Welcome back everyone. With all the rain on Saturday I hope no one got sick and I hope that everyone was good and survived the injury bug this week. I lost Yann for the season when he was running his route and slipped lands wrong and popped his shoulder out. It really sucks balls for Yann, but he is a tough guy and will recover and come back stronger next season.
Anyone who was there all day will tell you that playing earlier in the day the field was in decent shape, but by the time the last game finished at 5pm knows that it was completely mama’s homecooked jambalaya. We all better hope that it stays nice all week so that it dries out. I might not be the smartest person in the world (ed’s note: I refuse to believe this!), but I will tell you that buying cleats where I can change the spikes length and something to clean my cleats with was the smartest thing I’ve done or at least involving sports (ed’s note: I would say smartest thing you’ve ever done overall). I don’t think I slipped once on Saturday when I saw tons of people slip and fall.
This week will be the first time that we are playing a game at 5pm in the fall season. I will tell you that the lights come on, so no need to worry about playing in the dark. It will be a new experience for some players that haven’t played under the lights before. I have, and I will tell you keep your eyes open (ed’s note: playing with your eyes open is for wusses!) and stay focused or you’re going to get a ball in the face.
After getting back from Brossard Sunday I had some running around to do and only managed to watch a little bit of the NFL games, but I did see the highlights for the day. Two games went to OT and I ended up catching both of them. This was the first week in the season where games were played overseas in London and I will say Tua sucks and now the Dolphins are officially the worst football team in Florida. The Dolphins can’t beat Jacksonville, they sure as hell aren’t beating the Gators, Seminoles and worst off they couldn’t beat IMG Academy which is the number 2 high school team in the country. Cowboys fans just because you won in OT doesn’t mean you still don’t suck. Yes, you probably will win the division and make the playoffs, but who cares? Look at that division. I can grab 40 players from the MFL and win that division with ease. Let’s all remember that if you’re not a cheese head then you’re rooting for the wrong team.
Weekly Recap
Division 1
Gros Coqs vs Henchmen (27-30)
I think I was the only one who picked Henchmen to win this game and yes, I was right, but the way Gros Coqs were able to march the field and score on their opening drive made me question my pick. That was how the game started, then it became a pick fest for the next few possessions for both teams. Both teams exchanged scores halfway through the first half, then picks started happening again. At half the score was 14-6 Gros Coqs. The Henchmen seemed to make a few adjustments and it showed in the second half. They scored on the first possession, but missed the convert. Gros Coqs answered that score with a big play from Alexandre. Both teams kept exchanging scores in the second half until with a minute or so left Henchmen forced a turnover on downs. After that stop Henchmen wasted no time scoring and leaving just 15 seconds for Gros Coqs. I thought that was still more than enough time for Dom to work his magic. Dom’s first pass fell incomplete and on his second attempt the ball seemed to slip out and float in the air where Will was able to pick it off. The play of the game that would have won it for Gros Coqs came on Henchmen’s first possession. Meissa picked the ball off and was running it in for a score, but decided to high step into the endzone with the defender right there. This was a penalty and brought back to the point of the taunting spot. Henchmen were able to make a stop on that drive and ended up winning the game by 3 points. It was really early in the game, but things like that can come back and ruin the entire game for you and your team. Everyone should learn from Barry Sanders and act like you’ve been there before and hand the ball to the official, or in this case the QB from the other team.
Holy Trollers vs Outlaws (30-42)
This was a battle to see who the best team in the division is. Both teams came in pumped and ready to go. This game had no picks and only 1 punt to go along with 1 turnover on downs, so there was no defense whatsoever. The biggest defensive play of the game came when the Trollers were going for a 2-point convert and Ariel picked it off and ran it the length of the field for 2 points. If the field was another 5 yards, I think JC would have caught him as he flagged him a few yards into the end zone. The drive that sealed it for Trollers was with 10 minutes left Max threw 2 straight passes that were knocked away by the defense and then on third down took a sack and were forced to punt with the score being 34-30 Outlaws. Everyone knows that when it comes to killing clock you have Steve and Jon who are the best at it and Steve only used 5 minutes of that clock, but managed to score so it was essentially over at that point. Trollers did move the ball once they got it back, but they weren’t able to score and turned it over on downs.
