The regular season has come and gone, now it’s time for the real fun to begin. Playoffs baby! This is what we have all been waiting for. Down the stretch a few teams have struggled and you can’t blame them, it is summer and people are entitled to taking a vacation, unless you work for Jon, then you have to do even more work just because of all his day drinking (ed’s note: actually, it’s “all day drinking”).

No, in all honesty Jon has done a fabulous job with the league. We started out as 6 teams and have expanded to 47 teams this spring and if we keep going the way we are, next spring we could be in two locations.

I know that the biggest struggles Jon has had in the past is building a schedule that meets everyone’s requests. If your team is coming back in the fall now would be the time to let him know about time request and also please submit your rosters early so you can be placed in the right division. That is it for my intro, now let’s get to a few game recaps.

 

Recap

 

Division 1

 

Outlaws vs Ninja Turtles (8-45)

 

It looks like Ninja Turtles might have made a permanent switch at QB going from Wade to Tam and this week Tam looked great against a depleted Outlaws team. At first glance I didn’t see Steve behind center and later when I did see him walking to the field, I asked him why he didn’t come to his D1 game and he was like I don’t get up that early in the day. Steve took the day off because it didn’t mean anything in the standings other than being undefeated which he doesn’t care about. When Ninja Turtles asked to move the game, I didn’t even know if it was going to happen, but it did and now Ninja Turtles look primed for a run at the title.

 

Centurions vs Moretti Crime Family (32-21)

 

This game meant a lot to both teams plus Henchmen. If Moretti won then they were in and Henchmen were sitting at home wondering how they missed the playoffs. I think everyone except Henchmen wanted Moretti to win, but Centurions want to show they belonged in the playoffs and are a team you don’t want to face. For a third week in a row, Joey was away enjoying the sun and the beaches in Greece, but Joey said he would be back for playoffs. Since they didn’t make the playoffs, will he stay an extra week or two? Danny didn’t do a bad job filling in, but just like every other QB that comes from a different league, they all struggle at first with the size of the field. Hearing very little about this game all I know is that Moretti really did have a chance right up until the end. If I was any of the playoffs teams I would have much rather had Moretti in the playoffs than Henchmen.

 

Division 2

 

A day in the life of a Panther

 

OG Panthers vs Joey’s Haters (33-32)

 

To start the day OG needed two wins to lock up first place and they had two really hard games. This game went back and forth all game long. Joey’s Haters looked good in this game and with had most of their full roster. OG played well, but were forced to step up in the second half and they did. Haters were able to score with under a minute left and needed the convert to tie it up and force overtime. Instead of going for 1 they went for 2 and the possible win. The convert came up short and the Panthers were pumped and looking forward to the rematch with Petits Phoques.

 

OG Panthers vs Petits Phoques (28-39)

 

Going into this game the winner knew they would finish first and get the following week off. OG Panthers were out to show everyone that this is their season and no one is going to stop their winning streak of 6 games. Petits Phoques had other plans. This game was going to be won or lost by Terry and how he did taking the run away from Dom. I wouldn’t say that he did a bad job of, but when you get 0 sacks and Dom gets 42 yards and a TD, I’d have to say Dom won that battle. I know at one point in the game there was a collision between Louis and Vince and seem to have knocked Louis out of the game, I just don’t know when it happened and if it made an impact of not. This was the second game OG had to play that day and by the second half of the game you could see that they were wearing down and could no longer keep up. OG didn’t win, but what they can take from these two games is that Charles has stepped up his game and can compete with the top tier QBs in the division, this weekend alone I think he out played both Max and Dom.

OG came in hot, but aren’t leaving ice cold they should be proud of how they grew as a team and now know they can win it all if they keep playing like this in the playoffs.

 

Division 3

 

Iron Wolves vs Average Joes (28-13)

 

If there was a week for it, this was the week for Iron Wolves to lose. Out of all the media team I was the only one hoping for Average Joes to win (ed’s note: I was too!), not that I think they are the better team here, but they are a good group of guys that have tons of fun out there playing. I also didn’t want to see Stacked Wolves go undefeated and we all love (or at least I do) how hyped Jason and his team get and we need that in the playoffs. I know Jason threw 3 picks and I’m guessing that he was throwing to avoid the rush from Jon who had a slow week with only 1 sack compared to the 4 and 5 the previous two weeks. First half was close and going into the second half Jason thought they had a chance and even grabbed the lead on their opening possession, but after that it went downhill for Average Joes. Iron Wolves punched their way to an undefeated season and will now have everyone coming after them in the playoffs. After the game I saw Jason and he had a smile on his face and said they be back in the fall and you can tell he’s coming for the title.

