NS: Dragons win NSSAFFL Tier 2 Championship in Double Overtime

“That was one of the craziest games ever for me as a coach and player.”

That was a comment from Lockview Dragons coach Mike Korecki. It took double overtime, but the Dragons came away with a 26-23 victory over the Halifax West Warriors to win the Tier 2 Nova Scotia Student Athletic Federation Football League (NSSAFFL) Championship.

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It marks the second time that the Dragons have won the banner in the team’s NSSAFFL history.

Warriors coach Dave Kelly comments that both teams came ready to play.

“It was a very physical game,” says Kelly. “Both teams fought hard throughout the whole game.”

At Saint Mary’s University Huskies Stadium on Sunday evening, the Dragons never led during the game. In the second half, the Warriors led by as much as 10 points.

“We just stuck to the game plan as much as we could,” explains Korecki of how the Dragons fought their way back into the game. “You got to give the West credit they are a very good team, we just got the breaks late in the game when we needed them.”

In the first overtime frame, Warriors quarterback Scott Borden threw a 30 yard touchdown pass to receiver Kyle Harris to put the team ahead. Since it was a shootout format, the Dragons had to score. If the team didn’t, the game was over. Additionally, Dragons quarterback Nick Bronson was out of the game.

However, the Dragons did the unthinkable.

Running back Daniel Mader took the snap at third and 21. Then, he runs 12 yards and is about to be tackled. As he is tackled, Mader throws a literal pass over to Brian Jones. The Dragons wide receiver runs it into the end zone to tie the game up.

Having ball possession in the second overtime frame, the Warriors completed a pass inside the 10 yard line.

“In overtime, we continued to play hard,” says Kelly. “The offense started off and scored and put the pressure on Lockview.”

The Dragons’ defense made a huge play which caused the Warriors to fumble the ball. When that happened, the defense knocked it out of the bounds.

Starting out at the 45 yard line due to a penalty, the Dragons were successful in getting the ball down the field. Seven plays later, the Dragons got the ball to the 20 yard line. Tim Hart was brought in to kick a field goal and was successful on his attempt to win the championship for the team.

For the Dragons, Jones scored a touchdown on a punt return while Mader had a rushing touchdown. Hart had two field goals in the game and made good on two conversions.

As for the Warriors, running back Zack Sellars rushed 40 yards to score a major. Receiver Allan MacLeod scored a touchdown on a 50 yard punt return.

“Defensively we executed our game, which was to bend but not break,” explains Kelly of the teams’ play. “Offensively, our inconsistency hurt us; several times we put together good drives only to be stopped in the red zone.”

This was the first appearance for the Warriors in the NSSAFFL Tier 2 Championship final since 2003. Kelly comments that he is pleased with how his team played and hopes the players will learn from the loss.

“I was very proud of my football team, they fought hard from start to finish,”says Kelly. “It was an emotional loss for the team, but it’s one to learn from.”

“We need to learn to pick ourselves up and keep moving forward, try and improve ourselves as a team and apply these lessons outside of football.”

Korecki has respect for the opposing team and acknowledges how competitive the Warriors were in the final.

“The West played hard and there were no losers today,” says Korecki. “Double overtime, two teams and matched up from the same division and point difference after eight games was three less against.”

“The fans got their monies worth today.”

(Photo courtesy of Lockview Dragons Football)