CFC “CEGEP PICK ‘EM” (1): Early Season “Statement Games” featured in Week Two D1 battles!!

This is why you have to love CEGEP D1 football, it’s only week two but here we are with a couple of key early season games that could loom large later in the year. With no time to “ease” their way into the 2015 season several teams find themselves gearing up for big league clashes in the season’s infancy. Two such teams are 2015 D1 additions André-Grasset and Limoilou. Both teams played last season at the D2 level and schedule makers clearly wanted to “welcome” them both to Division 1 football as André-Grasset opened their season playing defending champ Vieux Montréal and Limoilou was greeted with runner-up Lennoxville. Although both teams lost, their showing was more than competitive and make no mistake about it the two “new” teams are going to make some noise in 2015.

Much like last year we will do our best to predict, the completely unpredictable games of the RSEQ’s CEGEP football league. So here we go with our first “CEGEP PICK ‘EM” of 2015.

 

CEGEP PICK ‘EM 2015  (1) WEEK 2:

 

VANIER CHEETAHS (0-1) @ #2 LE NOTRE DAME DE COLLEGE NOTRE DAME-DE-FOY (CNDF) (1-0)

THE MATCH UP: CNDF comes off a lopsided week one win, while Vanier risks starting the season 0-2 after going 9-0 to start 2014. CNDF ranked #2 in the CFC Power rankings could make a big splash and justify the early season hype with a win.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN: Look for CNDF running back Alexis Côté to lead the offense and simply pound away at Vanier Cheetah defense, wearing them down in the summer heat.

FINAL SCORE: CNDF 33 VANIER 28

 

LES LYNX DU ÉDOUARD MONTPETIT (0-1) @ #3 CHAMPLAIN-LÉNNOXVILLE COUGARS (1-0)

THE MATCH UP: Two teams that were at opposite ends of the spectrum in 2014 set forth in this one as the 1-0 Champlain Cougars host the 0-1 Lynx du Édouard Montpetit. The Cougars were an overtime loss away from claiming their second straight Bol d’Or, while the Lynx failed to win a game in 2014 having the dubious distinction of D1’s lowest ranked offense and defense.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN: This is going to be a long afternoon for the Lynx. Champlain pivot Mike Arruda can pile up the yards in a hurry and this one will be over before it really get’s started.

FINAL SCORE: CHAMPLAIN 56 ÉDOUARD MONTPETIT 14

#5 LES PHÉNIX D’ANDRÉ-GRASSET (0-1) @ LES FAUCONS DU LÉVIS-LAUZON (1-0)

THE MATCH UP: The game of the week, with many feeling Lévis-Lauzon was snubbed being left out of the week 1 POWER RANKINGS in favour of les Phénix d’André-Grasset. Les Phénix will be out to prove that they are a playoff contender right of the bat in their move to D1. Les Faucons du Lévis-Lauzon on the other hand will be out to jump to 2-0 and stake their early season claim among the league’s elite

WHAT WILL HAPPEN: Should be a great back and forth affair. The Falcons offense showed they can pile up the points but the Phénix front seven led by Benoit Marion (4 tkls, 8 assists and a sack in week one), Bruno-Philippe Desfosses-Simard and Tristan Jodoin should make things a “little” more difficult for the Falcon offense. Look for the Grasset defense to come up big in the end and preserve a tight win.

FINAL SCORE: ANDRÉ-GRASSET 28 LÉVIS-LAUZON 24

 

#4 LES NOMADES DU MONTMORENCY (1-0) @ LES TITANS DU LIMOILOU (0-1)

THE MATCH UP: The other D1 newcomer Limoilou hosts the fifth ranked Nomades du Montmorency. The Nomades seem to be really coming on in 2014 and finished the season on the cusp of breaking the top 5. Seen as a potential “dark horse” that moniker has been stripped as they now have to be seen as a true threat following their season opening 28-27 win over Vanier.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN: The Nomades improve to 2-0 after pulling away early in the fourth in this one. It should be tight but the Nomades will be ahead for good by the third and early in the fourth, the outcome should no longer be in doubt..

FINAL SCORE: MONTMORENCY 33 LIMOILOU 21