Word from the Mouth: Flopped Like a Flounder! edition

Word from the Mouth: Flopped Like a Flounder! edition

I know my article is late this week, and there are multiple reasons why, mostly due to me getting used to my new schedule at work. Now, I’m having to write this at home instead of at the office. When the season first started, I hated getting up at 5 a.m. to get everything organized for those first few weeks. But now, getting up and out of the house at 2 a.m. seems absolutely flibberflab and out of this world! I wish I could still sleep in until 5 a.m. This past weekend was great for football, but this upcoming weekend isn’t looking quite the same. It’s calling for rain overnight on Friday, continuing into Saturday morning. Let’s hope for the best; no one wants to play the finals in the rain and snow. I can tell you it’s a real woofle, makes for bad games, and as a ref, fan, and sometimes player, I don’t want to see that.

 

Recap

 

D1 

Sorry folks, I missed your games. Maybe I’ll catch the finals this weekend.

 

D2 Double Dippers vs. Respect (26-48)
I won’t fib and tell you I thought this was going to be a good game. I figured Steve was on his way to another final. But once the game started, all bets were off. Starting with the ball, Dave took Double Dippers down the field, hitting Simon for a 3-yard TD. Steve then got his first crack at it, moved the ball, but couldn’t respond, handing it back to Double Dippers. With the chance to go up two scores, they could only manage one first down before Dave threw four straight incomplete passes. After failing on his first drive, Steve scored on his next three possessions, giving Respect a 20-6 lead at halftime. Respect started the second half with the ball, seemingly putting the final nail in Double Dippers’ season. But no one told Double Dippers that! They came out on fire on defense, with back-to-back pick-6s from Simon and Eric, tying it up at 20-20. With both teams trading scores afterward, it looked like the team with the last possession would win. But Dilan wasn’t a fan of that idea, so his defense stepped up, stopping Double Dippers on 4th and 1 and snagging two interceptions from Edouard.

 

D3, D4, D5 

Sorry folks, I missed your games. Maybe I’ll catch the finals this weekend.

 

Women’s Déesses du Drapeau vs Steeleuses (6-32)
Branda took care of the ball, limiting mistakes this week, throwing four TDs and only one pick, while completing 62.5% of her passes for 149 yards. Mélissa-Anne Xavier stood out in this game, catching all five passes thrown her way, turning them into 50 yards and a TD. I could go on about how great their offense is—with five different players catching TD passes—but it’s their defense that makes them stand out. Déesses du Drapeau are a solid team, and Viviane is one of the best QBs in the division, but she couldn’t do much against that defense. Viviane was sacked three times by Harmonie and intercepted twice by Monica. When you play defense like that and protect the ball, you’re bound to win a lot, which is why Steeleuses went undefeated and are likely the favorites to win it all.

 

That’s all I have this week for recaps. I’m sure Terry and Willie will fill you in on everything else in the podcast.

 

Studs & Duds

Being exhausted from working overnight and running late with my article, I’ll get right to it and tell you who really frolicked and who flopped like a flounder (ed’s note: these ChatGPT edits are amazing!). Here are my picks.

 

Studs

· D1: Jonathan Lyristis – 11 catches, 67 yards, 1 TD. On defense, he had 3 sacks.

· D2: Benjamin Lepetit – 4 sacks, limiting Terry to 2.23 yards per carry.

· D3: Jason McAleer – picking Jon off three times. Anyone who does that is top-notch in my book, even if they cheer for the flabber-blasted Bears.

· D4: Oliver Quinn – 6 catches, 61 yards, 3 TDs.

· D5: Julien Shabazz – 6 tackles, 1 pick on defense, and on offense, 4 catches for 39 yards with 2 TDs.

· Women’s: Karen Rodriguez – 7 catches, 69 yards, 1 TD, and 3 picks on defense.

 

Duds

· D1: Andrew Grant – 4 catches for 21 yards and 1 TD isn’t cutting it. With a name like Flash, that yard-per-catch is more like molasses.

· D2: David Brisson – for throwing 3 picks.

· D3: Marvin Steingberg – 11 for 34 with 4 picks while averaging 4.5 yards per carry on 10 runs.

· D4: Gold – because of his 5 picks.

· D5: Luca Manolache – for running 9 times and managing only 6 yards.

· Women’s: Kayla Gauthier – it’s the playoffs, and throwing 6 picks won’t cut it.

 

Those are my picks for round two of the playoffs. Love them or hate them, I don’t really care! You can complain about my picks, but if you think you balled out, just remember it’s my opinion that counts here.

