SPARTANS Suffer First Blemish; Power Rankings Get Shook Up

Welcome to Week 9 of the FlagPlus Football Spring season. Ladies and gentleman, and Division E players and fans everywhere, there are two weeks left in the regular season. It’s hard to believe how fast it went by. It feels like just yesterday, I was writing about Week 1.

As you can imagine, the playoffs races have transformed from heating up to on fire at this point. In last week’s article, I talked about the teams who made moves to solidify their playoff positioning. This week is no different, as Les Huards, Trinity, Super Troopers, Victorious Secret, and the RoadRunners took some major steps towards securing their post-season with huge victories this past week.

Speaking of victories, a tip of the hat goes to Gronky Kong for getting their first win of the season with a 24-18 victory over Jean Guy.

The game was a lot closer than it needed to be given that Gronky Kong was up 18-0 at halftime, and Jean Guy was without QB Emile Lamy. But, that’s what makes football, and especially FPF so interesting, is that you have to play to the final whistle. G.K took their foot off the gas, and after a few big plays, Jean Guy was right back in it. The game would come down to the last  5 minutes.

After giving up a score to pull Jean Guy to within 6 points, Gronky Kong got a huge play from Wide Reciver Josh Levine, who split the usually stellar J.G defense right down fo a 32-yard touchdown on post route. The score gave G.K a 24-12. Jean Guy wold score again on a nice play by Jordan Demarbe, to narrow the lead to 24-18, but it would be too little too late, as the final whistle sounded.

From personal experience, I can tell you that going winless for a season is never easy. For a team that has let some wins fall by the waistside this season, I could tell, being on the sideline to watch this game, I was able to see first-hand the excitement and relief from all the Gronky Kong players after the game was over. Congrats boys! For the record, I would like to point out that I predicted a Gronky Kong win in last wee’s article.

I am done patting myslef on the back right…………..NOW!

Will the real Les Huards please stand up! In all honesty, this has to be one of, if not the most perplexing team in all of Div. E. They have as many ties as wins with 2 apiece. They haven’t won a game since Week 4, their offense can be brutal to watch sometimes, and they’ve been known to get a little physical now and again.

Despite all that, the team came through, and put together one of their finest outings of the season, as they held on for an 18-18 tie with the undefeated SPARTANS.

The 1-point that they received from the tie puts them squarely in the post-season picture, as they are currently tied with the Rolling Thunder and Victorious Secret for the last playoff spot in Conference B. 

Les Huards are in the worst possivle spot however, as they have lost to both teams this year, but if we learned anything from this past week, it’s that we actually have to play the games to see what happens.

Taking a look at the remaining schedule for the last two weeks, Victorious Secret finish off with games against a Suh-Tang Clan team who is desperate for a win as they head into the second season, and then an evenly matched Gronky Kong squad. Meanwhile, the Rolling Thunder close out the regular season with a tough slate of games, as they take on the SPARTANS this Tuesday night, then end the regular season with a game against the RoadRunners next Sunday in Brossard. Finally, Les Huards take on the aforementioned RoadRunners, then face The Warriors in Week 10. No one said it would be easy. Good luck guys!

Trinity held on for their lives to get a hard-fought win over the Rolling Thunder. The victory was huge, as it gave them sole possesion of 5th place in Conference B, due to tie-breaker they hold over the Suh-Tang Clan having beaten them 26-2 in Week 1.

Coming up huge for Trinity in the game was Alexandre Samson who had team-high 5 catches for 48 yards and 2 TDs. The biggest game of all for the team belonged to my colleague, and the team’s QB Jean-Felix Marquis. The second-year player threw only 8 incompletions, and had 142 yards passing, to go with 3 TDs. On the defense he played great as well, as he recorded 2 INTs which really sealed the win for his squad. Good job guys. Huge win!

Let’s see who balled this week…

Gronky Kong – As mentioned above they got their first win of the season. Better late then never. Josh Levine and Alexis Labonte who had the FPF hat-trick with a TD, pick, and sack, had monster games. The finishes the season with games against the KRUSADERS and Victorious Secret. I think Gronky Kong might have even more reason to celebrate.

Les Huards – They ended the SPARTANS path to perfection by earning a hard-fought 18-18 tie against their war-chanting opponents. More importantly, they get a valuable point that keeps them in the playoff race, as well as they are sure to have some confidence after such an impressive performance, especially considering the team hadn’t tasted a win since Week 4 heading into the matchup. Lost in all this, was the performance of QB Gabriel Beland-Lapointe, who was making his first start since Week 5. Little Dallas Keuchel as I like to call him, had arguably his best outing of the season, since Week 1 where he sliced up Gronky Kong with 5 TDs. Let’s see what the QB and his team have up their sleeve or his beard this Tuesday against RoadRunners.

