Game PREVIEWS week 7 (QC): Playoffs are around the corner and every opportunity counts

As the Playoffs loom, every game counts and every game this week has big playoff implications. Division 1 sees the top of the division face off against one another while the bottom of the division faces off to fight for the last playoff spot. This week is of the utmost importance in D1. Next week you have the top teams facing off against the lower teams, so the teams currently in six to eight must win in order to get that separation or close the gap.

Division 1B also has a similar situation going on. With a fight for the last playoff spot and a fight for the second-place position for the playoff bye. Other than the first-place position, it’s any one’s game and will come down to the last game of the season. But this week puts you in a good position or on the edge.

CFC50 HIGH SCHOOL RANKINGS WEEK 7
CFC25 SMALL SCHOOL HIGH SCHOOL RANKINGS WEEK 7

D1

CFC50 No. 21 Collège Charles-Lemoyne Dynamiques (6-1) vs CFC50 No. 5 Saint-Jean-Eudes Condors (7-0)

Is this a prelude to a playoff game or the finals?  Dynamiques look to pull out what could be considered an upset victory. In doing so, it will make the playoff picture very interesting. QB Noah Gravel has had a superb season passing for over 1000 yards and 10 TDs. If Dynamiques want to pull out the victory, Jean Christophe Cloutier will need to lead his defence to the game of their lives and shut down the top offence in the division. Condors have out scored their opponents 242 to 60 – averaging 35 points a game. How do you spell offence? CFC100 Mathieu Roy, 16 TDs from the air and on the ground. The defence been allowing a meager average of 8.5.  How do you spell defence? Justin Cloutier, 5 sacks, 3 ints, 9 tackles for a loss, and two defensive TDs. Dynamiques have a chance to pull out the win, but how do you spell victory? CONDORS.

CFC50 No. 44 Collège Notre-Dame Cactus (4-3) vs CFC50 No. 12 Séminaire Saint-François Blizzard (6-1)

This game should be a BATTLE. Cactus QB Tristan Aboud will need to stay calm and cool like he has all season with his 95 completions for 150 attempts, 1325 yards, and 11 TDs and only 3 ints. CFC100 Merton Theagene will carry the load on the ground – hopefully adding to his 101 carriers, 678 yards, and 9 TDs. But don’t expect the Blizzard to blow past without a challenge. Running back Thomas Desrosiers will be ready to carry his offence’s load and add to his 651 yards and 8 TDs.

Defensively, these two teams match up pretty good, but the Blizzards do edge out the Cactus with 15 sacks, 8 ints, and a massive 70 TFLs.  The Blizzards definitely have the edge in pressuring the QB. The edge being that sharp should send the Blizzards home with the victory.

CFC50 No. 35 É. sec. du Triolet Harfangs (5-2)  vs  CFC50 No. 46 Collège Jean-Eudes Aigles (3-4)

College Jean Eudes played the underdog Cinderella story last year during the playoffs, but that was last year and we are not in the playoffs yet. As much as the Aigles want to upset the Harfangs, it’s simply not going to happen this week. Harfangs want to stay in the standing – no lower than where they are now. 4th spot gives you the first round home game advantage. No one is willing to give that up easily. Harfangs are fighting to keep home field advantage in round 1 while Aigles fight to stay in the playoffs. Taking the win secures them the playoff, if they fall to the Harfangs this week, they go into the final game against the Scorpions, and they could very well be in the hunt themselves. The sixth and seventh place teams are not locked in yet. And it honestly looks like it will boil down to the last game of the season. Harfang’s offence spreads the ball around nicely and QB Yanik Daigle will continue to share the offensive production Harfangs will see themselves locking in home field advantage for the first round.

É. sec. Curé-Antoine-Labelle les Loups(2-5) vs É. sec. Roger-Comtois Patriotes(1-6)

 These two teams are in a fight for that last place playoff spot with the Scorpions. Les Loups are in a must win situation if they want to seal up that spot. Failing to do so puts them on the edge. Their last game of the season sees them face off against the Cactus. They definitely want to lock down the spot this week. If they don’t come out with the win this week, Les Loups can find themselves cleaning out the lockers and missing the playoffs for the first time in over 14 years. The pressure is on Les Loups. With all that pressure on your opponent, they tend to take risks and make mistakes. If the Patriotes want to come out with the victory, they need to capitalize on them. QB Jonathan Tremblay has to be patient and take what the defence gives him, higher percentage over higher risk. Patriotes also need to establish their run game a little more this week. They face off against the Blizzard next week so if they want to steal the playoff spot, they have to take it this week. They absolutely have the ability to do that. With less pressure and not having the weight of a winning tradition on their shoulders like Les Loups, they should come out victorious.