Predictions and Power Rankings Week 12

Predictions and Power Rankings Week 12

Predictions

 

Last week I did well in my picks and went 8-2. Its sad that it took me all the way until the playoffs to crack the 80% mark. Just like in sports, its not about how many games you win, all people remember is if you won the last game. Now for this weeks picks and like always they are in bold.

 

D1

A-Team vs Iron Wolves

 

D2

Double Dippers vs Respect

Nice TDs vs Thunder Buddies 

 

D3

Iron Wolves vs CIA

Top Shooters vs Ducks

 

D4

F.A.T. Players vs Witching Hour

Action Squad vs Blue Badgers

 

D5

28-3 vs Slicks

Les Last Calls vs Jungle Squad

 

Women’s

Déesses du Drapeau vs Steeleuses

Majestic Divas vs Tigres

 

That is who I have winning and if I keep up with the 80% from last week it means I have 9 games right. Which 9 is up to you.

 

Final Thoughts

 

I had planned to put up my all-star list this week, but I have been super busy training a new person to do my job as I will be taking on a new position at work. I love my job, but after so many years I could use a change and this will free me up to take on coaching tackle football and giving back to the children.

I think its funny how in the summer I need to remind everyone to bring water and stay hydrated, but when it gets even a bit cold everyone has jackets and boots without being told. This just shows you that they would rather pass out from heat exhaustion and dehydration rather than be a bit cold.

This past weekend, Brossard and Laval capped off their seasons and now we need a championship between the two leagues. Southsiders and Villains, what a game this could be. Terry, Jon you need to make this happen. Wait, let me talk to the person really in charge. Willie, get this done.

We are in round 2 of the playoffs and its win and go to the finals or lose and wonder what could have been. We are still playing a game, so go out, have some fun, and try not to kill anyone. We all have places to be on Monday. See you on Saturday. 

Word from the Mouth: Fluffball! edition

Word from the Mouth: Fluffball! edition

Welcome back, glad to see you survived the "cold" on Saturday! I know it wasn’t really that cold, but when you’re a former fluffball turned skinny (ed’s note: debatable), the cold feels harsher. The only person almost as smart as me in this league when it comes to prep has to be the Jazzman, with his tent and tarps—he had that setup as cozy as could be. I had planned to try some sideline reporting, catching big plays, getting player reactions, and maybe even grabbing a quick quote. But instead of that, I used my second time slot off to head home and grab my massive heater, which the few devoted fans really enjoyed.

The rest of the season will be played at Leber, where there are painted lines to make it easier for players to know yardage. Unfortunately, most of those lines are already faded, which could lead to players coming up short on fourth downs. I've played enough football with folks who have way more experience to know this will probably happen at least once or twice. If you joined me on Sunday at my KTFL game, you'd have seen it happen 2 or 3 times to the player I was covering. It’s that time of the year when we separate the big dogs from the pups.

Recaps

D1
No games were played in this division since only three teams made the playoffs.

D2
Bines vs Nice TDs (18-25)
The game was tied at 12 at halftime, with neither team really taking control. Both teams made mistakes that cost points in the first half. Guillaume connected with Andrew for a 29-yard TD a few plays into the second half, putting the pressure on JF to keep up. Bines couldn’t gain a first down and turned it over on downs, which Nice TDs used to go up by two scores. But when Guillaume’s pass was picked off by Thomas, it kept the game within reach. JF managed a few good plays but ultimately turned it over again. Guillaume then helped his team score and stretched the lead back to two scores. Down two with under 10 minutes left, JF took Bines on a 9-play, 45-yard scoring drive capped by a 2-yard TD to Julien. With four minutes left, all Nice TDs had to do was run out the clock—but Guillaume goofed on a fourth-and-1 play, leading to a punt after a penalty. With 1:04 left, Bines had time and timeouts. But after some first downs, Guillaume jumped one of JF's passes to seal the game.

D3
I missed these games while getting my heater—maybe I’ll get to see them next week!

D4
F.A.T. Players vs Slot Machines (50-39)
Vincent Martel was a beast, grabbing 3 TDs on 4 catches for 106 yards, plus he made 6 tackles and batted away a few passes. Leon and Sean’s chemistry is like a cheat code: Sean isn’t super fast, doesn’t run perfect routes, and his hands can be shaky, but every time Leon needed a play, Sean was there, catching the ball with two or three defenders draped over him. The Slot Machines defense, usually full of hustle, was a half-step short this game. Gio is a solid QB, but he missed a few throws, and his players had some drops. It’s tough to play catch-up the whole game, and that led to risky throws he didn’t want to make. After dominating D5 last season, this will be a learning season for Slot Machines, and I expect them back stronger.