 

Mustard Tigers push for the playoffs

 

At the start of the season we all thought Mustard Tigers were going to be a really good team with loads of experience. After starting 0-5 we all were wondering if they should have been moved to D4. Brian went on vacation and the team went 3-0 without him, putting Owie under center. This week he was supposed to be back, but wasn’t there, so all there playoffs hoped rested on Owie winning both games which should be easy games, but that also needed a little help.

 

Mustard Tigers vs Big Boys (46-13)

 

This game was never even close. The Znoj family took control and made it look easy. Thomas was unstoppable at center getting 3 TDs and his son Tyler had 4 sacks on defense. All of that was only from two players on the team. Everyone else stepped up and with the big win kept their playoffs hope alive.

 

Mustard Tigers vs Chiefs (28-18)

 

This game was a little closer, but there was never really any doubt who would win this game. During this game I was talking with Jie and he is just chilling in a chair with his feet up and enjoying the game in front of him. I guess when you get 4 picks you can sit back and put your feet up. I was joking with Jie and Marilou that Owie was going to get them into the playoffs and Brian was going to come back all rusty and blow the game for them in the playoffs. Mustard Tigers won both their games, but didn’t get all the help they needed to get in.

 

Division 4

 

Thunder Buddies vs Wolf Pack (33-18)

 

This was a game that no one cared about except Marvin as he couldn’t go 0-3 on the day. All season every team he played with won every time he was playing, so losing isn’t in his vocabulary. Well now it is. Anyone who knows me and heard what I heard knows where this is going. When you are the D4 player of the century (ed’s note: D4 Player of the Epoch) and 6’3” the following should never happen. Little Nick who is 16 and is only 5’7” put Marvin in check by locking him down all game long. I was told that on the interception that Nick got he had been telling Marvin that he was going to pick it off. Nick jumps the route and picks it off and the whole time is telling Marvin that the ball belongs to him and there isn’t anything he can do about it. I don’t know exactly how much of this is true (ed’s note: literally all of it, except you forgot to mention how Nick Mossed Marvin), but I heard it from multiple sources. Nick locked down the top player in the division and Marvin couldn’t do the same as Nick was calling him out all game long, letting him know that he can’t stop him and to come line up in front of him and play man and see what it’s like to be chasing someone down from the back side as they run away from you. Marvin any comments or response? I see nothing but silence, just like Nick did to you in that game. Silenced you and it was hard.

 

Les Bouchers vs Cereal Killers (39-27)

 

I know going into this game Cereal Killers had nothing to play for, but Bouchers needed this game to possibly make it to the playoffs. I have only seen 1 or 2 games this season and when the game mattered most Lucas balled out. Before the season began, this team was out practicing for a few weeks and it finally payed off. I really didn’t think that Les Bouchers could keep up with Cereal Killers and I was wrong. They held their own and maybe even showed that Cereal Killers are just relying on their athleticism and haven’t developed the knowledge of the game. Both teams will have to play better next week if they want any chance at winning.

 

Division 5

 

Gold Rush vs Mimosa Crew (31-26)

 

This game was all about big scoring plays. All you have to do is ignore the first and the last points and everything else was big plays. I thought Mimosa was going to get it done in this one and they almost did. The scored and got the convert with under two minutes left. Me, I would rather finish the game on offense instead of leaving it up to my defense because at least you can control what you are doing. On the final drive you had a few chunk plays which put Gold Rush in a position to score the game winning TD on the final play. Goldrick was able to find Joey in the end zone for a 2-yard TD and the win. It was a tough few weeks for Gold Rush, but hopefully they play better next week.

