All was quiet on the D1 front last week as teams had a bye to enjoy their Thanksgiving weekend. Call it the calm before the storm if you will, but with the bye week behind us the final push to the playoffs is here. While LΓ©vis-Lauzon, CNDF, Vieux MontrΓ©al and the top ranked Champlain Cougars have all punched their playoff tickets, there are still three spots up for grabs and only two weeks to claim them. Should make for a GREAT final two weeks.
With back-to-back 3-1 weekβs, our season record is up to 19-5. Hoping to continue at the same rate here are our fearless predictions for week 8.
Β CFC CEGEP PICK ‘EM WEEK EIGHT:
LES NOMADES DU MONTMORENCY (3-4) @ #1 CHAMPLAIN-LΓNNOXVILLE COUGARS (7-0) Saturday Oct. 17 13h00 Coulter Field
THE MATCH UP: The break couldnβt have come at a better time for the Cougars. Not that things werenβt going well, they have been great as Champlain heads into the homestretch as D1βs only unbeaten team. With the break after the big win against previously unbeaten CNDF, Lennoxville had ample time to celebrate and get back to business. Always the potential for a letdown after such a big win but with the extra week, the Cougars should be focused. Montmorency on the other hand, better be focused. Momo needs to win out to be 100 percent certain of a playoff birth (although a win in either of their final two, puts them in very good shape).
MONTMORENCY PLAYERS TO WATCH:Β #CFC100 QB Eric Parr, RECΒ FΓ©lix Laflamme, #CFC100 REC Bruno Labelle, RB Kevin Dubois, DBΒ RaphaΓ«l Ntumba-Muntu
LΓNNOXVILLEΒ PLAYERS TO WATCH: #CFC100Β QB Mike Arruda, #CFC100 REC Marc Antoine-Pivin, DB Khadeem Pierre, LB Samuel Brodrique, RB Guillaume Conraud-Ares, RB Philippe Lessard-VΓ©zina, DL Cheikhe Sidy Sow, #CFC100 DB Adam Auclair, LB Alain Cimankinda
WHY MONTMORENCY MIGHT WIN: If Lennoxville are still thinking about their win against CNDF, Montmorency will be ready to pounce. We have said it all season this Nomades team can hang with anyone. Problem is being able to and actually doing so are two completely different things.
WHY LΓNNOXVILLE MIGHT WIN: The Cougars can beat you in so many ways offensively and with the leagueβs top ranked defense this team has a Bol dβOr look to it.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN: The leagueβs top ranked defense plays the second worst offense. See the issue here. The Cougars offense doesnβt have to be particularly sharp as the defense alone should be able to win this one. The really bad news for Momo is there is no reason to believe the Cougars offense wonβt be sharp. Lennoxville puts an end to this by halftime.
FINAL SCORE: LΓNNOXVILLE 42 MONTMORENCY 7
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#4 LES SPARTIATES DU VIEUX MONTRΓAL (4-3) @ #2 LE NOTRE DAME DEΒ COLLEGEΒ NOTRE DAME-DE-FOY (CNDF) (6-1)β Saturday Oct. 17 13h00 SΓ©minaire Saint-FranΓ§ois
THE MATCH UP: The timing of the break was also perfect for CNDF, but for obviously different reasons. CNDF will be looking to bounce back after dropping their first game of the year, just before the break. Vieux has clinched but are still in a dogfight to remain in the top four and host their first round game.
VIEUX MONTRΓAL PLAYERS TO WATCH: REC JoΓ«l Soucy, QB FrΓ©dΓ©ric Paquette-Perrault, RB Dynell Pierre, LB Enock Makonzo, LB Umar Temoor,
CNDF PLAYERS TO WATCH: REC JΓ©rΓ©mie Sauvageau, REC Alexandre Gailloux, QB David Pelletier, RB Alexis CΓ΄tΓ©, RB Luca Perrier, LB Yvan Hakizimana, DB Christophe Bouchard, LB Alexandre ParΓ©, LB Jean-Philippe Hudon
WHY VIEUX MONTRΓAL MIGHT WIN: Vieux have the horses to put up points. If les Spartiates can exploit the CNDF run defense, they will keep CNDFβs offense off the field while scoring a few points at the same time. CNDF showed vulnerabilites last week and you can bet Vieux has poured over the film.
