Categories: Division 5

Only one week away from the playoffs…

As the games continue to get more important down the stretch, the big question moving forward: Who will find a way to excel as we near the month of April. For many teams, the second half of the season can either make you or break you, so you want to be playing your best football at this time of the year. Some teams have shown that they already have the blueprint to follow this formula. Others have been having a difficult time trying to stay on the road to the playoffs.

I read the rules before I broke them. I broke the chains before they choked me out. Now I pay close attention, when I learned the code. I learned to read the map before I hit the road.

This week’s agenda is as followed:

Playoff Picture/ Eliminated/ Recaps/ Player Awards: My Opinion/ Predictions

Playoff Picture

As of now, here are the 12 teams to make the playoffs in Conference A

  1. Golden Flashes
  2. Cougars
  3. Maximum Carnage
  4. Les Refs
  5. J’s
  6. Sphinx
  7. Old Guns
  8. KGP Lite
  9. TDs and Beer
  10. Blackshirts
  11. The U
  12. Sticky Hands

As of now, here are the standings in Conference B

  1. The Gryphons
  2. Gators
  3. Dope Boys
  4. Les Verges Folles
  5. GG’WP’
  6. Goats
  7. DG Goons
  8. Green Lantern Corps
  9. Tomahawk Nightmare
  10. Keyport Lock
  11. Speed Demons
  12. We Dem Boys  

 

Eliminated

On the opposite side of the spectrum, here are those, who are mathematically eliminated from the playoff contention.

Hot Boys Hotline X-Men The Pack Saint-Lucs Road Warriors Butterfingers Tyrants V Nation Les Loups Mad Bears Venom Killuminati

Recaps

Green Lantern Corps 39- We Dem Boys 19          

Good things happen when teams play with confidence and the Green Lantern Corps are the perfect example. GLC beat We Dem Boys by 20 points and simply had the blueprint to defeat their opponent. Mendy Cardichon led a potent offence, with the help of Kevin Lubin, and delivered an aerial assault to the tune of 6 tds good for over 200 passing yards. Lubin for his part, had a breakout game—the type of game one simply doesn’t forget. For the first time this season, the veteran receiver went over 100-yards receiving and accounted for 4 majors. Not to be outdone, Antoni Borowczyk also scored two touchdowns. Defensively speaking, Steevens St-Fleur did much of the damage and flashed his ability to make people miss setting up his team with good field position after his 2 interceptions.

We Dem Boys called on David Hurley to help spark the offence, who did find the end zone on one of his two catches, but it wasn’t enough. Matthew Petrone tossed a few near perfect passes, but his receivers were unable to come down with a key catches that would have ultimately made this game more competitive. As a result, he forced a few throws which Green Lantern Corps were waiting for.

Fans of the Cougars 42- Saint-Lucs 0

Fans of the Cougars did two things last week. They made a switch at qb by giving the reigns to Jonathan Lemieux and they also made quick work of the Saint-Lucs. Étienne Guilmain, who usually played qb for this team, lined up at receiver and it paid dividends for his club as he led all receivers in the game with 114 yards. Perhaps the Saint-Lucs were not expecting this sudden change at the quarterback position, because they had no answer for Lemieux either. He tossed 6 touchdown passes in just 14 attempts and added another score on the ground. Jean-Chrostophe Peterson, caught two passes, both of which were in the end zone. On overall solid performance for this veteran team. The Saint-Lucs were trying to find their bearings and had 3 players attempt passes. None of them really had a hot hand as they were kept out of the end zone for the first time this season.

J’s 35-Sphinx 6

Smelling blood in the water with the Sphinx’s QB Étienne Cloutier unable to throw due to a hand injury, the J’s crushed any hope their opponents may have had by scoring 35 unanswered points. Hai Minh Luong of the J’s tied his season-high 203 passing yards while completing 23 passes with four touchdowns. The win was equally important as it moves the J’s passed the Sphinx in the standings.

Cloutier lined-up at receiver hauling in 4 passes good for 20 yards, but his replacement Julien Laporte struggled under centre. I have been in that position before. Not an easy thing to do, replacing your QB and trying to lead your team to victory. Philippe Cloutier finally got his team on the board for his seventh major on the year.

Player Awards: My opinion

Isiah Allard is a serious contender for receiver of the year. If I had a vote, he would get it. Dude can flat out ball. I saw it first hand as a spectator and most recently as an opponent. Good body control, excellent vertical and great hands. He has all the attributes a receiver should possess. He continues to catch the attention of peers around the league, by simply catching everything thrown in his direction. Keep it up. Classy guy as well.

