Three Weeks of Coed Action, Same QB of the Week

If you are an avid reader, you will remember that last week I promised you a quick insight into the particularities of the Women’s division, so here it is:

The game is played 5 on 5 instead of 6 on 6
The field is roughly 10 yards narrower than your standard FPF field
You have 4 downs to pass midfield and then another four to score. In other words, the only first down is midfield unless there is a penalty which awards an automatic 1^st down.
There are no punts, all drives start at the five-yard line unless there is an interception
You are only allowed to run after a handoff

These rules are based upon international flag football rules and closely resemble what you will see in international flag football tournaments. Quite a few players in the Women’s division play international tournaments so the goal of these modified rules was to incorporate a Women’s division into FPF all while preparing teams for international competitions. If I am not mistaken, Quebec’s new university flag football league run by the RSEQ also follows similar rules. With so many teams in this division coming straight out of the university ranks, it was important to keep the game as similar as possible.

In case the title was not enough of a spoiler, Francois Deslauriers is once again the QB of the week for Coed. This is longest streak I have seen since I started creating a team of the week.

Lets launch into the weekly recaps

Week 3 Recaps

Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce (38) vs EZFun (45) – Coed 1

This was the Jeremy White we have been waiting to see all season. He ran circles around Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce and undoubtedly made them look silly in the process. While he only attempted 17 passes on the night, he was pretty much perfect. This team is at its best when Charles-Olivier Lavigne is highly involved, and that was definitely the case in this game. He caught three passes, all for scores, for a total of 71 yards and three scores. What gives me hope that this team can take the next step and start competing with the heavyweights of the division is the fact that the women on this were able to make a difference. Maria Argyropoulos was the team’s 2^nd leading receiver with two catches, a score and nearly 40 receiving yards.

The most impressive part of EZFun’s performance was their defensive showing. JF Marquis is one of the top passers in this division and while they did concede over 200 passing yards, that did not really matter since they picked off Marquis three times. Their biggest players did exactly what they had to do. Maxime Boucher-Cy might not be thrilled that he conceded 40 rushing yards to Marquis, but sacking him once and only allowing him three runs is a feat that he should be proud of. Jeremy White and Jean-Christophe Ferland were the biggest difference makers, each registering a pick six. Marquis is not a QB who turns the ball over very often. With SHCS, he threw 6 INTs in 2019, 8 in 2020 and 11 in 2021. In other words, he was averaging well under a pick a game so for him to be intercepted three times in this one speaks volumes to the talent on this EZFun defence.

Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce are in an awkward position. They have a top level quarterback, but the rest of their roster is not quite at the level to compete with the rest of Coed 1. Every single team in this division has a difference maker, a player who is just about impossible to man up against and can single handedly change a game. I just don’t see that player on SHCS’ roster. This team is extremely well rounded and filled with depth. Alexandre Jubinville, who totalled 85 receiving yards in this match-up, Vincent Marquis and Philippe Aussant are all extremely solid players. However, none of them have the wow factor of C-O Lavigne, Zach Zwirn or Alexis Gaumont. Until SHCS find a way to add a star or fit into Coed 2, they will have a tough time consistently winning games.

Party Mix (40) vs Two and a Half Kittens (30) – Coed 1

While Two and a Half Kittens only have one win in their first four games, they are one of the top teams in Coed 1 in my opinion. They have a wealth of riches on this team and that all starts at the quarterback position with the famous Joey Taylor. An outing like this is exactly what I expect from Taylor in Coed. He threw for 171 yards, five scores, and no interceptions. A stat line like that should be enough to win you the game in just about any division. When five touchdowns does not win you the game, there is only one place to lay the blame and that is on the defence.

TAHK did not post a single defended pass or interception. Their most impressive defensive stat was a sack by Gabriel Wiseman. When all your defence can offer is a sack, it’s a pretty clear sign that they are not holding up their end of the bargain. There is a very simple issue with TAHK’s defence and it is that they cannot match up with their opponents’ female players. That was glaringly obvious as Emilie Pfeiffer-Badoux and Catherine Piche ran riot in this game. The dynamic duo accounted for over half of Party Mix’s receiving yards and receptions. Simply but, TAHK had no answer for them.