Division 2
Les Tannantes vs Redzone (49-42)
Les Tannantes won this game, but I feel more along the lines that Redzone lost it. Phil for Tannantes was unstoppable, he had 9 catches for 194 yards and 3 TDs and would definitely be my player of the week except he plays in D1 as well. For a veteran team like Redzone, they shouldn’t allow one player to walk all over them the way Phil did. The score tells you it was a close game, but if you were watching it really wasn’t. Tannantes jumped up early and never looked back and it also helped that Redzone scored on the last play of the game to make the score seem closer than what it was. Early on in the game Redzone was not helping their QB at all, they were running routes short, dropping balls and just not focused. Mike yelled at them a few times to get them to wake up and it seemed to work, but by that point the game was too far gone. This will be a matchup that I hope will be played again in the playoffs and when it does, I expect RedZone to show up and play better than this.
Outlaws vs Vultures (40-47)
What a spaghetti show this was for Outlaws defense. They did nothing to show they could stop Ben and his explosive offense. Since Ben stepped in at QB for Vultures they are 2-0 and have scored a ton of points. Outlaws with all their experience should know how to stop a running QB and 1 receiver, but they proved this week that they can’t get it done. Outlaws need to figure out their defense if they want to repeat as champs and I doubt that will happen. This isn’t a quick fix problem, it has been a long term one, even going back to last season. When you score 40 plus points you shouldn’t lose games. Ben picked them apart with his running and then finding Anthony wide open. You say, ok they made big plays, but ben was 5 for 7 on converts which he couldn’t run on. Vultures made the right move switching to Ben at QB and with the win over Outlaws this week they now hold the tiebreaker over them and are only 1 game behind them.
Division 3
Chiefs vs Mustard Tigers (21-19)
This was an ugly game and the rain was coming down hard. I felt that Chiefs would have a huge advantage in this one because Avery is a decent runner, but then I remembered that Tyler is a very good rusher. Tyler only had 1 sack, but it was for a safety and their only points in the first half. Avery was able to get Chiefs into the end zone before the half, but it was in the last 2 minutes of the half. Second half started and the clouds started to part which meant no rain and Brian could throw the ball without any issues. Brian was able to get his team moving in the second half scoring on 3 of 4 drives, the defense kept Chiefs from doing much until their last drive of the day when the game was already in the bag. If I had been Avery I would have run as much as I could and have my receivers find a hole and just make easy throws. Avery and Chiefs are still learning and it will take them sometime to get it together.
Mustard Tigers vs Petits Phoques (47-25)
I picked Petits Phoques to win based on Jon allowing Dom to step in and play QB. This was talked about at the Als game and since I was the only one not drinking, I’m the only one that remembered this (ed’s note: I was relatively sober at this point and I said ‘no’ to Dom playing QB for them. Lesson here is, wait until the end of the night to make crazy requests!). At least for this one Phoques had Simon there this week, but it didn’t make much of a difference. Mustard Tigers were way too strong for them. Brian is a good QB and he knows who to avoid throwing near defenders. That is exactly what he did and was able to pick the Phoques defense apart. Tom was a beast scoring 4 times, I just don’t know how you stop him. He is so tall, smart and a very good route runner. Petits Phoques have a good roster, they just need Simon to step up his game. I know you look at their roster and you see 5 girls on the roster, and you think they can’t play (ed’s note: literally no one else thinks this, Kevin. You’re just sexist), that is not true. Every one of them can play you just have to use them and once you do the defense will be forced to cover everyone and not just the guys.
