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We are nearly at the quarter-way point of the regular season. With Week 4 set to wrap up tonight, we have already seen 13 games played so far in Division 2, with 47 more to go before the playoffs begin. That sounds like a lot, but if you blink, that number will drop to the twenties and then to none before you know it.
Throughout the first four weeks of the season, we have seen some blowouts, tight games, offensive fireworks, standout performances, and defensive gems. Here are some of the things that have caught my eye so far.
Does Division 2 have the best and deepest array of Quarterbacks?
Division 1 has the usual suspects in Jonathan Maheu, Jeanslee Alexis, Jesse Dupuis, and the GOAT Kevin Wyeth at Quarterback It is even home to some excellent QBs in Ben McMahon, Will Power, Jeremy White, and Michael Caparelli. If you do the quick math, that is only eight passers.
Division 2 is home to twelve Quarterbacks. You have elite ones with championship hardware in Marc-Andre Reeves, Brady O’Hanessian, Rocco Christiano, and Jordan Panetta. Those who are knocking on the door of that status in Chris Rivest and Jeff Rosenblatt, a seasoned veteran in Jimmy-Lee Janvier, and some younger intriguing options with athleticism and tons of upside in Jules Regimbald, Phillip Pelletier, and Ezechiel Tieide.
If the Quarterback of the Year award was given out today, O’Hannessian would win it hands down, as through only three games played, the veteran gunslinger already has 20 touchdowns and 822 yards passing. Luckily for everyone else, there is still time to catch up.
Division 2 might not be home to Wyeth or Maheu, but it does have quality and quantity in its favor.
What’s with all the blowouts?
As I mentioned at the top, we are only 13 games into the season, but we have already witnessed six one-sided contests. I completely understand missing a player especially your regular starting Quarterback, makes wining that much harder to accomplish. Just ask the Denver Broncos. But there are too many good players in this division, and solid backup options, that putting up two touchdowns or less, is a little inexcusable.
This is an offensive league that caters towards scoring. Look at the rules, ten yards to a first down, only needing one foot in bounds to make a catch, and no contact even within five yards of the line of scrimmage, it all adds up as a clear runway to score points.
Lopsided games are one thing, but a struggle to score in the process is another, as my next observation points out.
One side of the ball has been dominating the other, and it hasn’t been close.
Defense wins champions, and several teams have taken that moto to heart. Thirteen teams have been held to less than 30 points, including six who produced 20 or less. A big reason for that has been turnovers. Heading into tonight’s game between the Flag Slayer Corp and Hard 8, Quarterbacks have thrown 28 interceptions. On fourth down, teams have combined to go 33 for 73.
Are those numbers simply a case of early season rust and chemistry issues, or are we about to see some Seattle Seahawks, Houston Texans, and Denver Broncos level defenses this season?
I think it is more of the former than the latter. I did, however, talk about the level of Quarterbacks in Division 2 earlier. Gentleman, let’s step it up.
Which new team is the most exciting?
LeBrontourage made the jump from Division 3 to Division 2 this winter. With them leveling up, they added Quarterback Phillip Pelletier. I had a chance to call his games during his last year at Champlain College a few years ago. This guy can ball. He has a strong arm and is accurate. He also has FPF experience, having played for several lower division teams going all the way back to 2020.
This is Pelletier’s first season, however, playing full-time in Division 2. As most QBs can tell you, the defenses are elite, and the passing windows close a lot quicker than in the lower divisions. With weapons like former university players and FPF vets in Tristan Mancini, Ahmed Boubacar, Dante Sparagna, and Dawson Pierre, along with future USPORTS player Emerson Peterkin, this team is not lacking talent.
Shot O’clock is a new team in name only, as they played under the name BBQ Chicken last winter in Division 3. Now in D2, they return much of the same squad with holdovers like Tam Vilaydeth, Isiah Allard, and both Jean-Jacqques and Jimmy-Lee Janvier. Chemistry shouldn’t be a problem.
The team made the playoffs in Division 3 and even managed to win a game. Can they do that in Division 2 with a QB in Jimmy-Lee Janvier, who struggles to adapt his game plan once the deep ball is eliminated? With 62 points scored through three games, we might already have our answer.
The Bruins are another team that made the jump to Division 2. With Rocco Christiano at Quarterback, and talented weapons with size in Nicholas Fon, Joey Cocoran, Amis Mehmetaj, Gabriel Wiseman, and Evan Vavinis, along with experience in Mikey Christiano, and Nelson Pereira, this team could be a sleeper come playoff time.
Some old rivalries get renewed
Hard 8 and Idaho Udapimps get to renew acquaintances after they made in the Tier 2 Fall Finals, that involved a lot of yelling, trash, talk, and a little bit of controversy. Can Camping Boutin get revenge after Hard 8 blew them out in the Semi-Finals?
The Silent Ticklers are back after taking off the Fall Season. They got beat by an iteration of Hard 8 in the Summer Season. Can they get the last laugh this time around? Being in Division 2 also means they along with Les Verges Folles, Bruins, and Flag Slayer Corp will go toe-to-toe once again.
After getting embarrassed in the Division C Finals by Les Petites Carottes, can LeBrontourage avenge their blowout defeat? The last time we saw The Stoics, they won the Division C championship. On the way to the title, they knocked off Udaho Idapimps. The Week 12 rematch versus Idaho Udapimps should be a must-watch affair. Who isn’t interested in seeing another showdown between the Party Crashers and KGP Legends?
With a twelve-team division oozing with talent, we will see a ton of great games. The race for the playoffs will be exciting, as only eight teams can qualify. There are some teams looked at as favourites, and others as underdogs. How it all shakes out is anyone’s guess. Let’s enjoy the ride.
Picks
Flag Slayer Corp vs Hard 8 – Hard 8
Bruins vs Party Crashers – Party Crashers (My pick for Game of the Week)
Hard 8 vs Party Crashers – Hard 8
Camping Boutin vs The Stoics – The Stoics (Upset Special)
Last Week: N/A
That is it for Week 4. Good luck to everyone in their games this week.
If you liked the article, hated it, or simply felt like I left something out, please feel free to contact me at brent_bodkin@yahoo.ca, or on the FPF Facebook page.