NCAFA
Football
Peewee
Panthers
cap undefeated season with A-Cup win
By Fred Sherwin
The Orleans Star
The
U14 Cumberland Panthers are NCAFA peewee champions after
downing the Bell Warriors 28-7 in the league's A-Cup final
on Sunday, cementing an undefeated season and earning
a berth in the Ontario/Quebec Inter-provincial Bowl Series
this Saturday.
The
Panthers were once again led by all-star running back
Khalid Campbell who rushed for 196 yards and all four
of his team's touchdowns on 23 carries to earn MVP honours
for the third straight play-off game. His touchdown runs
covered 49, 33, 7 and 14 yards.
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Members
of the Cumberland Panthers pose with the championship
trophy after winning the NCAFA A-Cup bantam
final on Sunday. Fred Sherwin/Photo
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The
Warriors got off to an impressive start against the Panthers.
They moved the ball 65 yards in 10 plays on the opening
drive of the game that culminated in an eight-yard touchdown
throw from Teo Latendresse to Caleb Munro, little did
they know it would be the first and last points they would
score the entire game.
Cumberland's
response was emphatic. After the ensuing kick off, the
Panthers set up shop on their own 45-yard line and moved
the ball 65 yards in just four plays, the last two of
which were runs of 15 and 49 yards by Campbell.
Despite
the dramatic opening, the first half was very much a defensive
affair with neither team able to build on their initial
success.
In
a bid to shake things up, the Warriors opened the second
half with a successful onside kick that gave them a first
down near midfield. They were unable to capitalize on
the excellent field position, however, and had to punt
the ball away after Sam Whiting sacked Latondresse for
an eight-yard loss.
The
Panthers offence finally got back on track late in the
third quarter when they were able to move the ball 70
yards on seven plays led by � you guessed it � Khaild
Campbell The elusive running back carried the ball six
times during the drive, including runs of 17, 14 and 33
yards. The latter of which was for the go ahead touchdown.
An
interception by Hugo Djeumeni on the opening play of the
Warriors next series would set up another Panthers touchdown
by Campbell. A two-point convert throw from Jackson Plante
to Cordel Epale extended the Panthers lead to 22-7.
The
final nail in the Warriors' come-back hopes was hammered
home by he Panthers in the fourth quarter when they made
Bell pay for attempting a fake punt on their own 17-yard
line. A three-yard loss on the play gave Cumberland a
first down on the 14. Three plays later Campbell waltzed
across the goal line to make the final score 28-7 in favour
of the Panthers.
After
the game, Panthers head coach Julian DeSilva credited
the win to their determination to stick to their original
game plan in the second half despite a disappointing first
half.
"We
knew once we got going we could seal the deal,� said DeSilva.
"Our defence stepped up huge and played a heck of a game.�
The
Inter-provincial Bowl Series will take place this Wednesday, Jan. 23 at the Stade H�bert in Montr�al.
(This
story was made possible thanks to the generous support of
our local business partners.)
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