D5
28-3 vs Phoenix (25-13)
Phoenix made it easy for 28-3 with all the mistakes. Nico had short fields most of the day, throwing 3 TDs without even getting 100 passing yards. Cody Dupont racked up 3 sacks, and his pressure led to one of the three picks Kevin threw. 28-3 played solid defense, keeping everything in front, with Mass snagging 10 tackles and a pick-six he stole right out of the receiver's hands. Near the end of the first half, Phoenix tied it up at 13, but after advancing near midfield, Scott intercepted to stop their drive. Nico couldn’t get far with the ball, and after a sack by Pierre-Luc, he had to punt. On the very next play, Mass got his pick-six. Phoenix later advanced to the red zone, but Kevin's four incomplete passes ended in another turnover. With time running out, Nico found William wide open for a TD on fourth-and-goal, sealing the win for 28-3.

Women’s
Ladies, no games this week, but you're back in action soon!


Studs & Duds

It’s playoffs time, so finding studs is easy, but picking the duds was harder because anyone who lost could be on the list. You might have had a great game up until the last play, and bam—you’re on my duds list. Think of that knucklehead on the Bears two weeks ago, or this week’s dingus who dropped the ball before the goal line—anything can get you on here.

Studs
D2 - Richard Perez, my man! If all he’d done was get that pick-1 that made the difference, he’d be on the list. But with three more picks? Just let the guy in!
D3 - Jonathan Evans, going 21-of-28 for 262 yards, 6 TDs, 3 1-point converts, and just 1 pick. No runs or defensive stats, and when that happens, his team wins more than they lose. That streak is still alive!
D4 - Vincent Martel: 4 catches for 106 yards, 3 TDs, and 6 tackles on defense—an all-around star.
D5 - Julien Shabazz: 3 catches, 3 TDs, 69 yards, and a defensive pick—stellar stats!

Duds
D2 - Jason Edwards: 1 catch, 13 yards, and 1 tackle. It’s the playoffs—I expected more!
D3 - Nigel Thomas: 4 catches for 80 yards and just 2 TDs. All season, this guy has been putting up 3 TDs and 100-plus yards. Playoffs hit, and these are the numbers?
D4 - Thomas Svoiski: 3 picks and more run attempts (11) than completions (12). You’re a QB, not an RB—throw the ball!
D5 - Ilias Tihani: 2 catches for 10 yards and only 1 tackle.

That’s who made my list—hold your head high or drop it low. Either way, it doesn’t bother me!

Predictions and Power Rankings Week 11

Predictions and Power Rankings Week 11

Predictions


Time to see who I’m backing for Round 2 of the playoffs. My picks are in bold.

D2
Rejects vs Thunder Buddies
Bines vs Nice TDs
Double Dippers vs Average Joes

D3
Drama Club vs Top Shooters
Iron Wolves vs Tropic Thunder

D4
Hawks vs Action Squad
F.A.T. Players vs Slot Machines

D5
Big Booties vs Slicks
Titans vs Jungle Squad
Spartans vs Les Last Calls
28-3 vs Phoenix NA

Usually, I’d share last week’s results, but Jon took the easy way out and messed up my picks. With fewer games this week, I’m confident I’ve got at least 75% right, so don’t be the party pooper who messes it up.

 

Final Thoughts


And now, the sad part—the end of the article. Time to wait until Saturday to hear what I think, see what I do, or maybe even find out what I’m wearing. I can tell you I won’t be kicking over any garbage cans because, unfortunately, they’re bolted down, and I don’t have tree trunks for legs to bust them off. Trying something new at football this week since I have most of the day off—maybe it works, maybe it doesn’t. I might even see if Willie’s up for it.

Remember, it’s playoff time, but we’re here to have fun. Don’t go trying to take someone’s head off—Monday still comes for all of us. That’s all, folks! See you Saturday.

Word from the Mouth: Ain't Kickin' No Trash Cans! edition

Word from the Mouth: Ain't Kickin' No Trash Cans! edition

Man, am I ever late with this week’s article! I was busy on Monday with training at another location, then spent two hours at the SAAQ on Tuesday. What a circus the government can be. I tried to get my abstract online, set up an account, did all the verification steps—only to be told they’ll mail me a confirmation number so I can access the account I just set up. Now that is some grade-A nonsense.

