The Wrath of Khan (D2) – Week 9

 

What did I learn from the week nine action? The second hottest team behind the Ruff Ryders is not even a division leader, the Wolfpack are making a run for the last playoff spot. Also, which teams are setup to fall from postseason play? And finally, one of my predictions will come true this weekend!

The hottest team in D2 is the Ruff Ryders, who lead their division. However, the second hottest team that no one has talked about is the Kingz. The Kingz have nestled up the rankings with huge wins over number one ranked Texas All-Stars, and needed a last play victory over the tenacious All Blacks.

Even though the Kingz lost to the Shockers in an earlier bout back in week three, they control their destiny to clinch the third seed and play on opening weekend of the playoffs.

Now, they face an unpredictable Monarchs team that was soundly waxed by the Mercenaries. Whoever wins this game, will most likely avert an opening round matchup against the Shockers.

What has team captain Rey Sarwar done to improve this team? Quite simply, the D1 additions of Fred Dupuis, and Guilaume Ward have been instrumental. But given his pipeline connections to the lower divisions, the acquisition of Triple Sixers’ own, Pat Jerome, has done wonders for the team’s defense as he accumulated six interceptions in four games in D2.

Jerome has been the major reason why this team is now a legitimate contender to make a deep run in the playoffs, rather than being irrelevant.

With two games left on their schedule (against the Monarchs, and Wolverines), the Kingz could potentially finish with the best record in franchise history. The question that remains is have they gained the respect of their fellow D2 teams, or has everyone looked over them? We will find out in these next few weeks.

Wolfpack Are Howling

Don’t look now, but guess who’s making a run for the last playoff spot, the surging Wolfpack. This year, no one took the ‘09 finalist too lightly, as they got off to a 0-3 start. But now, they have won three out of the last four games, and came up with a huge 50-42 victory over the Renegades.

Pascal Murray has found his old form again, as he passed for eight touchdowns against an erratic Renegades team. But things do not get any easier for the ’09 runner-ups. They face O.N.S. who have been on a tear on offense. Murray and co. will need to put up 50 points again if they want any chance at a playoff spot.

That being said, they have a lot going against them. For starters, if they somehow win their last two games against O.N.S. and Ruff Ryders. They will still not have the tiebreaker advantage against the Mercenaries, Phoenix, and Wolverines who all defeated them this season.

The Wolfpack will need a lot of help, and it starts by winning their games, and hoping that one of the aforementioned teams falter in the next two weeks for them to have any chance to qualify for postseason play.

Furthermore, will the Pascal Murray of three years ago reappear where he was ineffective against bigger, faster, and stronger teams? Or will it be the Murray of last year, where he had the ability to dissect defenses on his way to winning D2 QB of the Year?

Tough Times

Which team(s) is setup to clinch a playoff spot, that might fall hard on their faces once the dance begins? Two teams in particular that came up short last weekend, the Waterbuffaloes, and Wolverines.

The Buffaloes had a golden opportunity to separate themselves from Click Clack but came up well short. The defending champions are hard to predict. One week, they look invincible (with the dismantling of the Shockers). But then the next week, they look vulnerable, slow, and defeated (against Click Clack).

This team has potential to do some serious damage like they did in last winter’s playoffs as a number five seed. But this time around, all the teams above, and below them are tougher.

The Wolverines had the best chance to solidify their playoff spot, and essentially eliminate the Wolfpack from the playoff contention. Albeit even though they lost on the last play to the Wildcats, the Wolverines need to show the FPF community they are a valid contender.

Yes, they have the tiebreaker on the Wolfpack. But they face a tough nugget in the Tomahawks, and cap off the season against the Kingz.

The Wolverines started off the season guns-a-blaze, winning three out of the first four games. But are they slowly reverting back to the old ways of the Wolverines?

As much as I saluted them in last week’s article for playing so well in D2, you then have the other side of the coin, where the Wolverines have had golden opportunities to close out games, but have failed to do so. Maybe they need Yankees reliever, Mariano Rivera, in their lineup for the last two minutes to close out victories?

These two teams are in make or break situations this weekend. If they lose, it will become much harder for them to clinch a spot, when they had the previous couple weeks to book their ticket to the postseason.

Power 5 Rankings

We almost had a perfect week from last week’s top five teams. But the Monarchs ruined the chances as they were thoroughly dismantled by the Mercenaries, who are the new entrants into the foray.