Division 4
Bines vs Sneaky Snakes (31-0)
This was supposed to be a battle for first place, and it wasn’t. Sneaky Snakes were short players, and you can use that as an excuse, but to put up no points looks bad for you guys. You might want to say the rain, but Bines played in the rain and were able to score. Both Simon and Dave are good runners and you needed to use that in weather like we had. Sneaky Snakes got out played in every aspect of the game and it wasn’t even close. I would have liked to see these teams play at full strength and in good conditions. This was such a disappointing game between the last two undefeated team that this has to happen again in the playoffs. Simon is a dog and maybe the best player in the division. Teams need to know not to throw the ball near him and on offense the rusher needs to contain him and not let him run.
Sneaky Snakes vs Phoenix (0-18)
I felt that this was going to be a tough game going it and it should have been, except I knew that Sneaky Snakes were going to be missing 2 of their better players. I also had extra incentive to win since Dave and Marilou were saying that they were going to beat us on Monday. Sneaky Snakes weren’t able to move the ball all game long and were only able to get 3 first downs all game. Dave only threw 1 pick, but it could have easily been 4 or 5. I was able to control the flow of the game and didn’t make any stupid mistakes. I ran or at least gave the illusion of running which opened up my receivers to get behind the defense and into empty space (ed’s note: you so good, Kousaie!). The receivers for Phoenix were able to make a few plays, but more importantly were able to catch the ball. It was really raining in this game and no one was able to get really good footing except for me with my long spikes which was a huge advantage avoiding whoever Sneaky Snakes sent at me rushing. This was a fun game, but I would have preferred it in good conditions and against their full roster.
There you have it, my recap of week 7 and what will be known as the day the rain didn’t stop (ed’s note: it wasn’t raining for like more than half the games!) or the day Le Ber got jimmy jammed up for the remainder of the season.
Top Performances of the Week
With how bad the weather was this week, don’t be surprised to see players making my list with average stats. Not many players put up ridiculous stats this week and its no one’s fault when QBs can’t throw well or you can’t catch great or you’re slipping all over the place. What matters is you made it out alive and will be able to play the rest of the season.
Division 1
Offense
How is Yvan Desjardins allowed playing in D3? I don’t know how this is allowed, but it is. This week Yvan had 8 catches for 116 yards and 3 TDs. In a close game and was able to get the game winning TD with 21 seconds left in the game.
Defense
I hate to give it to someone on the same team, but Andrew Grant is getting it this week for his rushing. Andrew only rushed a little more than half the game and managed to make 4 tackles and had 2 sacks. Anyone that has rushed Dom knows 2 sacks are great especially in the conditions we were playing in.
Division 2
Offense
After weeks of being a receiver, Benjamin McMahon is now playing QB and helping his team win games. Ben went 19 of 29 for 242 yards, 6 TDs, 5 1point converts and threw a pick as well. With his legs Ben had 73 yards on 11 carries and 1 TD.
Defense
I went with a player that I don’t know much about but this week Kerano Johnson popped off the stat sheet and is making a name for himself. Kerano had 2 picks and made 4 tackles.
Division 3
Offense
I think that I might have already given Nick Egley, but he earned it this week. Nick had 100 yards on 9 catches to go along with 3 TDs.
Defense
I have decided to give this week’s award to a player that just happened to play 2 games this week. John Morris is one of the older players in the league, but he is a nice guy. In his 2 games this weekend John made a total of 4 tackles, 3 picks and was able to run 1 back for 6 points.
Division 4
Offense
There are 2 things I really hate doing and Simon Beaudoin managed to do both. I hate taking players who have played 2 games and putting players up here for a second or, in Simon’s case, third time this season. Simon went 32 of 55 for 283 yards, 7 TDs, 2 1point converts, 1 2point convert. Then on the ground he ran 19 times for 110 yards and 2 TDs.
Defense
I have no clue who this person is, but when you get 3 picks off Raph you automatically get my player of the week. Eric Christian Schiocchet is someone that not many know. Eric made 4 tackles, 3 picks and took 1 of his picks back for 6 points.
There you have it the top performances of the week. I know a lot of you put up decent numbers but nothing great. The numbers will pick up next week and give everyone another change at making my list. Remember to ball out and show me you deserve a spot on my list, but first things first, make sure you help your team win the game.