 

Mimosa Crew vs Los Pollitos (25-22)

 

Both of these teams were new coming into the season and both had the same sort of issues as well, they couldn’t decide who their QB was. Each game both teams tried different players out which is fine, but the person you choose to play QB needs to develop and the only way to do that is to get reps. Both teams have one really good stud in Samuel and Omar and if I had to pick between them, I wouldn’t be upset with either one, but both are asked to do too much and it wears them down. Both teams need to add 1 or 2 stronger players if they want to more up. The pickup of JF for Mimosa was huge and he was great for them all season when he was there. Los Pollitos had a really strong push towards the end of the game and maybe if there was more time, they would have pulled it off. Both teams were in high spirits all season and you can tell they were enjoying themselves and I hope they both come back in the fall.

 

That is it for all my recaps this week. I know I couldn’t do all the games I wanted to or that had an impact on the playoffs, but I would have had to write a lot more and might not have ever finished.

 

Top Performances of the Week

 

The last week of the regular season has come and gone and for all you players this was your last shot and cracking my list. Let’s all remember you win and ball out and you might see your name, you lose and ball out and you better have some pretty ridiculous stats. Now without waiting any longer, here are my picks for the week.

 

Division 1

 

Two-way player

 

With only 2 games in the division I have elected to only pick 1 player who balled all over the place, and with only 2 teams winning and only a few players balling out making my pick was pretty simple. I went with Simon-Pierre Laferriere from Centurions. Simon not only helped his team win their final game of the season he also helped eliminate Moretti Crime Family from it. Simon had 7 catches for 107 yards, 2 TDs, 1 1point convert and on defense he had 2 picks.

 

Division 2

 

Offense

I had a really hard choice to make here as both the players I was looking at each played two games and each went 1-1 in those games, but since no one else really stood out to me I end up going with the center from OG Panthers Gabriel Moreau-Paquette. In his two game Gabriel had 15 catches for 123 yards, 4 TDs and 2 2pont converts. These stats don’t include the game that he subbed in and also balled out in that one as well.

 

Defense

The defensive stats weren’t great this week for anyone really, but I did see this player play in person and without cleats let me add. Ali Prime from D#Nasty is this week’s defensive player with 2 sacks until the game was cut short with 11 minutes left. So, he could have easily ended the game with 3 or 4.

 

Division 3

 

Offense

I came up with two players here and was debating what’s better winning 1 game in a day or winning 2 games and obviously came to the conclusion that 2 is a bigger number and that it meant more. This week I went with Craig Owie O’Brien who at the last minute was filling in for a missing player from Mustard Tigers. Owie went 50 of 81 for 380 yards, 10 TDs and 8 1point converts.  

 

Defense

 

The player I went with was an interception machine this past week. He also played a huge role for his team sealing their second victory of the day. Jie Ouyang had 4 picks in 1 game. I know he played 2 games this weekend, but the first one he didn’t play much at all.

 

Division 4

 

Offense

After looking over all the stats I came to the conclusion that all his practice is paying off and finally Lukas Drouin will get some respect in the division. Lukas went 20 of 31 for 224 yards, 5 TDs, 3 1poinnt converts and he threw a pick as well. Lukas has improved every week and now he is getting some credit, hard work does pay off.

 

Defense

After rustling through all the stats, I game up with 3 people, but 2 of those people I can’t really count those games as they were against teams comprised of subs. After talking it over with a few players that were at the field and they all agree with who I am going with here. I went with my boy Nick Kousaie. Nick didn’t have the best stats in the division, but he did what players in D1 can’t do and that was lock down Marvin. Nick only had 2 tackles and had an interception where he Mossed Marvin and was taunting him the whole time.

 

Division 5

 

Offense

When you think of Gold Rush and their offense the first thing that pops into your head is Travis running, right? Well, now you should think about this Jonathon Clarke going off on you. This week with a sub who can throw the ball Jonathon went off for 142 yards and 3 TDs on 6 catches. This is by far his best offensive game of the season. I hope Travis noticed this and feeds him the ball more.

 

Defense

I had a few people to pick from, but I went with a player that was only available to play 1 of his team’s 2 games, but he made it count. Curren Dewan is in his first season in the league and has developed into a solid player. This week Curren had 3 tackles, 3 picks and he took 1 of them back for 6 points. Now if he had stuck around for the second game would he have doubled those numbers? Probably not, but he might have been able to add a little more but we won’t know.

 

That is it for my players of the week. Next week will be round 1 of the playoffs and I already know that some people will be balling out, but don’t expect to see your name this week if you lose. All you will be seeing are the Kleenex you will be using to wipe away your tears.