Division C: Contenders, Pretenders, and We’re Not Sure Yet

Welcome to Week 10 of the FlagPlus Football Spring Season.

This is it, the final week of the regular season. For 12 teams, it is the last tune-up before the playoffs, while for others, it is a last ditch attempt to fight and claw their way in.

With the post-season just a mere seven days away, I figured now would be the best time to take a look at each and every team, and see what their chances are of winning the championship.

 

To do this, I will place teams in three different categories: Pretenders, Contenders, and We’re Not Sure Yet section.

 

I have done this the last few seasons in multiple divisions, including right here in Div. C. In the past, the article has been a lot of fun to write, and I usually get a lot of positive feedback from it over the years.

 

The only negative (if I can even call it that), has been from teams who disagree with where I put them, but as I always say, please go out and prove me wrong.

So without further adieu, here we go, with my annual Contenders, Pretenders, and We’re Not Sure Yet article.

 

 

Contenders

 

Easy-Jake-Oven (8-1)

They have arguably the best Quarterback in Division C, in Jake Applebaum, who leads the top offense, and the most dangerous foursome of Receivers in Kevin Smuda, Noah Groper, Marty Freedman, and Adam Rockman.

Led by Yoni Loeub, the team’s defense are no slouches either, as including the veteran’s seven interceptions, the group has 21 total INTs, with four returned for touchdowns.

 

What makes all of those totals even more impressive, is the fact that they are getting it done without a consistently dominant rush, as Rusher AJ Rashkovan, has struggled to take down opposing Quarterbacks this year, with the former All-Star producing only 3 sacks so far.

The big question surrounding Easy-Jake-Oven, is if they can get over the playoff hump.

 

In the Winter Season, as the South Harmon Institute of Technology, they lost to the eventual Div 3 champs in the BearSkins, in the Semi-Finals.

 

Last summer, they lost to the Junkyard Dogs, in the Quarter-Finals. The theme in those loses, was running into defenses that took away Applebaum’s and the offense’s ability to put up a ton of points, and forcing to slowly march the field, and earn everything they get.

As stated above, this is a very talented roster. Their only loss this season, came in Week 7, via a (52-40) shootout to Keyport Lock.

 

After this week’s matchup against Game Changers, with a win sealing up first place in Conference A, along with the best record in Division C, Easy-Jake-Oven, will need to keep that one in the loss column, the question of course, is can they?

 

Keyport Lock (7-1-1)

A veteran group, with some big wins over solid teams like GloGang, Game Changers, and Easy-Jake-Oven.

Their only loss this year was (37-25), to the Dream Breakers in Week 4, where Quarterback Jeff Rosenblatt, had his worst game of the season, as he threw three interceptions, and the team’s defense gave up a season-high 24 first half points.

The team suffered a little bit of a letdown two weeks ago, as they ended a hard-fought game with a (18-18) tie with the Backyard Bullies, but that is nothing to get in a major panic over.

After throwing 16 INTs last Spring Season, Rosenblatt, has rebounded nicely with only six so far this year, in addition to 40 TDs.

Speaking of additions, the adding of Jonathan Lyristis, and Jeremy Anderson, who played two games for the team in the Winter Season, have made a huge impact for the offense, as has the play of Raoul Baroudi, who with nine touchdowns, is on pace to tie his career-high of 11 TDs.

The main question surrounding this team, is can they go all the way. We have seen Rosenblatt, put up great numbers in both the regular season, and playoffs before.

 

Looking at the big picture however, he has not won a championship as a Quarterback. (He won one as a Receiver for the Legends in the 2014 Spring Season) Armed with arguably his best supporting cast ever, this might be his best shot. Can he and his team get it done?

 

Simon Says (7-2)

Quarterback Simon Dagenais, and his trio of Receivers in AJ Gomes, Justin Lerner, and Justin Blanchard, can score from just about anywhere on the field.

The offense also gets solid contributions from Vadim Chernyak, and to a lesser extent Nicholas Groppini. Both pass catchers add even more speed to an already fast group.

