Recaps and Previews for Co-ed

For those of you who followed my articles last season, you heard me complain about predictable results week after week. Well, co-ed decided to shake things up in the first week of the Spring season with a whole bunch of curveballs. While Party Mix and 3rd Down for What won their opening games, some other heavyweights struggled. In their first game, Drunk Again and Looking to Score (DALS) came up against the extremely talented 3DW squad and the expected happened. 3DW won in convincing fashion. DALS were adapting to the co-ed game while their opponents are an experienced unit.

Clearly, DALS learned extremely quickly because in their second game of the day, they upset Yin&Yang. I thought Y&Y were going to dominate this season. Gino Di Fazio added even more talented players to a team that won the division in the winter. However, they got off to a rocky start with a 32-31 loss to DALS. Both teams scored five times except DALS scored one more extra point to secure the win. Y&Y have two quarterbacks, Athena Ryan and Gino Di Fazio. While Ryan was promised to play, she did not take a single snap in Y&Y’s loss. From what I have heard, she is now considering the team. Ryan is an extremely promising passer and if Y&Y lose her, it is a considerable hit.

Another surprise was Midtown’s win over Michael Scotts’ Tots. With the addition of AJ Gomes, I thought MST were going to be one of the top teams this season. Well, either I grossly overestimated the talent of MST or Midtown are much better than I predicted. It is too early in the season to say, but I will need to keep a close eye on these two teams moving forward. The last surprise of the week was Black Mamba’s win over Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce. Stay tuned for more about that game later.

 

Week 1 Team of the Week (TOTW):

Each week, I will name 12 players to the team of the week. Since this is co-ed and there must always be 2 girls on the field, both the offensive and defensive team of the week will feature a minimum of two girls. If you are on the offensive TOTW, you cannot be on the defensive one. Without further ado, here is your week 1 TOTW.

Offence

Quarterback: Gino Di Fazio (Yin&Yang) 195 passing yards, 5 TDs, 0 INTs

Receiver: Chris Milard (DALS) 10 receptions, 110 receiving yards, 3TDs

Receiver: Keiya Allen-Beckles (Yin&Yang) 4 receptions, 67 yards, 3 TDs

Receiver: Jeff Brown (Party Mix) 6 receptions, 82 yards, 1 TD

Receiver: Brent Bodkin (KMEZ) 5 receptions, 80 yards, 2 TDs

Receiver: Annie Lagacé (3DW) 5 receptions, 50 yards, 2 TDs

Defence

Rusher: Marilou Cote Noel (Party Mix) 2 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 PD

DB: Andel Thomas-Gordon (KMEZ) 2 INTs, 1 PD

DB: Phillip Enchill (Midtown) 6 tackles, 2 PDs

DB: Tristan Mancini (3DW) 2 INTs, 1 defensive score

DB: Jean-Christophe Morin-Phaneuf (Midtown) 3 tackles, 1 INT, 2 PDs        

DB: Constance Millaire (3DW) 2 tackles, 1 INT, 1 PD

 

Week 1 Game of the Week (GOTW) :

Black Mamba (24) vs Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce (20)

Well, looks like all my constructive criticism of Black Mamba has finally paid off. I didn’t choose them to go 0-8 because I disliked them, but because I thought they were the worst team in the division. I am glad to say they proved me wrong on Sunday night with their win over SHCS. They heeded my advice and instead of running the ball ten times a game, they ran it four times. The result was a pass centered offence that actually (kinda) worked. Edouard Leroux did not pass for over 100 yards, but he did just enough to get the job done. Yes, they did need an extra large serving of luck in the form of a final play 40 yard touchdown, but a win is a win. More than just following my advice, Black Mamba adapted to the FPF game. For the first time, it looked like they designed plays. Leroux was able dissect the opposing defence instead of just chucking the ball up and hoping for the best. Their defence also adapted to the FPF game. A key component to that revamped defence was great rushing. Black Mamba got the exceptional rushing they needed from Felix D’Aoust. Equally important to their defence were the interceptions of Felix Martel and Guillaume St-Jean. Mamba still struggle to drive the field so anytime their defence can pick their opponents off and give Edouard Leroux a shorter field to work with, it is a massive advantage for them. All in all, I know I may not be your favorite writer Black Mamba, but you are welcome for all the tips. Whether it is out of sheer motivation to prove me wrong or through my countless critiques, I definitely feel like I played a role in helping them secure this victory.

