The minor football season is coming to end with the league championships scheduled in the evenings of November 3,4, and 5, plus all day Saturday and Sunday November 6 and 7. All games are at Nepean Sportsplex and games on the week-end run from 9:00 to 6:00. Admission is free for a chance to see the champions of the biggest minor football programme in all of Canada.
Sudden death play-offs on October 30 and 31 determined the participants in the finals. The Bel-Air Copeland Lions Bantams would play on Wednesday November 3 in their play-off conference if they were successful on the 31st. The Bantams have been improving all season long, and on October 17 narrowly missed upsetting the highly ranked Orleans Bengals in a thrilling two point loss that went to the last second before being decided. Centre Jason Hoy and the Manuel twins (Jon and William) anchored the O-line as the Lions put on their best offensive display of the season. Nayef Sayegh came from defence to bolster the running game, while Jaime Henriquez, playing both ways, rumbled on offence and had two fumble recoveries on defence, returning one for a 60 yard touchdown run.
Paolo Lavalle and Mike Maitland rarely if ever left the field, and Wayde Richer was again a ball hawk in the secondary as the Bantams played their best game of the year.
If all goes well, Saturday November 6 will feature three Bel-Air teams in a row on the artificial turf. The Tykes would play at 9:00, the Mosquitos at 11:00, and the Pee-Wees at 1:00.
The Tykes have had an exciting season with plenty of high scoring games. Adam Gourgon is an outstanding player for the Lions, and in recent weeks Stevie Anderson has emerged as one of the best runners in the league. These two are fortunate to have blockers such as Josh Scott, Luigi Molloy, and James McIntyre in front of them. Newcomer Jesse Lambert-Minichilli has added some toughness to the defence, while Jay Cochrane and Alex Kisielius can be counted on for big games every week.
Bel-Air Mosquitos have a very talented team, but have lost three squeakers to knock them out of the top division. Derek Crupi has dazzled the opposition with great passing, while Justin Chillcott provides a veteran presence in the backfield. Adam Lepage, Zack Vallentyne, and Dylan Amundson are key members of the driving offensive line. Rookie Vince Patricelli has given the defence a boost, joining Angelo Bucciarelli and Bruce Chillcott as a trio of punishing tacklers.
Joe Lavigne is the same type of hard hitting player on the Pee-Wees. Ahmed Haidar and Bassem Sayegh have also had big seasons on defence for the stingy Pee-Wee squad. On offence, Chris Lewis continues to display great athleticism. Rady Saleh has joined the backfield to provide another breakaway threat for the Lions. The unsung offensive line looks to Mikey Alam to lead the way, and Rafal Drouin is one newcomer who has improved tremendously over the season, with the support of Donnie Bullen and Ryan Mousseau.
Hopefully all four of these teams will be in action in early November. Come out to the Sportsplex and see some great action featuring the local kids !