On defense, Groppini, the team’s Rusher, uses his speed to create havoc for opposing Quarterbacks, while the rest of the unit uses their length to their advantage, as they are able to get their hands on a lot of balls, and disrupt the play.

From time to time, the team does get aggressive on that end and can be beat deep, as they were during their (33-29) loss versus the Mercenaries this past Monday.

At the end of the day, no matter how much speed, length, and athleticism this team has, they will only go as far as Simon Dagenais takes them. The former All-Star and 2019 Hall-of-Famer, has put up some fantastic numbers this year, with 46 touchdowns, and just 5 interceptions, but he has yet to prove in his decade plus career, that he can lead a team to a championship.

As one of the best recruiters in all of FPF, he has also surrounded himself with a great stable of weapons before, with names like Jamal Gittens, Jaime Ojeaha, and Cory Kennedy among others, but the result is the same. Can Dagenais, break the narrative this year?

That question will be answered down the road. Of more pressing concern, is can Simon Says, knock the Mercenaries, out of first place in Conference A. To do that, they will need to beat Gym Class Heroes, and hope that the Mercenaries lose to The Commission later tonight.

 

Mercenaries (7-2)

Outside of Matt Kirouac, of P.O.P, no Wide Receiver has done more to elevate their team than Isiah Allard. Sitting just behind the aforementioned Kirouac, for the Receiver of the Year Award, Allard, has been big reason why the Mercenaries, have averaged a more than impressive 32 points per game.

Clearly, Quarterback Gino Di Fazio has played a role too, as have some of the team’s other Receivers in Alexandre Blais, and former All-Star Kendal Mayers.

While the team lacks ball hawks on defense, out side of Mayers and Allard, the unit has shown they have enough talent, and experience to contain powerful offenses, as they did to Simon Says, and Pineapple Express, by holding both squads to under 30 points.

If Di Fazio, can get his full roster out for the playoffs (sometimes easier said than done for a Gino team), this is a dangerous squad, that although top-heavy, that can go toe-to-toe with just about anybody.

Currently sitting in first place due to having a better points allowed than Simon Says (204 to 227), the Mercenaries, need to beat The Commission tonight, or hope that they don’t lose by more than 23 points.

 

Game Changers (6-3)

This team has lost in a row (GloGang and Dream Breakers), but they were without starting Quarterback Anton Sakiz.

When the FPF veteran is in the lineup, the Game Changers, are (6-1), with their only loss coming (33-30) to Keyport Lock.

The core of the team’s defense only has nine interceptions, but they still have playmakers in Louis-Philippe Paquette, Alvy Mizelle, Gabriel Marcoux, and Rusher Brian Eudoxie.

On the other side of the ball, Jordan Panetta, is the player all opposing defenses have to take account for. His 344 yards, and 15 touchdowns, lead the team, and the latter, puts him tied for third place in Div. C.

The team has other offensive weapons as well, in Ludwik Jananji, and the duo of Paquette and Marcoux, who have combined for 46 catches, and 11 trips to the endzone.

Provided Sakiz, returns to QB the team, this squad has the potential to go all the way. Can they?

The first step to answering that question will come tomorrow night, when they take on another contender, in Easy-Jake-Oven, in a must-watch game at Stade de Montreal.

 

Pineapple Express (6-3)

At first glance, I was ready to put Pineapple Express in the Contender category, but a couple of things stood out. Firstly, their (41-39) shootout loss to All Hooks.

Secondly, and more importantly, besides a butt kicking they gave to The Commission back in Week 8, their only other win over a team with a winning record, was back in Week 2 against Jagerbomb (28-27).

Besides them, the team has beaten the Stoics, Sweat & Beers, A-Squad, Gym and Class Heroes, who have a combined seven wins. Not exactly a murderer’s row.

When they are firing on all cylinders, this team has an explosive offense, led by Joel Malkin-Cone, and prototypical FPF Tight End Eddy Lee.