RoadRunners and QB Emmanuel Sarikakis – Speaking of the RoadRunners, they get a shout-out because they finally beat a contending team. Better late than never I guess. Playing as huge role in the victory was their Quarterback  Emmanuel Sarikakais, who not only threw 5TDs, but also outplayed opposing QB Michael Solimene. There’s hasn’t been too many times this year where Solimene has been outplayed. The win was also big for the R.R because it keeps them in playoff contention.

Nathanael Niedermann (Gyr) – He simply had the game of the week out of any player in all of FPF, as he was a one-man wrecking crew against the Suh-Tang Clan, as he had an AMAZING 4 catches for 123 yards and 4 TDs (gotta love the TD to catch ratio), to go along an incredible 6 sacks on defense. It honestly feels like Niedemann gets better and better each week. For his team, it happening at exactly the right point of the season.

PJ Belec (Gyr) Someone had to throw Niedermann those 4 TDs, and that someone was Belec. After last week’s huge contest vs the SPARTANS, Belec returned to action and tore apart the Suh-Tang Clan defense as he threw 6 TD passes. The funny thing about his performance, is that the second year veteran only completed 9 of his 24 attempts. 

Victorious Secret – When you hold a team to zero points you you deserve a spot on the list, and that’s exactly whta Victorious Secret did, as they shutout the KRUSADERS 24-0. Robert Trombino played a huge role in his team’s victory, as the rookie had 3 catches for 53 yards and 3 TDs. He even added 4 tackles on defense as well. Good job guys!

Joseph Mancaniello (Super Troopers) – With his team needing a win versus Jagys & Chill to sperate themselves from the log jam that was the 8th and final playoff spot in Conference A, rookie Wide Receiver Joseph Mancaniello had his best performance since Week 2, as he went off on J&C, by leading the game in receptions, yards, and touchdowns (6 grabs for 53 yards, and 2 TDs).  More importantly, not only does the win give them sole possesion of the 8-spot, but it also gives the Super Troopers control of their own destiny. If they win this Sunday versus the Permian Panthers, they qualify for the post-season. Good job rook!

Let’s see who took the fall…

Goon Squad – You guys are LAME. For the second week in a row, you guys forfeit and don’t even have the decency to notify the league early enough to save your opponents (TDs and Beer) from having to show up for nothing. On top of that, you guys hav already paid for the entire year, so why not show up? I sincerely hope that you guys are not allowed to registar next Winter and Spring season. You guys pulled a real Jon Jones move…Yes, in case you’re wondering, I’ll still be watching UFC 200 tomorrow night.

KRUSADERS – Guys this getting a little ridiculous. You have talent on the team, how is it possible that you have gotten held off the scoreboard for 3rd time in 4 weeks? Step It Up gentlemen!

Jean-Felix Daloze (Jagys & Chill) – After he and his team scored a huge upset last week vs the Smokin Axolotls, you would think think tha they would take care of business against a Super Troopers team who coming into the game had lost 3 straight games by a combined score of 112 to 54. Nope, J&C QB Jean-Felix Daloze was awful, as he went 8 of 20, for 90 yards and  2TDs and 4 INTs, and his defense couldn’t stop the Super Trooper’s Joseph Mancaniello who went HAM all over them.

Joshua Hidalgo-Trivilidis (FACE Jazz) – 4 picks, 5 completions. You guys know the rules by now…

Simon Laporte (Jean Guy) – In all of my years of writing for FPF, I honestly thought I would never put Laporte’s name on this side of the ledger, he forced my hand, as he went 5 of 14 for 33 yards and 2 interceptions in his team’s 24-18 loss to Gronky Kong.

Match-ups

Brad Evans (TDs and Beer) versus Jordan Rossie (Smokin Axolotls)

Two of the best QBs in all of Div. E are going head to head in this one. Both are smart with the ball. Both have a lot of weapons at their disposal, and both know how to win. What more could you ask for. This one is simple, whoever has the better day, will get the win.

Rahul Mohan (Tigers) versus Jordan Allard (Dirty Mike n the Boys) 

When he isn’t picking up yards on the ground, Mohan has a lot of weapons to choose from at the Wide Receiver spot like Jameel Greenidge, Akeem Gordon, and Andrew Denis Lynch.

