Concussions, Tiny Pizzas and Mental Mistakes

Game on the line.  After completing a 26 yard post to Will Power to tie the game HSS was set to run the convert against Cunning Stunts.  The rusher was closing in as I waited for the window on my third read to get open.  I knew the rusher was getting a little too close for comfort.  He closed on me and hit me in the head.  M glasses came off and while he didn’t hit me hard, I was off balance while trying to avoid him. I slipped and hit my head on the turf and the week following would be terrible.

That night, I confused my high beam for my wiper fluid three times (the drivers in front of me certainly did not love this). I also vomited upon arrival.  It turns out, I had a concussion, this is my eighth.  There was no memory loss, I passed all cognitive tests, no sensitivity to light and was able to recall every single play from the game (down to read progressions).  I did have a rough case of whiplash and had a few head aches.  Either way, this wasn’t fun.  Please be careful out there, please be safe, remember we all work on Monday.

Party Crashers vs KGP+

Score: Party Crashers (37-26)

Division 1

by Jeff Rosenblatt

KGP+ has had a rough start to the season, playing 2 of their 3 games without their starting QB Phil Cutler. Unfortunately for them, they are now 0-3, and their schedule does not appear to be getting easier. Sunday night at Lachine, Party Crashers came to play with a 37-26 victory. Led by Fred Dupuis, with an amazing stat line of 18-22, 268 yards and 6 TDs, the blue machine took early control of the game and did not let up.

The game started in classic Party Crasher fashion with a 40 yard bomb to Emile Taillefer. Emile, who IMO is one of the most underrated players in all of FPF, finished the day with 6 catches on 6 targets, for 139 yards and 3 TDs. He is an absolute machine! Second on the team in catches and yards was Anthony Brisebois, with 4 catches for 68 yards and 1 TD. I won’t spend that much time talking about Anto because I am biased. Not only is he one of the best 2 way players in division 1, he is also one of the best dudes off the field and my guy! Fred, the master of the deep ball, has a ton of weapons on offense with Kevin Laliberte, Frank Hogue and LP Thibodeau, making this team a major threat against any defense. Anthony Vendrame, who will be returning shortly from injury, will only add to an already potent offense. Massive shoutout to Frank Hogue for sacking the QB Joey Taylor 5 times. Frank is a serious problem!

Khalil Kerr led the way with 8 catches and 2 Tds for KGP+, while Jonathan Garfinkle, Quayside Gordon-Maule and Matt Lepage chipped in with 6, 6 and 7 catches respectively. They certainly have their work cut out for them moving forward. When their whole team shows up, they have proven to be able to compete with any team in the league. Consistency has been their issue thus far this season, but I have insider information that this will be changing moving forward. I wish them the best of luck for the remainder of the season. They are a team of FPF veterans who know how to get the job done. They face the Braves this Sunday.

Recaps

by Brent Bodkin

That’s What She Said vs Backyard Bullies

Pitching a shutout is never easy to do no matter what level of football you are playing. Well, Wednesday night in Laval, That’s What She Said did exactly that as they dominated the Backyard Bullies with a swarming defense that forced turnovers and took advantage of multiple mistakes made by their opponents on the way to a (26-0) victory.

Form hitting wide open Receivers and having the ball bounce off their chest, to releasing the ball late and having a Defensive Back jump the route for an interception, to just simply not being on the same page offensively, the Backyard Bullies led by FPF Hall-of-Fame Quarterback Sean Avraam, looked disjointed to say the least. Multiple looks of frustration and annoyance were all the face and body of the QB, as after he threw his fourth interception of the night, he threw himself to the turf in disgust instead of trying to tackle Defensive Back Marc-Olivier Beauchamp, who proceeded to run the ball back for a score. The duo of Beauchamp and fellow FPF HOF’er Mike Pierrecin, looked like Ed Reed and Deion Sanders, as they combined to record five INTs.

Even though they were shutout, credit goes to Backyard Bullies Captain Rich Humes, as he tried his best to give his team some life, as the 4-time All-Star produced three sacks and an interception on defense.

