For the past few weeks #1 CDNF and #2 Champlain-Lennoxville have been on a collision course and finally this weekend they will “collide”. With top spot on the line the unbeaten Cougars visit CNDF with more than the number one ranking at stake. With the new playoff format there is only one bye available and we all know how valuable that becomes as injuries inevitably mount, as the season takes it’s toll. So on that note there is no need for preamble as the records speak for themselves. Without wasting anymore time here are the predictions for the game of the week and other key match-ups.
CFC CEGEP PICK ‘EM 2015 (6) WEEK 7:
#2 CHAMPLAIN-LÉNNOXVILLE COUGARS (6-0) @ #1 LE NOTRE DAME DE COLLEGE NOTRE DAME-DE-FOY (CNDF) (6-0) – Friday Oct. 2 19h30 Collège Notre-Dame
THE MATCH UP: The game of the week featuring the league’s two unbeaten teams, does anything else need to be said? Both clubs are as good as advertised featuring plenty of offensive weapons and strong, opportunistic defenses. Both teams can run and throw with equal efficiency while both defenses boast team speed. Last season CNDF had the Cougar’s number can they continue that trend this weekend?
LÉNNOXVILLE PLAYERS TO WATCH: #CFC100 QB Mike Arruda, #CFC100 REC Marc Antoine-Pivin, DB Khadeem Pierre, LB Samuel Brodrique, RB Guillaume Conraud-Ares, RB Philippe Lessard-Vézina, DL Cheikhe Sidy Sow, #CFC100 DB Adam Auclair, LB Alain Cimankinda
CNDF PLAYERS TO WATCH: REC Jérémie Sauvageau, REC Alexandre Gailloux, QB David Pelletier, RB Alexis Côté, RB Luca Perrier, LB Yvan Hakizimana, DB Christophe Bouchard, LB Alexandre Paré, LB Jean-Philippe Hudon
WHY LÉNNOXVILLE MIGHT WIN: The Cougars come out aggressively against a strong CNDF defense and force the pace. Offensively the Cougars cause opposing defenses fits with their quick pace and can ground and pound, while still stretching the field vertically.
WHY CNDF MIGHT WIN: CNDF can take control of the game on the ground and with the home crowd behind them they will be tough to stop. If they can take up huge chunks of time and the Cougars start to press the CNDF defense will make them pay.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN: This is a coin-toss, look for a back and forth affair and I give it to CNDF solely because they are at home.
FINAL SCORE: CNDF 30 LÉNNOXVILLE 28
LES NOMADES DU MONTMORENCY (3-3) @ LES ÉLANS DE F-X GARNEAU (2-4) – Saturday Oct 3 16h30 – Cégep Garneau
THE MATCH UP: Les Nomades have the inside track for a home playoff game, but need to win out to assure themselves of not having to go on the road in the first round. With Garneau knocking off Vanier last weekend they are all of a sudden back in the playoff talk.
MONTMORENCY PLAYERS TO WATCH: #CFC100 QB Eric Parr, REC Félix Laflamme, #CFC100 REC Bruno Labelle, RB Kevin Dubois, DB Raphaël Ntumba-Muntu
GARNEAU PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB William Blais, REC Mathieu Soucy, REC Mathieu Blanchette, RB Olivier Forgues, LB Philippe Ouellet
WHY MONTMORENCY MIGHT WIN: QB Eric Parr is among the best in the province and against a less than stellar Garneau secondary, he should go off. Montmorency matches up well in this one, on both sides of the ball.
WHY GARNEAU MIGHT WIN: If Garneau can ride the momentum from last weekend’s win the tide could quickly turn in their favour.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN: Which Nomades team will show up? At their best Momo can hang with just about anyone but at their worst, they can lose to just about anyone. Expect a sense of urgency from Momo as they beat-up on the league’s most porous defense.
FINAL SCORE: MONTMORENCY 30 GARNEAU 14
VANIER CHEETAHS (1-5) @ #5 LES PHÉNIX D’ANDRÉ-GRASSET (2-4)– Saturday Oct 3 20h00 Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard
THE MATCH UP: A must win for the Cheetahs following their overtime loss to Garneau, while André-Grasset comes in almost as desperate.
ANDRÉ-GRASSET PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB Alex Campeau-Perrault, RB Samuel Makwanda, REC François Rocheleau, LB Bruno-Philippe Desfossés-Simard, DL Philippe Lemieux-Cardinal, DB Bruno Lagacé
VANIER PLAYERS TO WATCH: DB Kean Harelimana, LB Darren Kyeremeh, DB Zack Fitzgerald, DB Brian Harelimana, RB Khalil Kerr, RB Qaysie Gordon-Maule
WHY ANDRÉ-GRASSET MIGHT WIN: Les Phénix have the league’s most underrated defense and keep them in any game. Vanier on the other hand has struggled lately on offense, you see where I am going with this? If the D is on, it could be a long evening for the Cheetahs.
WHY VANIER MIGHT WIN: If the Cheetahs offense can revert back to earlier form, Grasset is in trouble. As good as the Phénix defense has been, their offense has been just as bad. Any type of high scoring affair favours Vanier….bigtime
WHAT WILL HAPPEN: The Phénix defense will cause Vanier some trouble, combined with the fact that Grasset’s offense should enjoy a rebirth against a suspect Cheetah D.
FINAL SCORE: ANDRÉ-GRASSET 26 VANIER 22
#3 LES FAUCONS DU LÉVIS-LAUZON (4-2) @ LES TITANS DE LIMOILOU (2-4) – Saturday Oct 3 13h00 – Terrain Gérard-Chiquette
THE MATCH UP: Les Titans started their inaugural season in division one turning quite a few heads in their first few games. However after last week’s loss to Édouard-Montpetit who hadn’t won in almost two seasons Limoilou need to regroup and fend off Garneau for the final playoff spot.
Les Faucons are “the best of the rest” with a 4-2 record and with CNDF still on the slate in the final three weeks Lévis-Lauzon still have an outside shot at 2nd overall. A loss here would be devastating sending them tumbling back to the rest of the pack.
LÉVIS-LAUZON PLAYERS TO WATCH: DB Jean-Philippe Lévesque, LB Raphaël Faucher, DB Guillaume D’Anjou, REC Antoine Mailhot, REC Jonathan Breton-Robert, RB Vincent Breton-Robert #CFC100 OL Samuel Lefebvre, OL François Côté
LIMOILOU PLAYERS TO WATCH: REC Mathieu Robitaille, REC Gabriel St. Pierre, DB Hugo Lord, Simon Rowley-Bernard, LB Julien Matte-Lajoie, LB Louis-Philippe Bélanger
WHY LÉVIS-LAUZON MIGHT WIN: Quite simply, they are the favourite in this one. Offensively les Faucons can score and score quickly as evidenced by their 24 first quarter points against Vieux Montréal last week. On the defensive side they have plenty of ballers and seem to be getting better each week.
WHY LIMOILOU MIGHT WIN: Limoilou has more than enough talent on defense to control the Faucons offense. It’s unlikely they will “shut them down” but if they can produce a few key turnovers this game is theirs for the taking. Offensively les Titans are by no means a juggernaut, but they can move the ball and score.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN: Expect Les Faucons to exhibit too much offensive firepower. It will be close, but when called upon key players on defense will step up while the offense adds up the points. Should be another good game this weekend.
FINAL SCORE: LÉVIS-LAUZON 33 LIMOILOU 28
Last Week’s Record: 3-1 Season Record: 16-5
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