The Goal-Line Stand (Div D) – Week 12

As the season draws to an end a small group of teams who have proved themselves elite prepare furiously for another round of the gauntlet we all know as the FPF playoffs. In just a few short days we will be treated to the most prestigious Final Four in the wide world of sports (eat your heart out NCAA). While some teams are getting together for outdoor practice in the oppressive summer heat, others sit in air-conditioned living rooms and dissect past matchups like the Zapruder film. Either way they will be ready; of this I can assure you, FPF nation. 

While four teams prepare for another week of glorious triumphs and heartbreaking defeats, four more (Dragons, The Boozers, The Spartans, and Park X Streets) join the ranks of other once hopeful teams as they collectively utter, “There’s always next year.”

*Intro written by Paolo Della Rocca

 

Weekly Recap

By Paolo Della Rocca

 

#NoRegard for Fantastical Creatures

 

“Fairy tales are more than true; not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.”-GK Chesterton

 

The boys without regard definitely subscribed to the aforementioned philosophy as they laid a beat-down on the Dragons to the tune of 39-18. Alex Holowach looked every bit the part of quarterback of the year as he methodically carved up the Dragons defense. Finding a matchup that he liked, Holowach went to his snapper Mike Viera early and often. Despite being known as more of a quick strike offence, #NoRegard showed up with a very efficient, and fluid offence. Simon Dagenais looked sharp but did not get much help from his receiving corps. The head Dragon’s (perhaps Dragon’s head… it did seem like Simon was breathing fire at times) frustration grew as the game went on and the drops continued.

 

The Mayhem Continues

 

While it was rainy and grey outside of Soccerplexe Catalogna the skies turned orange inside the complex as Project Mayhem chalked up another huge win.  Despite Norman Bellemare’s early struggles the havoc inducing surrounding cast of Danny D’Amour, David Daoust and James Nowakoski shouldered the load (combining for 11 catches,143 yards and 3 of Bellmare’s 4 passing touchdown’s). Each of the three aforementioned receivers adjusted to errant throws to make huge plays throughout the game.  Conversely, Bruno-Pierre Pelletier struggled a great deal; throwing balls into coverage and making poor decisions.  The Cinderella run of this season’s playoffs persist as the boys in orange continue to impress as mayhem reigns through division D.

 

Vis Motus Clean up the Streets

 

With the game on the line Corey Johnson led his smooth and tidy offence down the field for a late score to make the game 26-25 in favor of Vis Motus.  Not to be outdone, Drew Saitanis marched his troops down the field before failing to convert on a fourth and goal.  After a lengthily verbal dispute Vis Motus’ offence took the field and were allowed to score so as to secure one last chance for Park X Streets’ playoff survival.  Nothing beats the drama of one last heave to the endzone.  There would be no storybook ending in this game however, as the ball fell harmlessly to the turf.  Vis Motus moves on and the FPF community moves past another favorite being knocked off the top of the world.

 

This is Sparta? Child please!

 

One week after being called out by some foolish co-host on the Calling the Audible (I choose to protect my identity by remaining nameless), Kevin Lubin put the team on his back and fought toe to toe with Spartan heavyweight Nicolas Gendron-Vallee.  This weekend’s early game was perhaps the most entertaining.  Both offences traded blows, defenses made key stops and it came down to the final five plays (as FPF playoff games usually do).  The Blue Angel’s have nothing on the air show that spectators were treated to in this game. With 4 plays left, the typically sure-handed George Elie-Voyer dropped an open pass in the endzone.  Lubin then brought his team together, called a play and delivered a ball to Julien Bellavance for a touchdown. Bellavance had struggled earlier dropping three passes earlier in the game, yet he would not let his team down when the game was on the line.

Round 3 Roundup

 

Conference A

 

(1) #NoRegard vs. (5) Rogues

 

Most people think this may as well be the championship game, as the two early-season favorites and titans of Conference A face off for the conference title. Well, not if Project Mayhem or Vis Motus have anything to say about it. #NoRegard edged out the Rogues in their well-publicized Week 6 match by a single point. And we all remember, of course, the Rogues being just a millimeter short of tying it up in the last seconds. This Sunday’s edition of the Rumble in the Jungle promises to be no less intriguing, as rumors have it that guys on each side have been trying to ruffle feathers through intimidation or otherwise. Moreover, many have accused both teams of having “looked past” (is it still considered “looking past” when it turns out you’re right?) opponents and straight to the Conference finals versus each other. Not to mentioned that the media – god bless them – have been hyping this since Week 1. Kevin Lubin may be the better pure athlete, but Alex Holowach seems to be on some sort of quarterback cruise control right now. The Rogues may have a deeper receiving corps on paper, but the #NoRegard boys have a habit of overproducing. Both teams take pride in their defense like almost no one else in the lower divisions. Picking this game is like trying to pick which line of old people at the grocery store is going to stall first; will the man in line 1 demand a price check on prunes, or will the woman in line 2 fall asleep on the conveyor belt? Flip a coin and see.

 

Prediction: Rogues by 6.

 

Hey Dagenais, double or nothing?