On the other side of the ball, Shyanne Stewart, has been a pleasant surprise, after finally making the permanent jump to a higher division.

The key to their success on defense, besides covering deep for Lee, when he calls for himself to drop, but then decides not to during the play, unbeknownst to his teammates, is the team’s ability to interchange guys in various positions on the unit.

Their upcoming game tonight against P.O.P, will be the first step to answering the question as to whether or not I put them in the right category. Let’s see what happens.

 

 

Jagerbomb (6-3)

Last year’s championship runner’s up, Jagerbomb, is looking to make the final step.

Although not as strong as last year’s team that finished (8-2), Jagerbomb’s core of Simon Duchesne, Felix Fontaine-Larouche, Gabriel Moreau-Paquette, Jean-Felix Daloze, and Jeremie Lavoie-Patry, still remain.

The team’s addition of Receiver Vincent Benjamin, has paid off handsomely, as the veteran leads the team in receptions, yards, and touchdowns, with 32, 365, and 10 respectively.

Although Jagerbomb, is (2-2) against teams with a winning record, they do have solid wins over The Commission, and Mercenaries, and they lost by a combined six points to P.O.P, and Pineapple Express.

Simon Duchesne’s team has won four games in a row. They finish the regular season with a tilt against a scrappy Junkyard Dogs squad who will just be fighting for pride Monday night. Let’s see if Jagerbomb, can hit the playoffs on a high note.

 

We’re Not Sure Yet

 

 

GloGang (5-4)

I was all ready to be convinced to put these guys in the Contenders category, but then they went out and lost (41-40) to KGP Wednesday night. Prior to the surprising loss, GloGang, had won four games in a row.

I have talked multiple times throughout the season about the playmakers that this team posses.

The only two concerns I have about this crew, and the two real reasons why I left them off the Contenders side, is inexperience in a higher division like C, and the speed and athleticism factor.

For the former, although they lost to veteran teams like Keyport Lock, Easy-Jake-Oven, and The Commission, they do have wins over the Backyard Bullies, and Junkyard Dogs. The experience will come in time.

For the latter, their loss to KGP, is a perfect example of what happens when you play teams who can match exactly what you can do.

They also take way too many changes on defense, and tend to get into unnecessary shootouts, as we witnessed this past week against KGP.

Although The Alpha-T’s have shown in recent years that winning a championship isn’t all that hard, in reality, it is in most cases. You have to dig deep, and often rely on past experience to not only get you to the Finals, but to win it all. GloGang, doesn’t have that at this level. I think that will bite them in the end. We’ll see.

 

 

The Commission (5-4)

The team’s defense, which had been the backbone of TC, for the last few seasons, but started to show some decline in the Winter Season, has showed a bit more this summer, as injuries have allowed the regular starting unit to take the field together only once this season.

On the other side of the ball, Quarterback J.F Marquis, has put up a more than respectable 39 touchdowns this year. With the exception of his Week 8 performance against Pineapple Express, the veteran pivot, and 2-time All-Star, has given his team a chance to win every game he has started, and has shown his toughness, fighting through a leg injury earlier in the season.

 

While Marquis, has quieted some doubters, he hasn’t silenced them all, despite the fact that he throwing to a predominantly entire new group of Receivers. He has the talent, and championship pedigree, but can he lead the team to the post-season, and then advance once they get there?

 

The players TC added in the off-season, in Kevin Donnet, Marc-André Lapointe, Alexandre Jubenville, Kristian Cerantola, and Nicolas Gendron-Vallée, have all made an impact for the team this season, especially on offense.

In general, this team has a ton of championship experience throughout the roster, and playmakers at various levels, but it is simply put up or shut-up time for The Commission, if this group wants to add another trophy.

 

 

P.O.P (4-5)

 

In all honesty, this is the one team that I struggled to get a read on, despite the fact that I played against them, and I watched some of their games this season.

 

They have statement wins over The Commission, Jagerbomb, got blown out by both the Mercenaries, and Easy-Jake-Oven, and despite losing the first game and winning the latter, have shown that they could go toe-to-toe in a shootout with Simon Says, and All Hooks.

