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NCAFA
Minor Football
Cumberland
Panther tykes a win away from perfection
By
Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online
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Markaedyn Nelson scored a pair of touchdowns
in the Cumberland Panthers 59-0 win over the
Gatineau Vikings in the tyke A-Cup semi-final
on Sunday. Fred Sherwin/Photo
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The
juggernaut that is the Cumberland Panthers tyke team continued
to steam toward a second straight A-Cup championship on
Sunday, downing the Gatineau Vikings 59-0 in dominating
fashion.
Consider
these stats for a moment. The Panthers scored a touchdown
on every possession except one when they committed an
uncharacteristic turnover. The Vikings were held to just
one first down and they only made it past midfield once.
The
Panthers scored at will, while the Vikings could do nothing
to respond. The final result could have been a lot worse
if not for the stalling tactics employed by the Vikings
in the first quarter.
On
the two occasions they had the ball on offence, the Vikings
took 40 seconds or more between each play. The referee
had to finally step in and penalize them for delay of
game.
With
only the Myers Riders standing between the Panthers and
a second straight National Capital Amateur Football Association
A-Cup championship, it would take either a minor miracle,
or a disaster of Biblical proportion to stop them. The
only real question left to be answered is whether or not
they can become the first team to go wire to wire without
giving up a single point.
They
are already the highest scoring team in NCAFA history,
and they are the first team to post nine straight shutouts.
The only thing that stands between them and another notation
in the record books are the Riders.
For
the Riders to be successful they must shut down the Panthers'
running game, or at least find a way to prevent them from
scoring on every possession, and they must somehow find
a way to score some points against a defence that has
allowed a grand total of just three first downs in nine
games.
In
Sunday's A-Cup semi-final, Fabrice Mukendi, Markaedyn
Nelson and Carter Bennett scored nine touchdowns between
them. Mukendi scored six times, five times on the ground
and once through the air on a pass from Christian Veilleux.
Nelson scored twice and Bennett scored once,
The
Panthers also converted four point after attempts; two
by Nelson and one each by Matthew Baptiste and Joshua
Ruby. And they scored a single on a kick-off by Patrick
Massicotte that traveled 40 yards and rolled into the
end zone for a rare touch back.
As
if the Panthers don't have enough weapons, Massicotte
gives them the added advantage of pinning their opponents
deep in their end of the field on after every score. The
only downside is that Massicotte is also one of the Panthers'
defensive lineman and the rules don't allow him to kick
converts.
The
Myers Riders beat the Orleans Bengals 25-6 to remain unbeaten
and earn their ticket to the next week's final.
The
Panthers and the Riders played seven teams in common this
season including the Vikings and Bengals. The Riders struggled
against the Vikings, beating them 18-6, while the Panthers
dismantled the Bengals 53-0.
Among
their other common opponents, the Riders beat the Bell
Warriors 36-25, while the Panthers trounced them 45-0.
Both teams posted big wins against the Canterbury Mustangs,
North Gloucester Giants and Bel-Air Lions.
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Fabrice Mukendi dives for the end zone for
one of the six touchdowns he scored against
the Gatineau Vikings on Sunday. Fred Sherwin/Photo
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(Posted
9:30 p.m., Oct. 28)
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