 

Conference B

 

(6) Vis Motus vs. (7) Project Mayhem

 

The winner of this game will have the honor of playing David in this season’s presentation of “David vs. Goliath: a cautionary FPF tale of love, treachery, and flag-football”. Project Mayhem have been crowned giant killers, as they have eliminated both of Conference B’s top seeds (the only two teams that really stood out in the conference). They’ve even started the theme of “the mayhem continues” which has gripped Division D. Project Mayhem are extremely hot right now and don’t believe that any team is capable of beating them this upcoming week. Vis Motus (an early Kolethras pick for Conference B champs) stands in their way as the faux underdogs in these playoffs. While Project Mayhem had to beat Certified Flyguyz and the Boozers, Vis Motus knocked off Blue Mountain state and Park-X Streets (arguably weaker opponents). This is going to work in the favor of the former as their level of competition has been more challenging. Vis Motus may be caught off-guard by the level of play early in the game, and if they get behind early, it’s going to be hard to claw their way back. Working in their (Vis Motus’) favor may be the QB matchup. Cory Johnson’s upper-divisional experience has him ahead of Normand Bellemare (a.k.a. the oldest quarterback in the world) on most experts’ depth charts. Among the spectators should be players participating in the Conference A semis. I want to sit between Kevin Lubin and Lance Daniel (and not just because we’ll look like an ice cream sandwich).    

 

Prediction: Project Mayhem by 8.

 

Conference Final Preview

By Paolo Della Rocca

 

#NoRegard vs. Rogues

 

This is the one; the rematch. Bigger than the third installment of Ali vs. Frasier; bigger than the second take of Brock Lesnar vs. Frank Mir; more epic than another Celtics/Lakers battle, the two titans of Conference A clash for a second time.  There we go, now this game has enough hype.  The last game ended 25-24 and propelled #NoRegard into a higher level of play.  Since then the Rogues have thought of little else other than exacting their revenge on their way to a potential rematch.

 

Keys to success:

The Rogues: Kevin Lubin has to be smart and cannot try to win the game on his own.  In the previous matchup Deemy Feelgood gave Lubin some difficulty and forced him to throw into coverage and take bad sacks.  Mr. Rogue has to realize when the smart play is the big play.  Additionally, every possession and every conversion is important; efficiency is the key to the Rogues success

#NoRegard: They won the last game, but that might make it tougher to win a second time.  #NoRegard has to remember the preparation that went into winning the last game.  The key player will be Jordan Moses; who will cover him?  Who can stop him?  The rogues have a lot of competent defenders (Stevens St-Fleur, Kerdley Micourt, Jasmin Rioux) but Moses will present a challenge for anyone if he catches the ball in space.

Predicition: A highly competitive and entertaining game that everyone should come out to see. Rogues win it by 2.

Vis Motus vs. Project Mayhem

Keys to success:

Vis Motus:  Vis Motus has to shorten the game and let Project Mayhem make the mistake that costs them them big.  DB Bryce Vieira is the man that can make that happen.  Corey Johnson can control the pace of the game but it will be up to the defense to make the play that gives them the chance to win the game.

Project Mayhem: The first rule of Project Mayhem is: You don’t talk about Project Mayhem…unless you’re an FPF analyst.  The orangemen have a great group of receivers that surround a very intelligent and somewhat unorthodox quarterback.  The key here will be allowing their athletes (Namely the Daousts, Danny D’Amour, and the brothers Nowakoski) to make big plays.  If they operate efficiently, we should see a similar result as the last time this game was played (Project Mayhem  32-Vis motus 19).

Prediction: This game will be a battle of two intelligent QB’s.  Who will set the pace? Who will come out ahead? I think it will be Project Mayhem, by 11 points. 

 

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Paolo says: I’ll be at Lachine on Sunday, if you see me, come and hang out. If you weren’t planning to be there…change your plans. Your grandmother will understand.  If you hate this article, or the podcast, hang out with Andrew D’Anna instead.  If you’ve never heard the Podcast, it’s never too late to jump on board (like buying your first pair of Rebook Pumps). Remember we love to have your input for Calling the Audible so hit us up on the FPF wall or you can reach me on Twitter (@PeezeFPF).  Have a good week, good luck to everyone; be safe.

 

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Listen, I cancelled a BBQ on Sunday to go watch these games because I honestly feel like they’re going to be more entertaining than eating meat-flavored hot dogs. And I love meat-flavored anything. So come join me and all the other media members who weren’t so popular in high school but now we are because we learned to write properly. I guarantee you these are going to be great games.

 

If you haven’t listened to FPF’s official podcast yet it’s either because you don’t know how to access it (fpf.podomatic.com) or because you’re me and can’t stand to view/hear your own work. Do it immediately.

 

Erratum: In this week’s podcast we talked about how significant it was for the Rogues rush to hold Nicolas Gendron-Vallée to just 10 rushing yards. As potent as Hugo Lalonde is, I think it’s important to note that Gendron-Vallée was also nursing an ankle injury he had just sustained at a tackle football practice. Thanks to Alex Kotrbaty of the Spartans for the inside information.