On the flip side, they have losses to non playoff teams in the Stoics, and Sweat & Beers, not exactly a ringing endorsement for a team considered by some to be a contender.

They have the best Wide Receiver in Div. C, in Matt Kirouac, and a candidate for QB of the year in Craig O’Brien (bro, were you as semi-disappointed with the Wu-Tang concert as I was?) It was still great to see them, they played a lot of their hits, and ODB Jr was AWESOME, but no Method Man, and shitty sound quality kind of killed it a little. Plus, no De La Soul, and Public Enemy. $80 for ¾ of the Wu, is a little steep.

Anyways…

P.O.P, is currently riding a two game losing streak. As I said earlier, they wrap up their regular season tonight, with a tough matchup in Pineapple Express. If they can knock off their opponents, it will help them get their swag back a la ODB, and more importantly, help them clinch one of the final two playoff spots in Conference B.

 

If they can get in, this team has shown they have the offense to match score for score with just anybody, and an aggressive defense, that knows how to keep teams out of the endzone.

 

Can it be all so simple?

 

All Hooks (4-5)

If this was three weeks ago, I would have thrown these guys into the Pretenders section, and not thought twice about it.

Then, they went toe-to-toe in a (53-43) shootout loss with Simon Says. Following that, they went (2-0), with wins over the Mercenaries, and Pineapple Express.

One of the biggest reasons they were able to pull off both upset victories, was the presence of Quarterback Charles-Olivier Lavinge. In four games this season, the ninth-year player, has thrown 20 TDs and just 3 INTs, and has led his team to a (3-1) record.

Just as important, it allows Jeremy Wihte, to go from QB, to his natural position of Wide Receiver, which there are very few players in all of FPF, who can say they are better.

Not only did those victories put All Hooks, in striking distance for a playoff spot, as they now sit one game (divisional record) back from the final spot in Conference B, but it showed everyone, that when their backs are against the wall, this team can answer the challenge, and will fight for every inch. You can’t help but respect that.

To get into the dance, they will need to beat Keyport Lock tomorrow night at Stade de Montreal, and hope that either P.O.P, or The Commission lose tonight. Let’s see what happens.

 

 

Pretenders

 

 

Backyard Bullies (4-4-1)

I can see Vinny Gualano, and Sean Avraam reading this, and saying FU Brent lol.

This is another squad with tons of championship experience, and playmakers as well, but the most important one of all in Quarterback Rich Humes, is still clearly not 100% recovered from a torn ACL he suffered last year. Can you blame him?

Despite the knee, Humes, has played hard, and admirably the entire season, and has given his team a fighting chance in virtually every game this year.

The Bullies currently sit in the 5th playoff spot in Conference A. To hang on, they simply need to beat KGP this Wednesday at Bois-de-Boulogne, or hope that the Dream Breakers, lose to the A-Squad.

Naturally, anything can happen, and this team could find magic in a bottle, especially if they rely on their former winning ways, as well as chemistry, but I think they will be hard pressed to win more than a game in the post-season.

 

Dream Breakers (4-5)

Another team that is hard to predict. They give up a combined 77 points in back-to-back blowout defeats to the Stoics, and Junkyard Dogs, but then they win a tough defensive (24-21) slugfest with the Game Changers.

They hand Keyport Lock, their only loss of the season, but then turn around a week later, and lose by two touchdowns to the Backyard Bullies.

If anything, the Dream Breakers are consistently inconsistent.

The one sure thing about this squad, is Two-Way Player of the Year candidate Pierre-Alexandre Taché, always brings his A game, and is a force to be reckoned with on both side of the ball, as he leads his team in interceptions with five, and in receiving, with 45 receptions for 625 yards, and 12 touchdowns.

The team has received solid contributions from players like Jasmin Prince, Vincent Laganiere, Youri Belanger, and Francois Dessureault, among others, but it is clear that Taché, is the engine that makes this team work.

