Categories: 35+ Division

Carmine’s Coffin Corner | Week 6 review and jumbled thoughts

So, we have finished Week #6.  The next few paragraphs will be filled with random thoughts, reviews of this past week, and a look ahead at this week’s action.

 

What did we learn from Week 6?

  • – Not sure what Kevin Wyeth has for dinner before playing the Spitfire defence, but it should be on his everyday menu. Finding a second career as a go-to receiver for Cory Pecker.  14-243-4 TDs in the two games
  • – Evidently Monster Jim was NOT powering up for the playoffs with their acquisitions of Paul Lapierre and Rochdi Benabdelkader for their game last week. Both were released and actually played QB for Tier 2 teams this week.  The rest of Tier 1 just let out a sigh of relief as they can now no longer return back to the MJ roster this season.
  • – Steven Harripersaud continues to amaze with his precision “dink & dunk” style fitting footballs into these tiny windows on a crazy regular basis. (I just left this in from last week and might never delete it for the rest of the season).

What did we NOT learn from Week 5?

  • – Who are the Pacemakers? This roster continues to kick itself.  Starting with only 5 players puts yourself behind the 8 ball regardless of what division you play in.  In fairness they actually scored twice with a man short…thank you running game!
  • – The Spitfire defence needs to show a bit more urgency on 4th Still time to fix this but it has been an issue this season.
  • – Was there a side bet on this week’s action between the Allen brothers? Shocked that Dave’s team would allow Rob (I can do everything) to run rampant on them.  Deep ball to Rob?  Shocked!!

Random Thoughts

  • – Congrats to the rest of this year’s inductees into the FPF Hall of Fame. It does not count for much, but you do get an additional “badge” on your player profile page.  Perhaps if Rob were to offer an HoF discount???
  • – The offences in 35+ continue to stay hot as we saw 352 points scored this week. This is the 3rd week over 340 points.
  • – What is up with the D-Boys this season? Late night games aside teams really need to recruit a larger roster.  I get that guys want to play two ways, and have the talent, but when issues arise it is not a good situation.  Lack of his continuity with his receiving corps saw MM with 5 INTs thrown this past week.  Unfortunately, they all get assigned to the QB
  • – Alkoholics…same thing.
  • – Facebook has been inundated with teams looking for spares. Even with “Chief” Shefteshy allowing teams to choose their preferred spots.  This is crazy.  Of course, “Chief” is the poster-child for small rosters coming back to bite you in the A$$…hello 2008 Notre Dame.
  • – Looks like I jinxed Lonnie Johnson & the Brotherhood as they lost last week. Of course, it does not appear that Theo was there so there is an asterix on the game.  Of note was that he kept rolling with the Lonzo Ballers, tossing 6 more TDs.  I love watching the old guys look good amongst the kids!
  • – 69ers vs. Half a Stars was a tale of two halves. Both teams moved the ball in the first half and the 69ers were up 25-20 at the break.  The 69ers pitched a second half shutout, which is impressive, and the rolled to a 45-20 victory.
  • – Is this the end for the Wolverines? On of FPFs proudest franchises, and longest standing, having begun in W05.  Playing in D4A this year with long time center Shane Paquette as the QB, they moved away from him this past week as has not had a tremendous amount of success.  The move did not really pay off and I am not sure where they go from here.  Most of them are still a few years away from the 35+ Division (I have tried to recruit them… J)

Week in Review

Polvige over The Pacemakers 45-27

Even before this game began there was some controversy.  The Pacemakers arrived and must have been thinking “déjà vu”.  Last week it was Monster Jim who added Rochdi Benabdelkader to their roster to fill holes and this week it was Polvige using him as a replacement QB while Jon Moodie rests a shoulder injured while playing with the Longhorns.  Ironically the QB for their two previous games, Angelo “Aggie” Kalaidopoulos was unavailable for this one as he was actually officiating the game!  Join us next week on “As Polvige Turns” as we examine in detail the potential conflict of interest that arose from having Angelo “Aggie” Kalaidopoulos officiate the team that he plays for.  J Add to the level of silliness I had to explain to the Pacemakers that Rochdi was indeed allowed to play (release from last week obtained), that this was not his THIRD team of the season (it only seems like he plays on 11 different teams every year) and that they would have to start with 5 players.  This game was fun to watch at times and at others you had to cringe as you would an impending train wreck.  Jason Rossie found little success through the air early but did run in 2 TDs in the first half to keep things interesting.  Unfortunately, their defence had no answer for Rochdi and his no-look BS as he finished 18-20 with 259 yds and 7 TDs.  Brian Martin and Karim Yasmine both finished with 2 TDs for Polvige while Jordan Rossie found the end zone twice for the Pacemakers

 

O.A.S. over the Spitfire 55-33

O.A.S. sweep the season series with the victory.  A very solid game from Cory Pecker and an off the chart’s performance from Kevin Wyeth 9-162-3 TDs.  This game had the potential to go in a different direction as the Spitfire scored on their opening possession and the O.A.S. squad found themselves with a 4th down and 18 due to a poor snap.  One full field TD later and things were changed.  Yours truly with yet another thrown Pick 6 (not to Kevin Wyeth this time) really did not help things out.  The loss of Andrew Adams at the rush position is beginning to loom large for the Spitfire.  Jason Prince had a nice game with 2 receiving TDs along with 10 tackles on defence.