While it may have been a memorable night for Black Mamba, it was most definitely a night to forget for Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce. Jean-Felix Marquis struggled to get things going offensively for his team. Throughout much of the first half, there was not much happening. However, as the game progressed, he eventually found three ways to move the chains. The first of those options was pass it to Philippe Aussant. He finished the game with six receptions for 65 yards and a team high two scores. If Aussant wasn’t open, Marquis looked towards Alexandre Jubinville who finished the game as the team leader in terms of receiving yards with 68. Finally, if none of those options were open, he resorted to running. Jean-Felix Marquis rushed even more often than Edouard Leroux. For those of you who know Leroux, that is quite something. His efforts were rewarded with 73 rushing yards. The downside of this system was that is was quite easy to defend. Once those three options were neutralized, Marquis really had no clue what to do. It was in circumstances like that when Marquis was scrambling around looking for options that he threw his two interceptions. The defensive performance of the night came courtesy of Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce’s Benjamin Dansereau-Leclerc who not only limited Black Mamba to 50 rushing yards but accumulated 4 sacks in the process. In the secondary, Elodie Gaudet made her presence felt with two tackles and a defended pass.

 

Week 2 Predictions:

Yin&Yang (0-1) vs 3rd Down for What (1-0)

Y&Y are not in a good position entering this 2nd week. They were hoping to be riding high after a convincing week 1 win. However, they are fresh of the heels of a narrow loss and they are already facing roster troubles. In week 1, Y&Y lost to DALS. On the other hand, 3DW have no such roster issues and they crushed DALS in week 1. Naturally, if 3DW are better than DALS and DALS are better than Y&Y, then 3DW have to be favorites in this one.

Prediction: 3DW

Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce (0-1) vs Party Mix (1-0)

I spent most of last season bashing Party Mix and calling then names such as Party Less. That perception changed when I played them in week 1. Instead of facing the aging team I expected, I came up against a well disciplined and methodical team. They dissected our defence with ease and, ten yards at a time, moved down the field. On the other hand, SHCS are anything but methodical. They are a new team still looking to gel as a unit. I see the experience of Party Mix winning this one.

Prediction: Party Mix

3rd Down for What (1-0) vs Black Mamba (1-0)

Did Black Mamba defy my 0-8 prediction and win their first game? Yes, but that does not mean they have in them what it takes to beat an organized team like 3DW. Passing for two scores and less than a hundred yards will not be enough against Sara Parker and Co. While I was extremely impressed with Mamba’s week 1 showing and they are definitely trending in the right direction, they are still not on 3DW’s level.

Prediction: 3DW

Drunk Again and Looking to Score (1-1) vs Midtown (1-0)

Somehow, Midtown managed to win their first game. I know nothing about their game and how they won, and I know even less about their roster, but I know they found a way to win. They seem like a scrappy group of players. On the other hand, DALS are an experienced group of FPF veterans, but they are new to co-ed. I don’t know much about how these two teams will fair in this division, but I feel like Midtown will win this one.

Prediction: Midtown

Michael Scott’s Tots (0-1) vs Kiss My End Zone (0-1)

It’s always difficult for me to predict my own games. I can always work out some scenario in my head where my team winds up winning. This time however, I’m not sure my imagination is good enough. Yes, MST did lose their first game, but in retrospect in am sure that will be a small blip on an otherwise great season. They have three supremely talented receivers and the prospect of trying to cover them every single play is daunting. I think Josh Vazquez will get this KMEZ offence running and stay within striking distance, but MST will prevail.

Prediction: Michael Scott’s Tots

With that, the first week of action in co-ed is over and the second is right around the corner. If you have anything you want to tell me about your team, any questions about the league or feedback about the article I will be playing in Papineau on Sunday night. If not, feel free to email me at [email protected].