Currently sitting in the final playoff spot in Conference A, the Dream Breakers, must beat the A-Squad, this coming Wednesday, or hope that that the Backyard Bullies, beat KGP this week.

 

KGP (4-5)

 

They are coming off of a huge upset (41-40) win versus GloGang, in which their Quarterback Phil Cutler, turned back the clock and had a vintage performance, as he went 16 of 18 for 214 yards 6 TD and 1 INT. Pretty impressive.

KGP, also got a heck of a performance out of two-way threat Julien Paiement, who recorded a season-high four sacks, and added 56 receiving yards, and a touchdown.

Receiver Joseph Hopmeyer, had a monster game as well, with 5 catches for 75 yards, and 2 touchdowns of his own.

Unfortunately for KGP, this type of offense hasn’t been present all season long, as they have only scored more than 30 points three other times this season, and that was against non playoff teams, in the Junkyard Dogs, A-Squad, and Gym Class Heroes.

Their defense hasn’t been much better, as they have allowed five teams to score at least 34 points on them this year, which includes JYD, and The Huffmen.

Despite all that, they can still qualify for the playoffs, provided they beat the Backyard Bullies this Wednesday at Bois-de-Boulogne, or get some help, in the shape of a loss by the Dream Breakers, who take on the A-Squad Wednesday night.

 

Stoics (3-6)

This is the definition of a team who has literally come within a couple of inches of having their season be completely changed.

Tough one-possesion losses to The Commission, Pineapple Express, and Jagerbomb, have left this group on the outside of the playoff bubble.

A ton of credit goes to the Stoics, who despite losing team Captain, and starting Quarterback Chris Rivest, to a season-ending dislocated shoulder, they have rallied around new QB Alexandre Gaudet.

The Stoics, have won two of their last three games, but unfortunately for them, they won’t qualify for the playoffs, because of their inferior division record, compared to All Hooks and P.O.P, who they trail by two points for the final playoff spot in Conference B.

The schedule sees them finish off the regular season against Sweat & Beers. Can the Stoics, finish the year with another win?

 

The Huffmen (2-6-1)

 

Although the Back To The Future trilogy got hilariously called out in Avengers: End Game, I can’t help but think that Terry Tam and his team, would love to hop in the DeLorean, and go back to beginning of the season, and insert Corey Walwaski, as the team’s starting Quarterback.

After taking over a team that was (0-5), the veteran QB steadied the ship, and guided The Huffmen, to a (2-2-1) record, while throwing for 22 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. Not bad at all.

You can’t help but wonder what if Kraven The Hunter killed Spider-Man…errr Walwaski, had been the starting QB the whole season, with weapons like Kenton Lowe, Alex Holowach, Marco Bertoldi, Nikki Papich, and Terry Tam at Center.

Although their dreams of making the playoffs got erased with a heartbreaking (24-16) loss to the Backyard Bullies, Monday night at Stade de Montreal, The Huffmen, have the opportunity to now play spoiler, as they face a GloGang team tomorrow night, who need a win to ensure they qualify for the post-season.

 

Junkyard Dogs (2-6-1)

 

One of the biggest surprises this season, has been the fall of the once might Junkyard Dogs.

They don’t have the depth they’ve had in years past, they added more overall talent, in Shawn Haney and the duo of Marvin Steinberg and Denzel Eadie-Lowe who made their JYD debuts in the Winter Season, to go with the core of Jason Rossie, Rob White, Jordan Rossie, and Rory Semerjian.

Nonetheless, the roster shift hasn’t paid off, as the team entered the halfway point of the year at (1-4), and never recovered.

The only thing JYD can do now, is play spoiler tomorrow night, when they close out the season against a Jagerbomb squad, who is looking to leapfrog Pineapple Express, for the third seed in Conference B, and with a little help from The Commission, could climb all the way to second.

 

Sweat & Beers (2-7)

One of my pre-season picks to have a lengthy playoff run, injuries, inconsistency, and roster shuffling, have turned those dreams into a nightmare.

