Several huge matchups this week

So it appears I got a little ahead of myself last week when I announced that I would be unveiling my Mid-Season All-Stars. At first glance I thought that dedicating this week’s article to it made sense, but then I said to myself, “Self, wouldn’t it make even more sense to write about it after the official midway point of the season had passed?” Yes” I responded as I banged my head against my notebook. “Yes it would.” So there you have it. My highly anticipated column will have to wait one more week. Sorry guys. Me being the nice guy that I am, also decided that I didn’t want to ruin anybody’s Super Bowl by getting them upset if they didn’t win in their respective category.

 

Once again I am happy to say there was some great football being played this week in Div. 6. The shootout between the Diablos and Team Laval is the first game to come to mind.

The first half of this one started off guns blazing, as Diablos two-way threat Georges Élie-Voyer picked up where he left off last week, by shredding the Team Laval defense via a 32-yard catch to start the game, and then scoring on a 10-yard TD in the back of the endzone 3 plays later.

After the Diablos forced a turnover on downs, they were driving, and appeared to be about to increase their lead, when Team Laval Defensive Back Vincent Bradley picked off a pass that went off of his man’s hands. The team from the 450 would make them pay a few plays later, when their QB Olivier Bourgeois hit Wide Receiver Martin Beaudry on a corner that just went over the out-stretched hands of his defender. 6-6 ball game.

Both teams would trade possessions, but weren’t able to put any more points on the board. The second half was completely different, as both sides exploded offensively. Big play after big play, both teams seemed to stop playing defense in the second half. The scoreboard kept turning so much that my protégé Moe Khan’s arm was getting tired.

Fast forward to the last 2 minutes of the game with the Diablos leading 24-18 after a TD by Georges Élie-Voyer, Team Laval had the ball at their opponents’ 15 yards line after a 35-yard run by Olivier Gauthier. He would tie the game up two plays later when he scored on a 1-yard TD pass from his QB Olivier Bourgeois.

Literally 1 play later, the Diablos got the lead on long bomb from QB Francois Martin to Wide Receiver Vincent Lajoie who made a beautiful catch while being tight covered by Samuel Saumure.

Team Laval returned the favour, you guessed it – one play later – when WR Vincent Bradley got by Georges Élie-Voyer in the left corner for a TD. 31-30 lead for Team Laval.

G.E.V. angered by the TD he let up, wasted little time making up for it, as he hauled in a 25 yard pass from Martin to put his team in great field position with two plays remaining in the game. The Diablos got even better field position, when Team Laval rusher Nicolas Tremblay was called for making contact with the Diablos QB as he followed through on his throw.  On the final play of the game, with coverage keyed in on Élie-Voyer who was doubled teamed for most of the game, Martin looked for Jean Sebastien Rochon who was running an out route at the front of the endzone on the right hand side. Before the WR could catch the ball however, Martin Beaudry jumped the route and knocked down the ball preserving the 31-30 victory for his team. Great game, perhaps game of the year!

 

PB n Jelly versus Victorious Secret was also another great game tha looked like we would see an upset. Despite a low-scoring first half (7-7), the game was still exciting as we saw both defenses come up with near interceptions of V.S QB Johnny Montanaro and P.B.N.J. pivot Joseph Kano.

The mistakes continued in the second half for PB n Jelly as a promising drive to start the second stanza, ended in a INT by Giovanni Bavota. Luckily for them, Victorious Secret couldn’t make them pay.

After the mistakes were out of the way, and both teams traded scores, the second half was the Dylan Catellier Show, as the FPF vet caught 3 TD passes from Kano. None better than his 40-yard TD in which he blew by his defender. That catch turned out to be the game winner. He would add another score later. 27-14 PB n Jelly final.

 

Top 3

 

 

Dylan Catellier (PB n Jelly) – His team was in danger of losing to an upstart and fiest Victorious Secret squad who had their eyes set on pulling off an upset. Catellier put his team on his back and single-handedly delivered a much needed victory.

Charles-David Martel (Spartans) – He was good this past week, that he caught passes from two different Quarterbacks (Andrew Grant and James D’Andrea). He caught 4 in all in a dominant performance over the Smokin Axolotls. Let’s see what he does this week against the Diablos.

The Marini Brothers (Sabrfc) – QB Max stepped up his game with 5 TD passes and a rushing TD to go along with 156 yards on 6 carries, a week after appearing on the Step It Up list last week. Good for him and more importantly for his team. Mickey’s dominance came to the tune of 4 TDs and 130 yards and an INT versus the Ravens. The brothers’ performance was the difference in an entertaining game.