Party Mix have been exactly what I expected them to be this season and that is the second-best team in the division. Their offence is the only one to have cracked the 100 point mark and Francois Deslauriers has this team firing on all cylinders. Simply put, this is one of the most well-rounded rosters in the division and Party Mix are very well aware of that fact. They know that they have the experience and talent to go toe to toe with just about any team in Coed.

Party Mix however have always had one foe and that is Power Rangers. I do not remember Party Mix ever beating them and I have a hard time seeing it happen this season. I cannot say this enough, I love PM’s roster. They have some of the very best female players in Quebec. No team involves their female players more in the passing game then PM and the advantages of that are very clear. Simply put, the dominance of their female players is the reason why they beat the Kittens in week 3. Despite all that praise, Power Rangers are simply better.

Flamants Roses (25) vs Griffons (32) – Women’s

My first issue with the Flamants Roses is their team’s name. If anyone has an explanation for why they are not the Flamantes Roses, please let me know!

Besides their name, the other major issue plaguing the Flamants is their defence. They conceded a shocking 275 yards of offence and five scores to the Griffons and their QB Chloe Picard. In very simple terms, you cannot concede nearly 300 yards of offence and expect to win the game. As a matter of fact, I am surprised that the Griffons only scored five times considering they marched the field so consistently. The Griffons made five trips into the redzone but only managed to score three times. For the Flamants, a 40% efficiency in the redzone is a great sign and a good starting point for this defence to build from. When a team is stronger in the redzone, it tells me that their defenders are quick and instinctive and the rusher is able to hurry the quarterback. While this worked for the Flamants in the redzone, they need to wind ways to replicate that success across the field. The key to defence is unpredictability. The Flamants need to thicken their defensive playbook, add a few calls, and confuse opposing quarterbacks into making mistakes.

While the Flamants might not have impressed defensively, their offence was humming. Andréanne Cadorette had a near perfect game, passing for nearly 200 yards and fours scores. They also have a plethora of weapons at the receiver position, but none are more dangerous than Emma Rousseau who caught nine of the ten passes thrown her way for 83 yards and two scores. This team has the offence to keep them in games. All they need is a stop or two from their defence and they will be dangerous.

As for Griffons, they were clearly fantastic offensively. The reason the Flamants had their hands full is because the Griffons have a terrifying three headed receiving trio. In a word, Catherine Imbeault is a menace. She devoured her opponents in this one with exactly 100 receiving yards and three scores. The one critique I have is that too many passes are thrown her way. Sixteen of the Griffons 34 attempted passes were thrown in Imbeault’s direction but only seven were caught. Apart from Imbeault, I love the balance that Gabriella Dulac and Yasmine Doukhane bring to this team. Dulac is a fantastic possessions receiver and thrives on those short and intermediate routes. On the other hand, Doukhane is a certified deep threat. She averaged over 20 yards per reception in this one and did a great job of stretching the field. The combination of those three receivers will be a lot for any team in this division to handle.

Week 3 Teams of the Week

Every week, I will name 12 players to the team of the week. If you make the offensive team of the week, you cannot be on the defensive one and vice versa. I will name one team of the week for both Coed divisions combined and a separate team of the week for the Women’s division. You can make the team of the week in both divisions. For the Coed team of the week, there will always be a minimum of two women on the offensive and defensive team.

Coed

Offence

Quarterback: Francois Deslauriers (Party Mix) 20 completions, 232 passing yards, 7 TDs, 0 INTs

Receiver: Emilie Pfeiffer-Badoux (Party Mix) 6 receptions, 77 yards, 2 TDs

Receiver: Reka Sivasubramaniyam (3HUNNAS) 5 receptions, 83 yards, 2 TD

Receiver: Ryan Dobbs-Garnett (Y&Y) 7 receptions, 95 yards, 3 TDs

Receiver: Boudjema Saada (Fitsquad) 6 receptions, 82 yards, 2 TDs

Receiver: Charles-Olivier Lavigne (EZFun) 3 receptions, 71 yards, 3 TDs

Defence

Rusher: Laurie Ethier (La Secte) 2 sacks

Defensive Back: Serge Pilon Jr. (Power Rangers) 2 tackles, 1 sack, 1 PD, 1 TD

Defensive Back: Jeremy White (EZFun) 2 tackles, 1 INT, 1 TD

Defensive Back: Jean-Christophe Ferland (EZFun) 1 tackles, 1 INT, 1 PD

Defensive Back: Justin Weir (Y&Y) 3 tackles, 1 INT, 1 PD

Defensive Back: Annabelle Boutin (EZFun) 4 tackles

Women’s

Offence

Quarterback: Sandrine Gobeil-Huot (Les Bleus): 23 completions, 306 passing yards, 6 TDs, 0 INTs