Final Score: That’s What She Said (26-0)

by Brent Bodkin

 Arouch vs Une Bien Phrase Fournie

Arouch was able to pull out a comeback last second victory with two plays remaining as Receiver Antoine Préfontaine scored a game-winning touchdown with wo plays left in the contest. What made the TD reception stand out even more was the fact that it was scored on Saskatchewan Roughriders Defensive back Vincent Dethier.

That is the game of football right there. Dethier who is the best player on a team full of ex McGill Redbirds football players (don’t let their lack of RSEQ success fool you, the team has always had some really good university players) played a phenomenal game as he recorded one interception and a game-high three pass deflections as he provided glue like coverage on every ball thrown his way. The only mistake if you can call it that was being a second to late on the game-winning score, as Arouch Quarterback Eric Lalonde delivered a perfect strike on an out-route at the goaline.

Two players who really stood out for Arouch, were Simon Losier and Felix Menard. The latter was able to use his smarts and quickness to bait QB Xavier Bilodeau into two second-half interceptions, by jumping routes on the sideline, while the former made plays all over the field making plays for his team on both sides of the ball, as came up with a touchdown as a Receiver, and an interception on defense, while providing solid deep ball coverage throughout the contest.

Final Score: Arouch (18-14)

Primetime vs Bulldogs

Div 5b

by Brent Bodkin

Primetime used speed, quickness, excitement, and explosive plays to stroll to a (33-12) win over the Bulldogs Wednesday in Laval.

After leading by only (13-6) at halftime, Primetime used a dominant second half performance that saw them out score their opponents (20-6) to cruise to victory. The win was spear-headed by the effort of Willie Habimana, as the rookie made an impact on both sides of the ball, with two touchdowns as a Receiver, to go along with a pick-6 on defense.

Joining in on the fun was teammate Zac Lyman, who had a TD as a pass-catcher, as well as two interceptions, and a game-high three pass deflections.

Simply put, the Bulldogs tried their hardest, but they couldn’t the speed and big play ability of their opponents.  

Final Score: Primetime (33-12)

Pocket Rockets vs Green Monster

Div 5b

by Brent Bodkin

This was both an ugly and exciting game at times. It started off looking like the former, as Quarterbacks Patrick Jazon, and Pierre-Olivier Tremblay were intercepted a combined three times 13 plays into the game.

If you fast-forward to the final four minutes, you will get an exciting ending, as Green Monster pulled off a stunning comeback, aided by a huge mental mistake from their opponents.

After forcing a turnover on downs, the Green Monster came back onto the field down (14-6). The team was able to inch a little closer five plays later, as Jazon would connect on an 8-yard TD pass to Jason De Souza. After missing the 2-point conversion, the team trailed (14-12).

On the very next play the deficit would be erased, as after being flagged for delay of game and receiving several other warnings from the officials, the Snapper snapped the ball before Tremblay was ready, and the ball bounced in the endzone resulting in a safety tying the game up at 14 apiece.

Seven plays later the comeback was complete. Facing fourth down and the final paly of the game, Jazon hit Receiver David Vlad, for a game-winning 19-yard touchdown to give their team the victory.

For the Pocket Rockets, the defeat had to be a bitter pill to swallow, as they led for the majority of the game, got solid performances out of Jacob Salvail and Ali Issa as the duo made plays all over the field for their team, but couldn’t overcome mental mistakes, and bad coverage on the game’s final drive.

Final Score Green Monster (20-14).

Vortex 28 vs 0 Ghosted

Women’s 1

By Marie-Laure Chaput

Cette semaine, le Vortex affrontait Ghosted. Les mauves ont rapidement montré de quel bois elles se chauffaient. Elles ont marqué 2 touchés rapidement dans la première demie: la défensive de Ghosted avait de la difficulté à s’ajuster aux jeux offensifs du Vortex. À la demie, le score était de 21 – 0, tout portait à croire que ce serait une victoire écrasante du Vortex, mais la défensive de Ghosted a finalement répondu à l’appel. Les rouges ont su contenir les mauves à un seul touché en 2e demie, mais elles n’ont pas su percer leur défensive. Le Vortex a intercepté ses adversaires à 4 reprises en plus de les limiter à un seul premier essai. 

MVP Vortex: Tamara Journeau

MVP Ghosted: Amélie Durocher