Undefeated No More: Statement Games All Around

Welcome to Week 8 of the FlagPlus Football Spring Season.

 

In last week’s article, two of the biggest questions I asked, was is Keyport Lock, a true championship threat, and will we break the 2018 Spring Season scoring mark of 6,244 points.

After watching Division C generate 593 points this past week, highlighted by P.O.P. and All Hooks, who combined to score 96 points (more on that later), I think it’s pretty safe to safe that the answer to the second question, is yes.

As far the second question, Keyport Lock, answered it with a resounding yes, as they handed the previously undefeated Easy-Jake-Oven, their first loss of the season, (52-40), this past Wednesday at Bois-de-Boulagne, in what could best be described as a statement game.

The key for the win for Keyport Lock, was the performance of Quarterback Jeff Rosenblatt, along with Wide Receivers Jonathan Lyristis, and Raoul Baroudi.

The veteran passer was on fire all game long, as he sliced and diced the Easy-Jake-Oven defense to the tune of 337 yards, and a jaw-dropping 8 touchdown passes, the latter of which went to five different receivers.

Keyport Lock Receiver Raoul Baroudi, made a huge impact as well, registering three catches for 88 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Baroudi, didn’t stop there, as he added an interception on defense as well.

As impressive Baroudi’s performance was, it wasn’t as eye-opening as that of teammate Jonathan Lyristis.

Coming into the game against Easy-Jake-Oven, the 2-time All-Star, had a more than respectable stat line of 25 receptions for 202 yards and 7 TDs.

Fast forward to Wednesday night, and Lyristis, put up a solid 11 catches for 117 yards and 2 touchdowns.

All in all, the duo combined for 14 catches for 205 yards, and 5 touchdowns, and played a big role in their team’s impressive upset victory.

The key if you will, for Keyport Lock going forward, is seeing if they can build off of the win.

Their first test in proving they can do exactly that, comes this Wednesday, when they take on a Backyard Bullies, who are coming off of an impressive (31-12) blowout win over Sweat & Beers.

For Easy-Jake-Oven, it was a tough way to suffer their first loss of the year, as their defense simply had no answers for the Keyport Lock offense. EJO, will have to shake off the defeat, as they take on the A-Squad team, that is fighting for their playoff lives, this Wednesday at Bois-de-Boulagne.

Simon Says, was another heavyweight team, who saw the dreams of an undefeated season fall by the waist side, as they were punched in the face by the Game Changers, by a score of (40-12), Sunday night in Lachine.

Just like the aforementioned Keyport Lock, the Game Changers, were powered by a trio of their own, as Quarterback Anton Sakiz, and two-way players Jean-Daniel Chevalier, and Louis-Philippe Paquette, were a three man wrecking crew against Simon Says.

Sakiz, had a masterful performance, as he mixed in the short pass, and the long ball to near perfection. The two-time All-Star, was in complete control the entire game, as he went 18 of 23 for 195 yards and 5 touchdowns.

Three of Sakiz’s touchdowns, went to Wide Receiver Jean-Daniel Chevalier, who finished the contest with 6 receptions for 104 yards and 3 TDs, all of which were game highs.

The versatile Chevalier, made an impact on the other side of the ball as well, with a pick six off of QB Simon Dagenais, and a team-high 4 tackles.

Three-time FPF champion Louis-Philippe Paquette, had a statement game of his own, as he recorded 4 catches for 35 yards and a TD. His biggest impact was made on the defensive end however, as he recorded a game-high 2 interceptions.

At the end of the day, the Game Changers defense, made a number of game-changing plays, that knocked the Simon Says offense off course, held them to a season-low 6 points in each half, and helped them cruise to an easy victory.

While the absence of AJ Gomes for Simon Says, did play a factor, the 3 turnovers by their offense, were too much to overcome.

Unfortunately for Simon Says, the schedule does them no favours, as they take on another top team in P.O.P, tonight in Lachine, in what should be a shootout.

For the Game Changers, they continue to prove that they are one of the best teams in Division C. To stay there, they will need another solid performance from their defense, as they go head-to-head with GloGang, this Tuesday night in Brossard.

Speaking of blowout victories, Jagerbomb, laid a (34-14) beat down on The Commission.

Jagerbomb Quarterback Simon Duchesne, picked apart a short-handed TC defense, as he threw for 163 yards, and 5 touchdowns.

His biggest beneficiaries on the evening, were François Hogue, Jean-Félix Daloze, and Jeremy Cloutier, as the trio accounted for 14 catches 154 yards and all 5 TDs. Daloze, would even add an interception on defense.

Currently on a two game winning streak that saw them get victories over veteran teams in the Mercenaries, and TC, Jagerbomb, has a chance to make it three in a row, if they can knock off the Stoics, tonight in Lachine.

 

More importantly, the win also served notice that last year’s Division C runners up, are still championship contenders.

Speaking of the Stoics, they kept their playoff Hope’s alive, with a much-needed and shocking (33-7) blowout win over the Dream Breakers.