If you don’t think that Eddy Martinez is one of the league’s best all-around players, then you better check his credentials. This guy has been putting up steady numbers throughout his years in FPF and this year is none different. He continues to make spectacular grabs on offence and is the team’s most dangerous weapon on the defensive side of the ball as well. Great season for him. Martinez, would be my two-way player of the year.

It’s hard to say that The Gryphons are a one-man show, given the array of complementary talent. However, this is a quarterback driven league and Aleksander Papich is a beast. Not only does he rarely throw interceptions, he almost never takes sacks as well. If there are mistakes and missed assignments in defensives, rest assured that he will turn those into points. You should always go with the hot hand, and well, he has delivered thus far.

Predictions

We Dem Boys vs Butterfingers      

We Dem Boys have been the ones with the butterfingers as of late dropping their last two games against Maximum Carnage and Green Lantern Corps. Despite their recent struggles—as every team goes through—if they make it into the playoffs, they can beat just about anybody. This one should be a warm up for We Dem Boys. Hopefully they got their losses out of their system before the real season starts. They have a few things to work out.

Fans of the Cougars vs V Nation  

Not certain who will play under centre between Étienne Guilmain and Jonathan Lemieux. I don’t think it really matters. Both have shown that they can get it done, which spells bad news for V Nation. Although V Nation have been relatively competitive (even in their losses,) this team has yet to find a way to win those close games. I have a feeling this one will be close, so I give the advantage to Fans of the Cougars.

X-Men vs Tyrants

Despite a heartbreaking loss last week, the X-Men went 12 rounds against a solid team in Goats. No this was not the season the X-Men had envisioned, as they have struggled in the second half of the season. Too much talent on this team to only put up 2 wins. This is a statement game for them and a way to end disappointing season on a positive note. I expect them to win and win big.

Jagerbomb vs Saint-Lucs

With 3 consecutive victories, Jagerbomb are heating up at the right time. They continue to surprise pundits and their opponents. Their defence is coming off strong and has yielded 14, 12 and 6 points in their last 3 outings. Are they for real? Time will tell. One thing is for certain, they look better than the Saint-Lucs have as of late.

Venom vs Rednecks

Unfortunately, Venom will likely be the only winless team in our division. Hard to see the Rednecks losing this one. They have shown glimpse of quality football in their inaugural season, but inconsistency as well, which was to be expected. Still, they have the athletics to win this game.

Road Warriors vs Mad Bears

Not sure what happened on both counts last week. Not sure how the Road Warriors lost and not sure how Mad Bears won their respective game. In any event, let’s try this again. Road Warriors should win this one, although it wouldn’t be the first time I say this about this team. Both have been eliminated from playoff contention and will be playing for pride. Depends which team will show up with heart.

Green Lantern Corps vs Hot Boys Hotline

Like I said above in the recap section, good things happen when teams play with confidence. After an important victory, Green Lantern Corps will look punch their ticket in the playoffs with some momentum. It was a rough few weeks for them, but their fortunes may be turning around.

Sphinx vs Killuminati

We saw what kind of team the Sphinx are without their QB Étienne Cloutier at the helm. If he is unable to play again, then I see no reason why Killuminati should lose this one. The Sphinx are not the same team when their star QB is lined up at receiver and unable to throw the ball. We saw that first hand last week. This could give Killuminati the edge it may need.

Junkyard Dogs vs Sticky Hands

I was challenged to put as many dog clichés as possible in this one. Challenge accepted. This one should be a dog fight. Every dog has his day and I think that the speedy Jacob Bernett and the experienced Scott Binns close out the season on a high note and escape the dog pound. Stakes are going to be high in this one as one team may be sent home. This may be the game where Junkyard Dogs put it all together.       

 

The Gryphons vs Les Verges Folles

TOPSZN vs Les Loups                       

Speed Demons vs Dope Boys                                

Tomahawk Nightmare vs Keyport Lock                                      

J’s vs Old Guns                                 

Cougars vs Blackshirts                                                        

Les Refs vs Golden Flashes 

The Pack vs KGP Lite

Don’t forget to listen to the Division 5 podcast on Thursday nights at www.theunclemikeshow.com or catch the replay at https://www.youtube.com/user/flagplus Good luck this week.