CÉGEP10 (coll. div. 1) game previews (1): CNDF looking to defend their crown with a long season of Cégep football in front of us

It’s finally here. Football season 2017 starts in the ‘Q’ with some pretty great games. Every week CFC will bring you the game previews for the week. You can also check out #CFCscores on our page HERE.

Friday, August 25th at 7:30pm
Champlain College Lennoxville Cougars v.s Cégep Lévis-Lauzon Faucons
The Cégep season kicks off with an interesting matchup that pits adversaries from opposite ends of last year`s table, but despite their past, it may end up being closer than some predict. Lévis-Lauzon hit a rough patch on their road to the top going from a 6-3 record to 2-7, but they had some close calls that marred an off year, including a slim 34-27 loss to Champlain-Lennoxville. That score was reminiscent of an up and down year for the Cougars that saw scores flip wildly in either direction at times, so it’ll be important for them set the tone early and prove they can dominate for all four quarters. Some CFC60 players to watch will be Will Desgagne and Jeremy Kapelanski-Lamoureux on the Cougars’ defensive line, while the man they’ll be looking to stop with be Faucons’ running back Joanik Masse behind an offensive line led by Philippe Robitaille and Thibault Van-Elsue.

Friday, August 25th at 7:30pm
Cégep du Vieux Montréal Spartiates v.s Campus Notre-Dame-de-Foy
After taking home their first ever Bol D’or, Campus Notre-Dame-de-Foy enter the season in unfamiliar territory as the undisputed team to beat, and it won’t be an easy position to defend with star ladened teams like Vieux Montréal looking to return things back to normal. The Spartiates have taken a few years off from the top of the division, but they’re not be taken lightly with a bunch of CFC60 talent including running back Dynell Pierre and fullback Tristan Quirion, who are complimented by Jefferson Pierre out wide. CNDF have their own weapon in CFC60 receiver Vincent Forbes-Mombleau, but they’ll need a total team effort with some new hands pitching in if they want a repeat of the 45-9 performance they laid down on VM last season.

Saturday, August 26th at 1:00pm
Collège André-Grasset Phénix v.s Cégep Garneau Élans
This is another matchup that on paper may look like a wash in André-Grasset’s favour, but reality is that Garneau was much better than their 3-6 record indicates last season. They still will be the underdog, but watch out for CFC60 players such as receiver Mathieu Blanchette and defensive lack Thomas Landry to help carve out a possible path to victory for the Élans in this one. Unfortunately that`ll be much easier said than done with André-Grasset boasting six CFC60 prospects of their own, including running back Samuel Makwanda, receiver  Francois Rocheleau and defensive back Bruno Legace.

Saturday August 26th at 1:00pm
Collège Montmorency Nomades v.s Cégep Limoilou Titans
A winless season is nothing to reminisce about, but Montmorency can take solace in knowing the action on the field wasn’t as ugly as it was in the standings. That`s not a very good consolation prize, but they could shock some with a strong first step out of the gate in 2017 with the help of CFC60 receiver Frederic Antoine and CFC60 defensive back Darcy Jeannis. Limoilou will be looking to make similar strides after 4-5 years that ended with a rough loss in the playoffs, and will be led in part by CFC60 receiver Mathieu Robitaille.

Saturday, August 26th at 5:00pm
Cégep Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Géants v.s Vanier College Cheetahs
Our final game of week one may end up being the only blowout, but hopefully Saint-Jean will establish an early grip in the contest and ride it out until the end versus a very talented team from Vanier College. The Géants will have a stud in the trenches with CFC60 Remy-Julien Spattz playing offensive line, but on the contrary the Cheetahs will counter with eight of their own CFC60 prospect, most of which fall into the top 10 or 20 on the list. They`ll be scattered across the field on both offence and defence, but in particular watch for top ranked defensive end Arnold Mbembe to lead the troops in the trenches going up against Spattz, while on offence watch for receiver Samuel Emilus and running back Patrick Charles to be their primary targets early in order to build a quick lead.