Whether it was not having a legitimate backup Quarterback to replace Rocco Christiano, who missed three games, or the constant shuffling of different Receivers and Defensive Backs in and out of the lineup, this team could never really establish any consistent chemistry, or an identity for that matter.

Defensively, this team was a disaster, as they gave up 343 points, which was the most in Div. C.

Looking forward to the Winter Season, assuming Rob Robinson, won’t be allowed to throw in Div. 3, like he wasn’t allowed to pass in Div. C this year, this squad will have to rely on the young Chrstiano, who will hopefully be able to stay healthy, and pick up where he left of last winter, when it appeared that he and the team, were ready to take a big step forward.

Sweat & Beers, finish off the season tonight at Stade de Montreal, against the Stoics. Let’s see if the young pivot and his team, can end the year on a high note.

 

Gym Class Heroes (1-8)

Despite their record, there have been a few signs of life from Gym Class Heroes, as of late. They held the high-scoring Mercenaries to 19 points in a (19-12) loss in Week 5.

Last week, they nearly matched their season high in points scored, in a (52-24) loss to The Commission.

In Week 8, they finally got their first win of the season, with a (36-0) beat down of Sweat & Beers.

Clearly, this year was a learning experience to say the least, for first-time Quarterback James Donald. The former All-Star Defensive Back, had some bright spots as a passer, but they were few and far in between, for a team that simply struggled to score.

Looking forward, it will be interesting to see if Donald, who is the Captain of this squad, elects to stay at QB, and uses the experience to become a better QB, or will he decide to bring in somebody else?

As far as this year is concerned, Gym Class Heroes, close out the season tonight, against Simon Says, who are looking to leapfrog the Mercenaries for first place in Conference B.

Let’s see if the GCH, can play the role of spoiler.

 

A-Squad (1-8)

Despite the fact that at the halfway point of the year, I said they were a Division D team, this is still another squad who many, including yours truly, didn’t think would be entering the last week of action with such a dreadful record. Nonetheless, here we are.

The A-Squad have talent, but too many Quarterbacks, an anemic offense, and lack of playmakers, killed this team all year long.

Going forward, it will be interesting to see if they go back to the Division D, or they try to make it in Div. C again.

In the Winter Season, If for anything but to just get some wins under their belt, and remove the sour taste of this year out of their mouths, I would be shocked if they didn’t go back to Division 4A.

Mercifully, the end of the season will come this Wednesday, with a showdown with the Dream Breakers. Can the A-Squad, play the role of spoiler, and knock their opponents out of the playoffs?

 

Elite 8

 

Keyport Lock (Last Week: 2nd)

Simon Says (Last Week: 1st)

Easy-Jake-Oven (Last Week: 4th)

Mercenaries (Last Week: 8th)

Game Changers (Last Week: 3rd)

Jagerbomb (Last Week: 7th)

Pineapple Express (Last Week: 5th)

Backyard Bullies (Last Week: Not Ranked)

 

Picks

 

P.O.P vs Pineapple Express – P.O.P (Upset Special #1)

Gym Class Heroes vs Simon Says – Simon Says

Stoics vs Sweat & Beers – Stoics

The Commission vs Mercenaries – The Commission (Terry Tam’s pick)

Keyport Lock vs All Hooks – Keyport Lock (My pick for Game of the Week)

Junkyard Dogs vs Jagerbomb  – Junkyard Dog (Upset Special #2)

GloGang vs The Huffmen – GloGang

Easy-Jake-Oven vs Game Changers -Easy-Jake-Oven

Dream Breakers vs A-Squad – Dream Breakers

Backyard Bullies vs KGP – Backyard Bullies

Last Week: (3-6)

Regular Season: (51-29-4)

 

Finally, that’s it for this week.

Tonight starts the fun, but sometimes heartbreaking trek to the playoffs, aka the Real Season.

Good luck to everybody in their games this week.

If you loved the article, hated it, or simply felt like I left something out, please feel free to contact me at [email protected] or on Twitter@BADNEWSB51

 

Cheers!