Taking the place of an absent Chris Rivest, Alexandre Gaudet, more than filled in at Quarterback, as he threw 5 touchdown passes to four different receivers. Gaudet, even added an interception as a defender.

Two of those aforementioned receivers were Justin Cerantola, and Will Power.

The shifty Cerantola, had 4 grabs for 21 yards, and a game-high 2 touchdowns.

Will Power, showed he indeed had the power, as he recorded a team-high 6 catches for 49 yards, and 1 TD.

The 3-time All-Star, was even better on the defensive end, as he led his team with 4 tackles, 2 INTs, and 1 pass deflection.

No player in the game however, had the impact of Jean-Benoit Bourassa, as the 10-year veteran, had a jaw-dropping 5 sacks.

Bourassa, the cherry on the cake, was his ability to turn his only reception of the game, into a 6-yard touchdown.

The only negative from the game for the Stoics, is that they didn’t score in the second half, neither did the Dream Breakers, so it all worked out.

For the Stoics, it was a much-needed win, after having not experienced one since Week 2.

 

More importantly, it keeps their post-season hopes alive, and puts them in a 3-way tie for the 8th and final playoff spot in Conference B, with Sweat & Beers, and All Hooks.

Congrats to The Huffmen, on getting their first win of the year, with a (36-13) butt-kicking of the A-Squad.

For the second week in a row, The Huffmen Quarterback Corey Walwaski, had a fantastic game, as he went 13 of 20 for 136 yards, and 6 touchdowns.

The veteran QB, did a great job of keeping the A-Squad defense guessing all night, as he mixed in short, intermediate, and long passes all game long, and threw his 6 TDs to 5 different receivers.

Just as solid as the play of their Quarterback, was that of The Huffmen defense.

 

The unit, was able get an interception each by Terry Tam, Marco Bertoldi, and Alex Holowach, off of A-Squad QB Yacoub Telemaque.

 

The trio also contributed along with Jaylan Greaves, Ryan Etinson, and Cesar Garcia-Diaz, in posting a second half shutout of their opponents.

The win for The Huffmen, was definitely a statement that they aren’t dead yet, as they now currently sit tied for the 8th and final playoff spot in Conference A, with the Junkyard Dogs.

After waiting all the way to Week 7 to get their first win, can The Huffmen, make it two in a row Wednesday night, when they take on KGP?

 

Another week, another barrage of points for P.O.P. This time it was their most lethal outing, as they cracked the 50 point plateau, in their (53-43) win over All Hooks.

With all respect to Tony Lalla, Cullen Burrell, and Patrick Jazon, who all put up touchdowns, and solid offensive numbers in the contest, this game came down to the Matt Kirouac, and Craig O’Brien show, as the QB, threw 8 TDs, five of which went to Kirouac, who even added an INT on defense, off of All Hooks QB Charles-Olivier Lavigne.

In addition to getting the win, O’Brien, who threw for 303 yards, has now moved into a tie for first place in the Div. C passing yards race, with Jake Applebaum of Easy-Jake-Oven, as both now sit at 1,504 yards.

Looking at the bigger picture, how dangerous is the P.O.P offense? Not once this season, have they scored less than 25 points.

While their defense might leave little to be desired with only 5 turnovers, their offense is no joke, and has the talent to go toe-to-toe with anybody.

 

 

Elite 8

 

1. Keyport Lock (Last Week: 3)

2. Game Changers (Last Week: 4)

3. Simon Says (Last Week: 1)

4. Easy-Jake-Oven (Last Week: 2)

5. Mercenaries (Last Week: 5)

6. P.O.P (Last Week 8)

7. Pineapple Express (Last Week: 6)

8. Jagerbomb (Last Week: Not Ranked)

 

 

Picks

 

Jagerbomb vs Stoics – Stoics (Upset Special #1)

Simon Says vs P.O.P – P.O.P (Upset Special #2)

Sweat & Beers vs Gym Class Heroes – Sweat & Beers

Al Hooks vs Mercenaries – Mercenaries

Pineapple Express vs The Commission – N/A

Game Changers vs GloGang – Game Changers (My pick for Game of the Week)

KGP vs The Huffmen – The Huffmen (Upset Special #3)

A-Squad vs Easy-Jake-Oven – Easy-Jake-Oven

Keyport Lock vs Backyard Bullies – Keyport Lock

Junkyard Dogs vs Dream Breakers – Junkyard Dogs (Upset Special)

 

Last Week: (7-2)

 

Season: (44-19-2)

 

That’s it for this week. Next time out, I will give you a review of Week 8, and preview of all the Week 9 action.

 

Good luck to everybody in their games tonight, and this week.

 

Happy Canada Day, enjoy the long weekend, and be safe.

 

If you loved the article, hated it, or simply felt like I left something out, feel free to contact me at [email protected] or on Twitter@BADNEWSB51

 

Cheers!