É. sec. Armand-Corbeil Scorpions (1-6) vs Académie Saint-Louis Arsenal (0-7)

Scorpions are scratching and clawing for a chance at that last playoff spot. In order to be in that hunt, Scorpions are in a must win situation. With three options at the QB position, they need to find the one guy to step up this week. Running back Zakary Malouin will also need to step up and be ready. The colder temps teams tend to lean on the run game. Defensively, Scorpions can get the job done and must find their old form of gang tackling and force the turnovers.

Arsenal are simply playing for pride and looking for that elusive victory. Unfortunately, this will be their last chance at that opportunity. Next week, they face off the currently undefeated Condors, so if they want that win this is their best opportunity.  Running back Yann Pruneau will be given the job of grinding the ball out. But it’s the O-line that needs to step up and give the QB some protection and time. QB’s Mathieu Bellavanceand and Ludovick Ellyson combine for only 700 yards passing and 15 interceptions. Give the QB a little more time and they can make better decisions. Pride is a great motivator, but so is making the playoffs your first year in a division. Scorpions should come out in the end.

D1B

CFC25 No. 8 É. sec. Saint-Stanislas Patriotes (4-2)  vs Académie les Estacades Estacades (1-5)

Patriotes defence is on a roll and healthy. Going into the last part of the season, this is where you want your defence to be at. Coming off a big win against CFC25 No. 12 College Bourget, the Patriotes propelled themselves into second place for an all important playoff bye week, and they want to hold onto it badly. The Estacades have a slim chance to earn the last playoff spot and getting a big upset win over the Patriotes would put them in that hunt. Never say never, just a few weeks ago Patriotes lost in over time to the Centurions so it can be done. This is why the game is played. However, the Patriotes are on a roll and will rely heavily on the run game with Jeremi Auger,Wembi Leba and Rahael Bressani. On paper, Patriotes are too strong, but that was said a couple weeks ago and they lost. Never underestimate a team fighting for their playoff lives. Patriotes should come out on top.

CFC25 No. 2 Séminaire Saint-Joseph Vert et Or (6-0)  vs CFC25 No. 19 Collège de Lévis Commandeurs (4-2)

This game is very interesting. Commandeurs have the tools to pull out the upset and get them in the hunt for the playoff bye week. Receiver Nathan Lacasse one man wrecking crew is having an MVP season – over 1000 yards offence, and 10 touchdowns on the season. The Commandeurs could hand the Green and Gold their first loss of the season. The Green and Gold will have to take control of the ball and grind things out. They don’t want to get in a shoot out if they may not like the outcome. Their offensive output has been on the decline the last couple weeks averaging 37 points a game, its dropped to 21.5 the last two weeks. This game will boil down to defence. Right now CDL has the edge on defence and momentum. Don’t expect an easy win for the Green and Gold. Expect Commandeurs to pull out an upset and shake up not only the standings, but the CFC25 Small School National Ranking.

Collège Laval Marauders (2-4)  vs  É. sec. Pointe-Lévy Corsaires (1-5)

College Laval is in a must win situation for the next two weeks. If they lose this week against the Corsaires, they go into the last week facing College de Levis in a must win. IF they want to seal the playoffs, they have to do it now. It has been mentioned several times over the season that the Corsaires are the smallest team in the division roster wise. Last game, they had 31 active players on the roster, this team has heart, but unfortunately, not bodies. If things continue on this path, one could foresee them moving to Division 2 for rebuilding. But before all of that this team and its key players CFC100 Dylan Djete, Mikael Aubin, Isaac Lachance, QB Antoine Lincourt, and O’Dehoerty Lincourt will do their best to get an upset win this week. Honestly, it just might be in the cards for them. College Laval has been run over the last 4 weeks and might be ripe for the Corsaires to pick.

Polyvalente Deux-Montagnes Centurions (2-4) vs CFC25 No. 12 Collège Bourget Voltigeurs (4-2)

Voltiguers have been derailed the last two weeks, suffering back to back losses against the Green and Gold and last year’s Champs – the Patriotes. Jayden Josiah Theodore and QB Simon Boudreault need to step up this week to keep them in the hunt for the bye week. Last week’s game against the Patriotes was a hard hitting game. Simon Boudreault has had the luxury of good protection, but the last two weeks he has been sacked 12 times. Jayden has seen his average yards per carry cut in half and last week and did not finish the game. If Voltigeurs are healthy, they will come out with the win. BUT WAIT!!! Can lightening strike twice? Centurions upset the Patriotes a couple weeks ago, then they take the Commandeurs to overtime and last week tore it up against the Estacades. There is something brewing with the Centurions. They are building that all important confidence. If the Centurions can grind the ball on offence, stay focused on defence, not get all confused by the Voltigeurs motions and fancy formation, tackle, and hit, lightening could strike twice and Centurions can seal their playoff fate this week. Momentum is with Centurions. Get ready for an upset.