 

 

 

The Relics over FPF 37-35

I mentioned earlier that Paul Lapierre would not be rejoining MJ for the rest of the 2019 season.  With the absence of Jeff Rosenblatt, most likely another victim to the Valentine’s Day Scheduling Chaos, the Relics brought out Paul as their QB.  This was the second game of the evening where a HoF QB stepped in as a substitute.  Must be annoying for the other team.  FPF made him work for his free beer on this night as was not as efficient as Rochdi was earlier.  Still 5 TDs and no INTs are nothing to frown upon.  The Relics also brought out another ageless wonder in Scott Pharand and FPF had no answer for him as he finished 6-103-1 TD.  Toss in Neil Wilson and Imerio Amatucci and I thought that I was watching a game from the NGD Flag league and not FlagPlus Football.  For FPF we had brother Cory get the start.  Still not sure which Johnson boy will get the call from week to week or even how it is decided…but both have had success this year. 

 

JMJ over Paramount 46-31

Stephen Harripersaud continues to impress me.  More agile and shifty than he appears, he continues to be very, very efficient with the ball.  He finished the game 15-19 for 212 Yds with 6 TDs.  As mentioned earlier the damage was done by Rob “I can do everything” Allen who exploded for 7-104-3 TDs for his first big game of the season.  Jason Stephenson chipped in an INT and 2 PD while Ted Stote got his hands on a Dave Allen attempt and took it back for 6 points.  For Paramount their slide continues.  Chris Rosen had his best offensive game of the season finishing with 4 TDs.  Not too many bright spots otherwise on this day.

 

Oldpack over The GOXM 31-12

Pascal Murray leads his team to their second consecutive win as he finishes with 5 TD passes.  JM Alerte leads the way offensively with 2 receiving TDs and an INT on D, while man-mountain, Remy Pare finishes with a TD on offensive and 5 tackles with an INT on defence.  He is NOT easy to throw over!!  3 different QBs tried their luck for the GOXM and none of them had any luck, or any good luck to clarify.  Wade Williams had a strong night finishing with 4-58 2 TDs.

 

So where do things stand now as the playoffs approach?

Draft Division

  • – JMJ has clinched first place
  • – FPF has clinched last place (completely baffled by this one)

Tier 1

  • – A.S. can clinch first place with a victory & a Monster Jim loss
  • – Everything else is still up for grabs

Tier 2

  • – Relics can clinch first place with a Win
  • – GOXM have clinched last place

 

Now that we have that out of the way, let’s take a look at the week ahead. 

 

GOXM (0-5) vs. JMJ (6-0)

Game # 3 of the murder’s row (Spitfire/Oldpack/JMJ) that the GOXM had to face.  Neither team has anything to gain in this contest as both have already clinched their playoff position.  Working on refining little issues and correcting timing amongst players will probably be on agenda.  Of course, both teams have a competitive spirit, and the beer is tad much sweeter after a W, that I still expect a good match.  The GOXM have been led all season by Wade Williams and he will need to excel if they are to have any chance.  Stephen Harripersaud has been so in control this season.  The two headed-monster that has been RA & KK will need to be held in check if the GOXM are to have any chance.  Simply do not see that happening and JMJ move to 7-0

 

Polvige (3-2-1) vs. FPF (0-5)

My questions revolve around the QBs for this game.  As in “who will they be?”  Polvige has started 3 QBs so far and FPF has rotated the Johnson Boys.  Really not sure what to think at this point.  Does Rochdi make a second start?  Is Aggie going to be officiating?  Does Aggie officiating disqualify him from playing with them?  Does Domenic Tosi get a start for FPF?  In any of the above-mentioned situation, Polvige gets the W.

 

O.A.S. (5-0) vs. the Oldpack (2-3)

The Oldpack played them tough in their first match up, losing by 3 to a Kevin Wyeth-led squad.  Of course, the Oldpack had their full squad for the game.  I have said it on multiple occasions, when their roster is present they are a tough out.  Having said that, will they all be there?  If they are then this becomes an interesting game.  If they are not, or trickle in throughout the first half as they have done on multiple occasions this season, then the O.A.S. will move to a comfortable 6-0

 

Pacemakers (1-4) vs. The Relics (3-2)

While I do believe that Jeff Rosenblatt will be back for this game, it would be unfortunate if the Pacemakers had to face yet another borrowed HoF QB (Paul Lapierre) again after facing Rochdi last week and BOTH of them the week before.  While the Pacemakers looked better on offence last week they have still a ways to go before they can convince me that they can beat a team like the Relics.  A very consistent unit with multiple players who have played together and communicate well with each other.  As well, will the Pacemakers have a more complete roster this week?  Give me the Relics regardless.

The Spitfire vs. Monster Jim

The Spitfire defence will be looking to bounce back after their worst performance of 2019.  Not sure what happened to the Monster Jim squad two weeks ago, they had to borrow players, and have they resolved their roster issues.  The first meeting between the two squads solved nothing (24-24 tie) and proved nothing (both teams were missing players) so not really sure what to expect from this one.  I am hoping for GREAT weather as I am arriving at game time from Quebec City.

 

Looking forward to seeing everyone at the field, if you are still there when I arrive, and in the pub after.