OFC: JV Stampeders compete in championship after defeating Predators

Burlington JV Stamps go to championship with 48 to 20 win

The gridiron heated up as the Burlington JV Stamps faced the Twin Cities Predators in a physical battle with both teams vying for a chance to represent their cities in the championship game this coming Saturday.

The Predators came out strong and lead at the end of the first quarter with a score of 3 to 0 on a field goal after a goal-line stand at the two-yard line. The Stamps couldn’t take advantage of the interception by Masson Stoddard, and so the undefeated Burlington trailed at the end of the first quarter. Burlington answered back in the second quarter with touchdowns by running backs Jake Lavigne and Jonathan Howard on two consecutive possessions with a successful on-side kick recovery.

The Predators responded with their own touchdown. The Stamps answered back with an an impressive 48-yard pass from QB Troy Downtown to tight end Justin Saddlemyre who showed great control staying in bounds to run in for a touchdown with 1:44 on the clock. The touchdown but was followed by a Twin Cities field goal and a score at the break was 21-13.

The Stampeders refuelled and came out strong with an inspiring 89-yard touchdown run by Jonathan Howard who added two more touchdowns in the third. Downtown would run it in for a final touchdown to seal the deal in the fourth quarter extinguishing the Predators hopes for a comeback.

Defensively the Stamps were strong with their goal line stands twice cutting stopping Predator drives. Defensive tackle Carter Gladman lead the defence with a sack and five tackles, linebackers Bryce James and Addison Olah added seven and five tackles. Chad Taylor helped stop the Predator’s momentum with another QB sack in the fourth quarter.

Head Coach Andy van Oosterhout was very pleased with the games results feeling his team meet the challenge head on stating, “Twin Cities came to Burlington to win, and they played well enough to win against most teams…. this team is not most. This is a special group of kids that has never lost sight of getting better. Their work effort has put them in position to have a perfect season and a championship. They deserve to be in the final and know enough to bring their A game or its all for not. Huronia is a very good team.”

The JV Stamps will face Huronia in the OFC championship Saturday, August 6th at MacRae field in Hamilton at 3:30pm.