Receiver: Caroline Moquin-Joubert (Concordia) 10 receptions, 156 yards, 1 TD

Receiver: Catherine Imbeault (Griffons) 7 receptions, 100 yards, 3 TDs

Receiver: Mathilde Lavigne (Volts) 7 receptions, 187 yards, 2 TDs

Receiver: Geraldine Cabillo-Abante (Red Nation) 6 receptions, 111 yards, 1 TD

Receiver: Jasmine Bethelmy (Les Bleus) 5 receptions, 108 yards, 1 TD

Defence

Rusher: Amélia Desrochers (Les Bleus) 5 tackles, 1 sack

Defensive Back: Amanda Townsend-Asselin (VC Cubs) 4 tackles, 2 INT, 1 PD

Defensive Back: Emma Townsend-Asselin (VC Cubs) 1 tackle, 2 INTs

Defensive Back: Jenna Araujo (Red Nation) 1 tackle, 1 INT, 4 PDs

Defensive Back: Rebecca Decarie-Corbeil (Brutes) 1 tackle, 2 INTs

Defensive Back: Noemie Olmand (Les Bleus) 5 tackles,1 INT, 1 PD

Week 4 Predictions:

Brutes (3-0) vs Bleu Proud (3-0) – Women’s

Two of the remaining three undefeated teams in the Women’s division are going head-to-head this week and we are in for an absolute treat. Brutes are the highest scoring team in the division with 112 points across their first three games. On the other hand, Bleu Proud has only conceded 21 points. In other words, a team scoring nearly 40 points a game is going up against one that concedes just 7 a game. Something is going to have to give.

This game, like so many others in FPF, is going to come down to the quarterback matchup and that is where Brutes worry me. While Maude Lacasse has passed for 650 yards and 14 TDs, she has also turned the ball over five times. On the other hand, Bleu Proud’s Emmanuelle Bronsard has posted very similar numbers without throwing a single interception. Bronsard is yet to face a defence like Les Brutes’ but I still see her having the edge in this one and leading Bleu Proud to the win.

Prediction: Bleu Proud

Two and a Half Kittens vs (1-2-1) Bishop Sycamore (0-3) – Coed 1

Despite their 0-3 record, I cannot help but feel that Bishop Sycamore are a threat in this division. My one-word description of this team is athletic. They have a fantastic blend of size and speed. Jordan Prezioso has been tearing this division up with 246 receiving yards and four scores in his first three games. However, if this team wants to take the next step, they will need to find a way to get other receivers involved.

Bishop Sycamore also have the edge over Two and a Half Kittens in terms of turnovers. TAHK have struggled to create momentum changing plays on defence, producing only three picks in their first three games whereas Bishop Sycamore have twice as many.

The final matchup that favors BS is Jessica Bositampen versus anyone. As a rusher she has the speed to cause Joey Taylor migraines and on offence, there is no female player with the speed to cover her in man-to-man coverage.

BS will pull off the upset to claim their first win of the season.

Prediction: Bishop Sycamore

Team Commando (0-3) vs Y&Y (2-1) – Coed 2

I was not expecting Team Commando to get blown out by the 3HUNNAS last week. As a matter of fact, I expected them to win that match. This team has a lot going for them. Across the board, they are solid. They have a decent quarterback in Louis-Philippe Naud and a talented group of receivers. Where they have struggled is on defence. This is a team that tries to play a lot of zone but they do not have the discipline to do it. Their defenders do not get deep quick enough and that opens them up to big chunk plays.

On the other hand, Y & Y are still searching for a quarterback. I cannot believe that Gino Di Fazio’s long term solution under center is Matthew Peacock. While Peacock might have his flaws, I think he matches up very well against the Commandos. There is nothing he loves more than chucking the ball deep to Justin Weir and from what I have seen, Team Commando will not be able to defend against that.

Prediction: Y&Y

There you have your week 3 article!