 

Honourable Mention:

 

Vincent Alessandrini (Nighthawks) – I might have to carve out a regular spot on this list for the FPF sophomore after his performance against Gronky Kong. Alessandrini had a monster game on defense as he picked off QB Jean-Sébastien Roussy twice, (more on him in a moment) one of which he ran back for a touchdown. He also added a 6-yard TD on offense.

The Gamecocks – They made it two in a row with an impressive 33-12 win over team Fourth and Twenty. They rode a strong performance of QB Daniel Richman who went 19 of 21 for 152 yards with 4 TDs and 1 INT. Let’s see if they can keep it up this Monday night in a big showdown with the Nighthawks.

 

Step It Up

 

N.W.O Defense – Shouldn’t a team that is so reliant on the run, be able to stop it themselves? The N.W.O was far from stout against the run Sunday night as they allowed Bricksquad QB Jarred Stewart to run all over them to the tune of 5 carries for 56 yards and 2 TDs. Step it up black and white.

Jean-Sébastien Roussy (Gronky Kong) – You guys know the deal. Roussy went 11 of 25 for 65 yards 1 TD and 5 INTs. Step It Up, Roussy.

Me – Like I said at the top, I got a little ahead of myself last week. While the wait and anticipation could have drive up the ratings, we are unfortunately (not yet) on T.V or radio. I promise to do better next week, Step it Up, Mr. Bodkin.

 

Matchups

– Andrew Grant versus Georges Élie-Voyer

This potential matchup of the loudest and the quietest player in Div. 6, could also be a possible match of the year candidate. This has must-see Georges Élie-Voyer written all over it.

– Marc-Antoine Vallée (Ravens) versus Maxime Turpin-Lalonde (Team Laval)

This of course hinges on whether or not Turpin-Lalonde plays in this one after missing the team’s win vs the Diablos. If he does play however, this will also be a matchup of the year candidate. The INT king vs one of the front runners for WR of the year. I can’t wait for Monday night.

 

Picks

Goon Squad vs Sabrfc – Sabrfc

CMS Laval vs PB n’ Jelly – PB n Jelly

Spartans vs Diablos * (My pick for game of the week) – Spartans

Victorious Secret vs Bricksquad – Victorious Secret

Team Laval vs Ravens – Ravens

Nighthawks vs Gamecocks – Gamecocks (My Upset Special)

TDs and Beer vs Smokin’ Axolotls – TDs and Beer

Jean Guy vs Gronky Kong – Jean Guy

Trojans vs Tip top Shape – Tip Top Shape  

Fourth and Twenty vs n.W.o. – N.W.O

 

Bonus Pick: Super Bowl Broncos 23-20. Cam will win the N.F.L MVP hands down, but, something tells me he will make a mistake that will cost his team Sunday night. More importantly, while people are talking about the Broncos defense, it still looks like they’re not getting the respect they really deserve. Johnathan Stewart will have a tough time running on the Denver D. I also don’t see how Ted Ginn, Philly Brown, and Jerricho Cotchery beat Aqib Talib, Chris Harris, and Bradley Roby.

It feels like people are dancing around the problems on the Carolina D. Thomas Davis despite his toughness, won’t be anywhere close to 100%. He will have to cover either Owen Daniels who has been a monster this post-season, or Vernon Davis. Yes he has done squat since coming over from the 9ers, but there is a reason John Elway traded for him, plus the game is in San Fran. Don’t let the stats fool you, he can still play. Are you really going to tell me that Robert McClain and Cortland Finnegan two guys who were cast aside by their former teams who were and continue to be CB needy (McClain by the Pats) and Finnegan (by the Dolphins) less than a year ago, are going to shut down DeMaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders all game. Yes I realize Josh Norman, is playing, but he like Richard Sherman, doesn’t follow WRs across the field. He simply stays in his spot. Gary Kubiak who seems to have learned from his mistakes as the head man in Houston, has to be smart enough to move his playmakers around.  Finally, there is Peyton. Manning, has a HUGE chance to change his legacy with a win. Can’t you see him having one last PEYTON performance up his sleeve?

 

There won’t be a podcast this week, due to the Super Bowl bye for 6 of the 8 divisions, but the boys will be back next Thursday- same time, same place.

Good luck in Week 5!