(Posted
2 p.m., Oct. 25)
Peewee, mosquito Bengals teams advance to NCAFA semi-finals
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online
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Orleans
Bengals running back Peter Sobowale breaks
free for a long run against the Gatineau Vikings
in the first round of the NCAFA Playoffs on
the weekend. The Bengals won the game 20-8.
Fred Sherwin/Photo
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Orleans
runner Stephane Montpetit went into Sunday's Ottawa Fall
Colours Marathon in Cumberland hoping to qualify for the
Boston Marathon for a fourth time.
The
Orleans Bengals mosquito and peewee football teams have
both advanced to the National Capital Amateur Football
Association A-Cup semi-finals after winning their respective
playoff openers last weekend.
The
peewee team put in a solid effort against the Nepean Eagles
at Millennium Park on Saturday, Oct. 21, rolling to a
38-10 win behind a three touchdown performance by running
back Khalid Campbell.
Quarterback
Luciano Diaz had a strong game as well, throwing a pair
of two-point conversions to Leelen Anthony, and a third
to Jordan Tjepkema.
Diaz
also set up his team's first touchdown with a 43-yard
pass and run play to Anthony, and he ran the ball in on
a quarterback-keeper in the fourth quarter that was capped
by a successful point after attempt by offensive lineman
turned kicker Ty McRae.
The
Bengals' fourth touchdown was scored by Anthony on a running
play in the third quarter after cornerback Jaylen Guy
picked off an errant Eagles pass and returned it to Nepean's
11-yard line.
The
peewee team will face the Bell Warriors (7-1) in the A-Cup
semi-finals this coming weekend. The other semi-final
will see the Myers Riders (8-0) take on the Cornwall Wildcats
(6-2).
The
Bengals have yet to face the Warriors whose only loss
came against the East Ottawa Generals on Sept. 24.
The
mosquito game between the Bengals and the Gatineau Vikings
was a little closer than the peewee game, at least for
the first half.
After
a scoreless opening quarter, the Bengals broke the 0-0
deadlock midway through the second stanza on a 45-yard
run by Tristan Johnson. Johnson then converted his own
touchdown to give the Bengals an 8-0 lead heading into
the halftime break.
The
second half got off to an inauspicious start for the Bengals
as the home team fumbled the ball away on their first
possession. They would make up for the mistake on their
next series, capping a 53-yard drive with a 23-yard touchdown
by Peter Sobowale. A missed opportunity on the conversion
play would make the score 13-0 in favour of the Bengals.
The
Vikings responded with a 60-yard pass completion from
Felix Antoine Lavoie to Jahim Kabongo on their next possession.
A two-point convert by Gabriel Furtado would cut the Bengals'
lead to 13-8. (At the tyke and mosquito levels, a kick
is worth two points and a play from scrimmage is only
worth one-point.)
The
Bengals would eventually put the game out of reach on
a 53-yard touchdown run by Johnson just inside the three
minute mark to make the final score 20-8.
Next
up for mosquito squad are the Kanata Knights (6-2) who
beat the Nepean Eagles 38-18. The other A-Cup semi-final
will pit the Cornwall Wildcats (8-0) against the Cumberland
Panthers (5-3) who upset the West Carleton Wolverines
(6-2).
The
Bengals have yet to play the Knights this season. The
Knights' two regular season losses came against the Nepean
Eagles in Week 1 and the Cumberland Panthers on Sept.
23. The Bengals only loss was a one point defeat at the
hands of the Wildcats also in Week 1.
(This
story was made possible thanks to the generous support of
our local business partners.)
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