1. Texas All-Stars (7-1): The All-Stars all but wrapped up the division with a tough, gritty, and hard nose victory over the Shockers. Now the only question that remains, will they get complacent, and lose focus? Key win(s): Click Clack, Shockers. Next game: Red Ballers

2. Ruff Ryders (6-2): I don’t know if they were trying to get too cute in their win over 416, but it was probably the ugliest but cute win in FPF history. However, if Jamal Pierre been there, I am sure he would have restored order back to where it supposed to be, and wouldn’t have allowed these careless mistakes to occur. Key win(s): Renegades, Wolverines. Next game: Phoenix

3. Click Clack (5-1-2): Click Clack continues to get it done. They win ugly! With a big lead against the Waterbuffaloes, they allowed them to get back into the game. But if it wasn’t for some gutty play calling by Danny Gentile, the Click Clack might be on the outside looking in. Is Paul Kamel the unofficial D2 MVP? He has played out of this world. Key win(s): All Blacks, Waterbuffaloes. Next game: Shockers

4. O.N.S. (6-2): No Kishon Thompson, but they have Kevin Wyeth, Sean Kennedy, Ryan Brewster, and Mike Coles. That’s more than enough firepower on offense. Furthermore, their defense came up huge, by holding the Tomahawks below 30 points. That is the first time they have held an opponent below 30-points, since their week one win over the Wildcats. Key win(s): Mercenaries, Phoenix, Ruff Ryders, Waterbuffaloes. Next game: Wolfpack

5. Mercenaries (5-3): Finally the Mercenaries are showing that they could be a darkhorse team in the playoffs. They thoroughly throttled the Monarchs. Their defense looks ferocious as they picked off quarterback, Cory Johnson three times. Don’t forget the Carmine Pollice factor, any team that has him in the lineup will automatically become a contender. Key win(s): Monarchs. Next game: Wildcats

Make or Break Weekend

Here are five games that have direct implications on the playoff standings in both conferences. These are my thoughts on how each game will play out.

Monarchs-Kingz: Simply put, both of these teams need the win to have a chance at the division title. Furthermore, whoever is victorious will have the key tiebreaker advantage. The Monarchs will need a flawless game from Cory Johnson. He can ill-afford to throw any interceptions early in the game like he did against the Mecenaries. Otherwise, the ball-hawking Kingz will be there to snatch it in the air. Maybe Rey Sarwar will join the interception party?

Ruff Ryders-Phoenix: If the standings finish as they presently are, these two teams could be on a collision course to a date in the conference semi-finals. Phoenix still has a chance to finish in first place, but will need a lot of help since they don’t have the tiebreaker on O.N.S. Ruff Ryders need to clean up their sloppy miscues from last weekend. However, will Martin Tougas take his game to the next level, or drop below the Mendoza line?

All Blacks-Waterbuffaloes: This is an elimination game for the right to the last playoff spot in Conference B. Which Buffaloes team will show up? The one that soundly defeated the Shockers, or the one that got shredded by the Monarchs? As for the All Blacks, they have gained a huge amount of respect from the D2 community for their style of play with Chris Bridgeman at QB. They could have easily been in a tie for second place, but are now fighting for their playoff lives. The key element, who can hold serve on defense? Both teams have very stout defenders; this will go a long way in determining the victor this weekend.

Wolfpack-O.N.S.: For those who remembered my top-10 games of the season (I am sure no one read that article), I had circled this matchup as a game to watch out. If you don’t remember, here’s the link: http://flagplusfootball.com/news.php?article_id=161. Moreover, O.N.S. needs this game to solidify their hold on first place. The Pack needs this game to stay alive for the last playoff spot. But they will need a lot of help, since the teams above them have the tiebreaker over them. First one to 40-points wins?

Click Clack-Shockers: First one to six wins will be closer to clinching a division title (Click Clack), or playoff spot (Shockers). In the long history of both FPF franchises, these two teams have never faced each other. On the other hand, these two clubs might be on a collision course to meet somewhere in the playoffs for the second time in a few weeks. The Shockers need this game more than Click Clack. Can they stop Paul Kamel and George Papachristopoulos? Shockers’ own, Ross Castleton, apparently read the riot act to his team after their loss to the All-Stars. Will it help? On a side note, injured Shawn Haney might be back for the playoffs.

Percentages%

10%, that there will be a tie this weekend.

15%, that O.N.S., and Wolfpack will combine to score 100-points.

25%, that there will be winner between 416, and Byrdgang.

50%, that nothing will be determined until week 11.