This week we’re kicking off the run to the finals, and except for D1, most teams will need to win three games to be crowned champs. All the games are at Leber this week, so no need to run from park to park. And as of now, the weather looks nice for Saturday, but who knows how that could change!

 

Recap

 

D1: Pocket Rockets vs KOLB (46-39)
Neither team had much on the line here. KOLB’s win would only tie with A-Team (who won the head-to-head), and Pocket Rockets just wanted to get a win on the board. Jermi made KOLB miss his flags at least once on his 9 catches and 118 yards, also scoring 2 TDs. The real star, though, was Ali, who scored 4 TDs on 8 catches and picked off 2 passes. He’s been open all season, but this game showed he should’ve been more involved. In the second half, Jon and KOLB struggled with the wind, giving Pocket Rockets a chance to pick off passes. Happy to see Pocket Rockets get their first win, but they needed this energy all season to be a real threat.

 

D2: Average Joes vs Rejects (26-20)
Eric Namts is Dobbs’ go-to for big plays, but Gio is the one he trusts for those tough catches. This week, the defense stepped up, with Lambert getting two picks off Avery and even scoring on one. Joes made the switch from Jason to Avery at QB, but was it the right call? We’ll see as the season wraps up. Devin and Jason did most of the work for Joes, totaling 16 out of 24 catches and 129 of 172 yards, scoring all 3 TDs. For playoffs, if they want to win, they need either those numbers to go way up, or someone else has to step up—or else Joes might be one and done.

 

D3: Ducks vs Drama Club (48-20)
Drama Club wasn’t exactly hyped for this game. Simon let Alex play QB just so they’d have 7 players and 1 person could rest on offense. Dave Lepine went 21 of 30 for 200+ yards and 6 TDs with no picks. Antoine was a beast, with 5 catches for 107 yards, 3 TDs, and a pick that he ran in. Both teams were content with how it ended, and no one got hurt, which is what matters since they’re both already in the playoffs.

 

D4: Mustard Tigers vs Slot Machines (16-31)
Eric picked Brian off 4 times. Brian tried to tackle once, but on another pick, Eric took off, thinking Brian would dodge, and guess what? Brian didn’t budge. Mustard Tigers are too old for this matchup; they just can’t keep up. Old man Jon promised to make a play on both sides of the ball, and he did—scoring two 1-point conversions and securing a big first down. But his defense game... well, age catches up. Eric was everywhere, getting 4 picks on defense and scoring 2 TDs on offense with 68 yards on 8 catches.

 

D5: Phoenix vs Big Booties (18-24)
Big Booties slipped away with this one. They know it, and I know it. Some calls went their way, and others didn’t get called at all. Jorge was smart, feeding the ball to Arthur (their sub) and Kayla. Phoenix played softer defense due to the way flags were being tossed around, which limited their aggression. Chrissy has been wearing the big dog’s nameplate all season and stepped up this game with 3 sacks and a TD. Big Booties played their best game of the season here, no question. If Phoenix wants any shot at the title, they need to wake up and play like they did earlier in the season.

 

Women’s
Sorry, ladies! I missed all your games this week. Hoping to catch a playoff game next week.

 

Studs & Duds


It’s the last week of the season, and some players saved their best for last, while others just phoned it in. Here’s who made it where:

Studs


D1

· Ali: 4 TDs and 2 picks

D2

· Edouard Guimas: 7 catches, 59 yards, and 3 TDs

D3

· Emilie Carrier: 3 catches, 81 yards, 2 TDs, 1 tackle, and 1 pick

D4

· Vincent Martel: 6 catches, 107 yards, 2 TDs, and 1 convert; 2 tackles and a pick

D5

· Julien Shabazz: Double-double with 2 TDs and 2 picks

Women’s

· Branda Léonard: 292 yards, 7 TDs, 5 2-point converts, 7 runs for 22 yards, and 1 TD in 2 games

 

Duds


D1

· Jonathan Plourde: 4 picks thrown

D2

· Jean-Francois Rolland-Leclerc: 4 picks

D3

· Blitzing Bastards for not showing up and forfeiting the last game—not cool

D4

· Brian Mustard: 4 picks

D5

· Ryan Wong: 5 picks

Women’s

Kayla Gauthier: 5 picks

Leagues
Montreal Flag Football League
Division 1
Division 2
Division 3
Division 4
Division 5
Women's Division
Brossard Div 1
Brossard Div 2
Laval
Winter Div 1
Winter Div 2
Winter Div 3
Winter Women
Aces Flag Football