Legends. What can you say about those Pecker’s? Well Cory is a pretty damn good QB, throwing 54 TD’s with a QB rating of 119 for the season. Brother Robbie is pretty good as well as he posted 9 TD’s but the main offensive weapon was speedster Ryan Lelinowski along with David Chitayat who also happen to be the team’s main defensive weapons as well. These guys are very athletic and it seems that Cory Pecker has managed to bond with them. This can be a very dangerous team as they have defeated the #1 team in Div B as well as their first round opponents O.N.S. who were very frustrated by Pecker. I will be very curious to see if they can repeat last week’s performance. Oh and Bryan Fuchs, I run more than slants and outs. You can ask our Commish.

2. #NR. This team continues to move up each season. Regardless of personal feelings on anyone’s part, they have shown they can compete in each division. Finishing in 2^nd place in Div B. is a great accomplishment. They have a QB in Holowach who is very good at ball control and a great two-way player in Travis Moses. More importantly the ball is spread around very well and they have the best defense in the league giving up the fewest points. They face the Wolverines in round 1 who they beat soundly early. This team has all the components needed to win Div B. Can they control their emotions and get the job done? That is the real question. They struggled against the senior teams so that will be their true test.

1. KGB Champs. Led by QB of the year Phil Cutler, this team was the Eagle’s dark horse pick at the beginning of the season. Not so much of a dark horse now, sitting in the top spot!! The team also has receiver of the year Sean Brophy and the wicked tandem of Vince Nardone and Fred Saleh. This team has really shown their metal this season. Winning big games and pulling out the close ones. They face Daron World Wide in the first round, who they faced way back in week 1. They won that game but are playing so much better at this stage of the game. This will be a very tough team to derail. I can definitely see them making the finals.

Click….why no boom???? Ohhhhhhh, Div A!!

Div A

7. The Usual Suspects. This team was rounded up and executed in the street….every week. They did not win a game and finished at 0-10. Their closest loss was 6 points. But the team gets full credit for stepping into the top spring division. They had some bright spots with Shawn Haney and other players, but this is a season you chalk up to experience and move on. I wish I could say more but when you don’t win a single game…..well.

6. The Rainmakers. Once again the Rainmakers struggled to field a consistent lineup each week. Only 3 players made all 10 games, then 1 with 9 and 1 with 8. It is very hard to win in the top tier without your same team week in and week out. They still didn’t do too badly. They come into the playoffs facing a team they split the season series with. Michael Chitayat had another strong season, making some incredible grabs as did Bobby Mikelberg. The addition of Matt Bond has been huge for this defense as he led in INT’s. If they field a full squad for the playoffs, teams better start planning.

5. The Gladiateurs. Once again this team plays in the top tier and has beaten some of the storied franchises. They come into the playoff after a decent season from QB Francois Lebeau who threw 56 TD’s but an unusually high 14 INT’s. Once again brother Marc Andre was Frank’s favorite weapon but center Nicolas Guimier and Matthew Bishara were both used to full effect. This team is smart. They keep the same components together and grow together. Chemistry is so important in this league. And this team who may not look like contenders when you first see them, leave you scratching your head after they beat you. They play the Alkaholics in round 1 who they beat soundly earlier this season.

4. The Alkaholics. Once again Paul Lapierre grabbed a lot of talent but struggled out of the gate going 1-5. Then comes the 4 game winning streak as the team comes together to get it right. They hardly ever had the same team on the field. But watch out for some big players in the playoffs. Stephane Chartrand only played 5 games but scored 6 TD’s. And don’t forget about Jamil Springer who plays with Paul on both his teams. This is a dangerous team, especially now that they are on a roll. They know how to get the tough win and you should not look past them. They also have a good defense so the Glads have their work cut out for them.

3. Les Grosses Tetes Molles De Chernbyl. Thank God I never have to write that again. This Pat Chenard team came flying out of the gate with a 5-0 start. They then finished 2-3 but make no mistake, this is an extremely talented and dangerous team. Pat Chenard can beat you on both sides of the ball as can the duo of Mathieu Thuot, who had 17 TD’s on the season, and Nick Arsenault-Hum, who had 10. These guys are always around the ball and know how to shut you down. They face the Rainmakers who they know they can beat, but it will be a very difficult game. This game could come down to a single turnover but I don’t think it will. Regardless it is great having the Chenard teams back in winter and spring!!

2. The Roosters and Donkeys. I make fun of the name a lot but you cannot argue with the results this team has put up this season. 2 of their 3 losses are at the hands of the top team. One of those losses had a different QB before Marco “Sleeves” Masciotra took over and had a good season once he grabbed the position. Vince Nardone was the man on offense but the ball was spread around everywhere. Impressive considering only one player made all 10 games. Whether they are the D-Boys or the Doosters, this team comes to win. They have amazing success and have now proven themselves ready to jump to the top tier. They also enjoy the comfort or curse of a bye week. Great season boys and I am sure we will see you in Div 1 in the winter.

1. DA Finest. I always avoid writing anything about my team, but this may be my last article so I will make up for lost time. This team wins because they have chemistry. It really is that simple. Okay, we also have the best QB in FPF and possibly the history of the FPF. If you look at the players ratings on this team, they would floor you. Every offensive player is in the 90’s. Almost every player on defense is in the 90’s. Akked Moore is a beast, “Hair” Benabdelkader has the sickest triple move in FPF, Harrington seems able to run past anyone, Karim Binette is everywhere on D, the Taylors are a nightmare to any QB, with Bourdages being physical while Kish is the general controlling them all. They have chemistry but most important, you will almost always see them having fun. And that is why we are here boys….to have fun. To my teammates, I say it has been an honour and privilege to play alongside you all regardless how this season ends. Thanks for the ride.

SONIC BOOM!!! Just like Guile in an old school Street Fighter 2 battle!

If you are wondering why the words of thanks to my team, it is because I am moving to B.C. right after the spring finals. Quite possibly for good. I want to now thank all of you for putting up with my foolishness (especially poor Moe Khan) and letting me have the joy of covering this league while playing in it as well. It has been an incredible ride. Thank you Rob Campana for putting this league together that every player gets excited for every winter and spring.

 

So in bidding you farewell, I offer one last poem.

 

The time has come to part ways,

FPF forever remembered in my days.

But the season isn’t over,

There are games left to be played.

 

Two titles will be given,

To very deserving teams,

Who will battle and fight,

And win by whatever means.

 

But do not lose sight,

For the game is played for fun.

You should be left smiling,

Once your game is done.

 

To all FPF players out there,

I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

For have I ever enjoyed playing with and against you all,

Now at the end and even from the very start.

 

Good luck to you all,

May chance be ever in your favour.

Did I just quote the Hunger Games?

Oh well man….whatever.

 

GM will dazzle you with a playoff article I’m sure….soon….I hope. But the guy works hard so cut him some slack. I won’t bother giving you info to write me your commentary because I most likely won’t see it unless you tweet @DonaldWShepherd or on the FPF Wall. So enjoy, FPF, it was a blast. For this kid, it is very possible, a career has been defused.