WHY CNDF MIGHT WIN: CNDF will be looking to bounce back and if they come out firing, they are the better team. Able to pass and run, CNDF should keep les Spartiates on their heels.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN: Vieux MontrΓ©al are not Lennoxville. Expect the CNDF ground game to bounce back while the defense answers any lingering questions from last week.
FINAL SCORE: CNDF 40 VIEUX MONTRΓAL 21
LES PHΓNIX DβANDRΓ-GRASSET (3-4) @ LES ΓLANS DE F-X GARNEAU (2-4) β Saturday Oct. 17 16h30 β CΓ©gep Garneau
THE MATCH UP: A battle of 3-4 teams, the winner will be in the mix to host a playoff game in three weeks.
ANDRΓ-GRASSET PLAYERS TO WATCH: RB Samuel Makwanda, OL Jean-Maxime Desrosier, REC FranΓ§ois Rocheleau, LB Bruno-Philippe DesfossΓ©s-Simard, LB Louis Cavanagh, DE Philippe Lemieux-Cardinal, DE Benoit Marion, DB Bruno LagacΓ©
F-X GARNEAU PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB William Blais, REC Mathieu Soucy, REC Mathieu Blanchette, RB Olivier Forgues, LB Philippe Ouellet
WHY ANDRΓ-GRASSET MIGHT WIN: The Defense, plain and simple. I know we sound repetitive, but this D really does give Grassett a puncherβs chance in any game. The PhΓ©nix offense has been virtually non-existent this season but Garneauβs last ranked defense may be just what the doctor ordered.
WHY GARNEAU MIGHT WIN: See what we just said about the PhΓ©nix offense? The same can be applied to the Garneau D. The bottom ranked defense in D1 will play a less than potent offense and with a break here or there could possibly shut them down. In a defensive struggle, itβs anyoneβs ballgame.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN: Les PhΓ©nix defense will put the offense in position and they should score enough to improve to 4-3.
FINAL SCORE: ANDRΓ-GRASSET 24 GARNEAU 20
LES TITANS DE LIMOILOU (2-5) @ VANIER CHEETAHS (1-6) – Saturday Oct. 17 20h00 CollΓ¨ge Vanier
THE MATCH UP: After their overtime loss to Garneau heading into the break, the Cheetahs have been relegated to the unfamiliar role of spoiler and a win over Limoilou will effectively end the Titans season. Limoilou come in fighting for their playoff lives, needing to win out to have any chance at the playoffs.
LIMOILOU PLAYERS TO WATCH: REC Mathieu Robitaille, REC Gabriel St. Pierre, DB Hugo Lord, Simon Rowley-Bernard, LB Julien Matte-Lajoie, LB Louis-Philippe BΓ©langer
VANIER PLAYERS TO WATCH: DB KeanΒ Harelimana, LB DarrenΒ Kyeremeh, DB Zack Fitzgerald, DB Brian Harelimana, RB Khalil Kerr, RB Qaysie Gordon-Maule, QB Dimitri Sinodinos
WHY LIMOILOU MIGHT WIN: Les Titans have been the better team this season, but have fallen into a rut. If the early season Titans show up, they should cruise.
WHY VANIER MIGHT WIN: Dimitri Sinodinos. There is talk Sinodinos may be back from a collarbone injury. If so his presence and the lift he gives this team give them the edge
WHAT WILL HAPPEN: I am going with Vanier, provided Sinodinos plays. This is a storied proud program that will be anxious to close 2015 on a high-note.
FINAL SCORE:Β VANIER 26 LIMOILOU 19
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Β Last Weekβs Record: 3-1Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Season Record: 19-6
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