Jordan Allard is an extremely smart player who knows how to bait Quarterbacks into bad throws. Mohan has been known to make a bad throw or two each game. Let’s see what happens.

Power Rankings (N/R = Not Ranked)

1. Les Bonhommes Jaunes – They finally make it to the top spot, despite getting all they could handle from a tough Tigers team who usually plays up to their competition. LBJ got the win however, and that’s what counts most. This Monday night, they take on another play to their competition team in Jagys & Chill. It should be a good one. (Last Week: 3rd)

2. TDs and Beer – I hope Brad and the crew don’t feel like I am penalizing them because their opponents (Goon Squad) didn’t show, becasue I am not. The fact is however, that Les Bonhommes Jaunes had to play a game against a much tougher opponent than the forfeit as well as the Goon Squad, in the Tigers, and LBJ came away with the win. This Monday night, we have a Game of the Year candidate, when they lock horns with the Smokin Axolotls. This will be must-watch action. If TDs and Beer get the win, they will jump to the top of the rankngs. (Last Week: 2nd)

3. SPARTANS – They sufffered their first blemish on the season, and their first drop in the rankings. They still do have a zero in the loss column. Let’s see how they respond in what should be a barn-burner vs the Rolling Thunder. (Last Week: 1st)

4. Gyr – They jump a spot in the rankings with their easy victory over the Suh-Tang Clan, and The Warriors’ loss to the RoadRunners. Gyr has a great opportunity to move up the standings again, as they take on Jean Guy, who are coming off of a loss to previously winless Gronky Kong. This has the feeling of a trap game however, so Gyr should be on their toes. (Last Week: 5th)

5. Smokin Axolotls – Predictably, they handled their business versus FACE Jazz, and walked away with a 27-8 victory. As I mentioned above, they face a much tougher task this week, when they on TDs and Beer. A win for the Smokin Axolotls would definaitely shake up the rankings. (Last Week: 6th)

6. The Warriors – They drop 2 spots with their 33-27 loss to the RoadRunners. Up next is a game against a tough Trinity team who is coming off of an impressive win over the Rolling Thunder. This should be a good one. (Last Week: 4)

7. The RoadRunners – They make an appearance in the rankings due to their aforementioned win over The Warriors. The RoadRunners have a chance to surpass them, if they can knock off Les Huards who have to be feeling great after what they did to the SPARTANS Tuesday night. (Last Week: N/R)

8. Beastmode – They end up in the rankings due to an impressive blowout win over the Aliens. They are currently on a two-game winning strak, and finish the season with the easiest schedule, as they take on the forfeit kings, and FACE Jazz. (Last Week N/R)

9. Les Huards – They have been the only team to keep the SPARTANS out the win column this season. That alone deserves some respect. (Last Week: N/R)

10. Tigers – They drop down a spot with a loss this past week, but considering it came to Les Bonhommes Jaunes, I can’t hold that against them too much. To avoind falling out the rankings completely, the Tigers need to get a win this week versus a Dirty Mike n the Boys squad that is currently on a two-game winning streak. (Last Week: 9th)

 

Picks (Favorites in Bold)

Goon Squad vs Beastmode – Beastmode

Super Troopers vs Permian Panthers – Super Troopers

Victorious Secret vs Suh-Tang Clan – Suh-Tang Clan

Tigers vs Dirty Mike n the Boys – Dirty Mike n the Boys (Upset Special)

Gronky Kong vs KRUSADERS – Gronky Kong

Smokin Axolotls vs TDs and Beer (Game of the Week and Game of the Year candidate) – TDs and Beer

Les Bonhommes Jaunes vs Jagys & Chill – Les Bonhommes Jaunes

Jean Guy vs Gyr – Gyr

Les Huards vs The RoadRunners – The RoadRunners

The Warriors vs Trinity – The Warriors

FACE Jazz vs Aliens – Aliens

SPARTANS vs Rolling Thunder – SPARTANS

Last Week: 10-1-1

Season: 54-27-3

That’s it for this week. I’ll be back next time out, with my Week 9 review, and my look at the final week of the regular season, as well as my playoff scenario for each team that has qualifies, as well as the ones still in contention.

In a totally un-related note, I feel like with all the NBA contracts being handed out over the last couple of days, (How about my Knicks. There are a lot of IFs, but IF they all hold up, I really  what we did. Keeping my fingers crossed!!!!) I may have chosen the wrong sport to fallin love with. Sigh…

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

Cheers!