NCAFA Minor Football
Bizarre turnover ends mosquito Bengals unbeaten streak
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online

Orleans Bengals running back Kobe Armstong had two touchdowns against the Gatineau Vikings on Saturday, but it was not enough as the Bengals ended up losing the game 18-14. Fred Sherwin/Photo

A bizarre turnover midway through the fourth quarter proved to be the Orleans Bengals undoing on Saturday as they fell 18-14 to the Gatineau Vikings.

The Bengals were well on their way to winning their fifth consecutive game and keeping their unbeaten streak intact when Harold Songmene had the ball bounce off of his face shield on a Vikings punt. But rather than fall to the ground in Songmene's immediate vicinity, the ball ricocheted 15 yards up the field into the arms of an onrushing Nicolas O'Connell who ran it in for the Vikings go ahead touchdown.

Until that point, the Vikings had just one first down on offence since they scored a touchdown on their opening drive. The Bengals' defence led by Cody Lacombe and Remy Ngah, had kept them totally under wraps and even forced them to give up a safety in the second quarter which gave Orleans an 8-6 lead after Kobe Armstrong tied the score with a 28-yard run up the middle.

The Bengals had a number of chances to bolster their lead, but were snakebitten by several ill-timed fumbles including a rare miscue by Armstrong who lost the handle on the ball on what looked like a sure touchdown prior to halftime.

The Vikings defence matched the Bengal defenders pretty much play for play, but they really came through in the late going when Orleans desperately tried to retake the lead. They stopped the Bengals on two straight series and then forced another turnover deep in Orleans territory which they converted into another touchdown, extending their lead to 18-8.

The Bengals managed to cut the lead on a 57-yard run by Armstrong on their next series, but it was too little too late as the Vikings managed to smother the ensuing onside kick and run out the clock.

At 4-1, the Bengals still have a two point lead on the 3-1 Vikings, but Gatineau has a game in hand. Orleans should have an easy time of it when they take on the 0-4 East Ottawa Generals next weekend, but then they have back-to-back games against the Gloucester South Raiders and the Bell Warriors who are both unbeaten.

(Posted 5 p.m., Sept. 22)

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