 |
 Cumberland
Panthers quarterback Shiloh Mukendy bowls over a would-be
Kanata Knight tackler on his way into the end zone during
the opening game of the NCAFA season for both mosquito
teams . FRED SHERWIN PHOTO |
The Cumberland
Panthers kicked off the 2019 National Capital minor football
season with a trio of wins over the Kanata Knights on Sunday.
The football
club's tyke, peewee and bantam teams all notched wins over
their west end opponents, while the mosquito squad lost
by just two points in what many observers believe was a
preview of the likely A-Cup final in November.
The game
was a see-saw affair featuring two of the best mosquito-age
players in the city � Panthers' quarterback Shiloh Mukendy
and Knights running back Nanakjeet Auluk.
Mukendy
ran for two touchdowns and passed for two more in a 26-24
loss to last year's A-Cup finalists. Auluk countered Mukendy's
heroics with touchdown runs of 66, 60 and 42 yards.
But the
difference in the game was a pair of runs by Dexter Dunlop.
With the Knights trailing by four points late in the third
quarter and everyone on the sidelines expecting the ball
to be handed off to Auluk on third and 20 play, they gave
it to Dunlop on a misdirection play instead and he scampered
through the Panthers defence for the go ahead major.
Dunlop's
second influential play came in the final minute when he
picked up a first down on a third and long play that dashed
any hopes of a Panthers comeback.
After
the game Panthers head coach Erick Anderson put the loss
in perspective.
"I can't
fault the kids' effort. We played the game with maximum
effort we just had a few lapses on both sides of the ball,�
said Anderson. "Every one can play a little better and our
job as coaches is to help get better so that by the time
we see them in the playoffs, the result will be different.�
The result
was different for both the tyke and peewee teams on Sunday.
The tyke
squad rolled to a decisive 46-24 win over their Knight opponents,
while the peewee team won 51-40.
The tykes
were led by Elisha Mufuta and Nicolas Charlebois who scored
three touchdowns each. Jacob Pranscke also scored a touchdown
for the Panthers.
In the
peewee game, Hugo Djeumeni ran for 331 yards and scored
six touch-downs in a breakout performance, while Jackson
Plante completed six of eight passes for 80 yards including
an eight yard touchdown toss to receiver Aidan Head.
The Panthers
other touchdown was scored by Marvyn Larozar on a 70-yard
kickoff return. On defence the peewee Panthers were led
by Seth Poirier (eight solo tackles and a sack) and Josh
Moreby (five solo tackles and a sack).
The bantam
game was a total white-wash as the senior Panthers squad
showed why they are the odds on favourite to defend the
title they won last season.
The kick
return team forced the Knights to turn the ball over on
the opening kick-off which the Panthers promptly turned
into six points. It was d�ja vu all over again on the ensuing
kick-off as the Knights turned the ball over once again
and once again the Panthers made them pay for their mistake
with another quick touchdown run by Campbell.
The fleet-footed
running back would add another touchdown before the end
of the first quarter to put the Panthers up 21-0. They would
add three more TDs in the second stanza � one each by Jefferson
Bretanys-Desca and Nathaniel Beavais along with Campbell's
fourth of the game � to increase their advantage to 42-0.
A rouge
in the fourth quarter by kicker Jake Henderson would make
the final score 43-0. He also converted all six of the Panthers'
touchdowns.
The successful
start to the season should bode well for the Panthers football
club which is hoping to repeat the success they achieved
last year when they won three of the four A-Cup titles up
for grabs.
(This
story was made possible thanks to the generous support of
our local business partners.)
THE OTTAWA SCHOOL OF THEATRE presents an all ages production of Treasure Island in the Richcraft Theatre at the Shenkman Arts Centre. Showtimes Thursday, April 18 and Friday, April 19 at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday, April 20 and Sunday, April 21 at 1:30 p.m. Tickets $20 for adults. Students and youth 25 and under $10. To purchase visit 
TAPROOM 260 presents Michael Ben-Shalom live from 8-11 p.m. at 260 Centrum Blvd. For more information visit 
TAPROOM 260 presents The Underground live from 8-11 p.m. at 260 Centrum Blvd. For more information visit 
CLASSIC PIANO RECITAL – Orléans pianist Emily Hou will be performing works by Chopin, Mozart, Rachmaninov and Liszt at Kanata United Church as part os the Beaverbrook Community Concert Series. The recital will start promptly at 3 p.m. Kanata United Church is located at 33 Leacock Dr. in Kanata. For more information visit 
THE ORLÉANS BREWING CO. Trivia Night from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Call (613) 834-9005 to reserve your spot. The Orléans Brewing Co. is located at 4380 Innes Rd. near the Innes Road McDonalds.
