Three Cambridge Wolverine football teams finished their season this weekend as champions. The Wolverines had five teams representing Cambridge in the SOFAL Championship weekend in Wentworth, including a Cambridge vs. Cambridge match-up in the tyke age group.
The green Tyke Wolverine avenged their only loss of the season with a 27-0 win on Saturday morning. Unfortunately, the team they beat was the undefeated Red Wolverines, handing the Red’s their first loss of the season and taking the championship from the favourites.
Kai Nikolic ran for all four Green Wolverine touchdowns behind the blocking of Caleb MacDonald and the rest of the Wolverines offensive line.
Quarterback William Schippling was steady at quarterback as the Wolverines ground attack protected the football and ate up the clock. The Wolveirnes utilised four different runners including hard nosed back Hunter Gibonski. Gibonski set the tone in the first quarter running with several hard earned first downs.
The Defence continued its season long dominance, led by MacDonald, Nikolic and first year stand-outs Jacob Kaminski and Nolan Good, who’s tackling shut down the outside run.
The defensive line was led by Brennan Malcolm who played his best game of the year making several key tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
“Both teams had excellent seasons and learnt football fundamentals while building character, staying positive and overcoming adversity through commitment and hard work,” said coach White Ron Schippling.
In the peewee age group, the White Division Wolverines lost to the Mississauga Warriors 22 -8, on just their second loss of the season. The ten win Wolverines had a tough time stopping the Warriors, who started the game with an opening drive touchdown.
Cambridge got on the board before the half was over with a touchdown by Dan Labelle and 2 point convert by Nathan McLean. The teams went to the dressing rooms at half-time tied 8-8.
Mississauga scored two second half touchdowns, however, to finish the Wolverine’s season off with a loss.
“It was a great game by both teams,” said Cambridge coach Jamie Peagram after the game.
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In the Bantam age group Cambridge fielded two Championship teams. In the White Division B Championship, the Gold Wolverines defeated Brampton 16-11.
In their first possession Cambridge, led by big runs from Thomas O’Leary and Bradley MacInnis, took the ball all the way down to the Brampton end zone. An end zone fumble from the one gave Brampton the ball on their 20.
Brampton settled for a field goal on their 80 yard return drive. Cambridge answered with an 80 yard drive of their own, capped off by Bradley MacInnis breaking it outside for a 40 yard run touchdown run. Thomas O’Leary kicked the 2 point convert.
After the half Brampton got into penalty trouble, giving ball to the Wolverines at the Brampton 45 yard line. Cambridge marched down the field. Thomas O’Leary had a strong run on 4th and 2 to keep the drive alive. Quarterback Riley Pilkey scored on a bootleg from the Brampton 3, with Thomas O’Leary again kicking the 2 point convert.
On the return downs, Brampton marched the length of the field, only to have Bradley MacInnis intercept a pass at the Cambridge 2 .
Losing 16-11 and with only 25 seconds left, Brampton attempted an on-side kick but were foiled by Brad MacInnis, guaranteeing the Cambridge win.
Offensive standouts included stellar play by the entire O-line and some gritty running by both O’Leary and MacInnis. Defensively, the entire unit was stellar, playing a bend but don’t break still of defense, with strong play by Terrel Crawford, Callum Zikos, Brenton Fairless and Brady Bartlett.
In the Red Division, the Wolveirnes defeated the first place Mississauga Warriors 16-8, giving Cambridge 3 championship teams for the weekend, the best showing by any of the cities in the Southern Ontario Football Association of Leagues.
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