Bantam Stampeders on to face Sarnia in finals

The bantam Burlington Stampeders faced the visitors from York Simcoe in semi-final OFC action at Notre Dame High School. The stampeders did all their scoring in the first half and held on for the victory and the chance to play the sarnia sturgeon in the 10 team bantam OFC division.

Final Score : 12 to 0

Game Hilites
– stampeders opened scoring on 35 yard pass play from QB #7 Brandon Smyk to receiver #17 Sam Lewis in the first quarter – convert blocked
-rest of 1st quarter saw the teams exchange interceptions – #27 York Simcoe Cam Adema and #43 Burlington Christopher Lebert
– key 2nd quarter drive by stamps – 3 first downs – 1 pass, 1 run, 1 penalty – big 3rd and 15 converted on 25 yard pass to #22 Eric Kells – TD, Smyk to Lewis – caught off deflection – convert blocked again
– burlington recovered fumble on a qb sack late in half but Bucs defense came up big and gave up no points
– 3rd quarter – big pass reception by bucs #24 Neil Duggan
– 4th quarter – bucs put together good drive but stamps #16 Connoc McQuillkin intercepted to nullify

PICTURES TO FOLLOW

Players to Watch
BUCs
#24, DB/REC, Neil Duggan
#95, DL, Patrick Manude
#40, LB, Matt Cofield
#27, DB, Cam Adema

Stamps
#74, DE, William McInnis
#33, LB, Clayton Weir
#66, OL, Duncan Curren
#22, RB/REC, Eric Kells

Press Release:
Bantam Stamps head to OFC championship game undefeated

The Bantam Stampeders are one win away from three years of undefeated football. They won the semi-final against the York-Simcoe Bucs 12-0 Sunday August 1 to move on to the championship game against the Sarnia Sturgeon.

The league-leading defence has allowed only 39 points in nine games. They shut out a strong Bucs squad with 28 tackles, three sacks and two interceptions and a fumble recovery. Clayton Weir lead the effort with six tackles and a sack, Carter Gladman had four plus a sack, Eddie Schmidt, Chadwick Taylor and Christopher Lebert had three each and Lebert an interception. Connor McQuilken added another pick and Joshua Charnicovsky a sack.

The Bucs defence was a challenge for the Stamps, holding the squad to scoring in the first half only. Dylan Worth rushed for 104 yards, Justin Veltri for 37. Brandon Smyk had his best passing game of the season with 90 yards, hitting Sam Lewis for the two TDs and Worth four times, for 14 yards.

“This team came ready for playoff football.” said head coach Mike Ramsay, “We had to play every down in this game to emerge victorious. While it has been true of every game, in this our success started in the trenches. On the offensive line Josh Mitchell, Jake Reeson, Liam van Oosterhout, Justin Babcock, Duncan Curren, Trenton Ascah, Darius Ciraco, Lima Garvey and John McCart have done outstanding work. And on defence, the effort of Chad Taylor, Will McKinnis, Charnicovsky, Gladman and Schmidt has kept opposition offenses on the wrong foot all year.

The bantams will kick off championship day in Kitchener-Waterloo at 9am against the 7-1 Sarnia Sturgeon.