OFC: Stampeders get set for playoffs, looking for three-peat

The three Burlington entries in the Ontario Football Conference begin the playoffs and face must win games to be repeat champions as all three won the big prize last year. The varsity and junior varsity squads are undefeated and alone in first for the regular season. The bantams who finished the regular season 5-3 are in a more competitive division with three teams tied for first, and they are in a ties for fourth with Chatham.

JVs shut out Oakville, undefeated, in first for regular season

JV Stamps will begin playoffs with perfect record following their defeat of the Oakville Titans with a final score of 64 to 0. The match up with the friendly rival was a highly anticipated the entire season.

The intense heat and delayed kick off did little to thwart the strength of the JV Stamps as they controlled the game both offensively and defensively. With a deep bench the coaching staff was able to ensure that the JV Stamps played to their high level in all four quarters.

Burlington wasted no time scoring four touch downs in the first quarter, starting on their very first posesssion. Offensively, the JV Stamps mixed it up showing they are capable of running and passing. Running back Jonathan Howard had three touchdowns and Cole Masnaghi and Michael Parent ran it in for one each. Quarterback Troy Downtown found tight end Justin Saddlemyre for two majors and quarterback Michael Lewczuk completed to tight end Luke Korol for another. Adam McInstosh was perfect on the day.

Defensively the game marked the second shut-out of the season. It was a tough day for the Oakville quarterback. Defensive end Chad Taylor led with two sacks, Kyle Hallet, Andrew Ziebart and Carter Gladman together added others. Lead tackles included linebacker Addison Olah and Clay Weir with four each and Ziebart, Dustin Snider, and Travis Dietl had three a piece. These performances led to only two earned first downs for Oakville. Two Interceptions were made by the Stamps’ defensive backs Lucas Merlin and Mitchell Stolduuski who ran it back for a 75-yard touchdown. The impressive run was assisted with extraordinary blocking particularly by Masson Stoddard.

Head Coach Andy van Oosterhout clearly pleased with the team ending the regular season with a shut-out but acknowledges that the team needs to stay focused and hungry stating, “ I am very proud of the team this year and their 8-0 record. It was great to get everyone involved, but remember that one loss in the next three weeks would negate their perfect regular season. In short the team has not won anything yet.”

The JV Stamps finish the regular season in first and undefeated and will host London’s Forest City Thunderbirds with a 4-4 record at Notre Dame Secondary School on Sunday July 24 at 2:30pm in a repeat of their season opener which ended with a score of 55-13.

Bantam Stamps finish regular season with loss, in fourth

The Bantam Stampeders visited London this past Saturday to face the Forest City Thunderbirds for their last regular season game of the 2011 season, fought hard but fell 33-19.

Burlington’s offence was unable to score on their first possession; however Josh Chedore recovered a mishandled Thunderbird punt return and ran it in for a 38-yard touchdown. Matthew Walker’s extra point was good. The defence scored the again when Tyler Roy intercepted the Thunderbird QB and ran the ball in for a 40-yard touchdown. Walker’s extra point attempt was tipped and hit the post. The offence scored with 3:57 left in the fourth quarter when Mitchell Baker caught a 25-yard Tyson Delic toss for a touchdown. The Stamps failed on the 2 point conversion attempt.
The defence came out strong for this game. They were led by Jack Miller with 15 tackles, Mike Choma with 12 tackles, and Evan Luckie, who had his best game of the year with 11 tackles. The remainder of the defence had dozens of tackles in a strong team effort.

Jacob Racco has a good solid game at the pivot position and the offence was led by Andrew Pipilas who accounted for 140 of the total 240 rushing yards.

London broke open the scoring in the first quarter at the 7:58 mark of the first on a safety then later in the first with a major from a Racco sack resulting in a fumble which a Thunderbird recovered, and ran the ball in for a TD. The London offence ran the ball in from the 2 yard line for another major and both converts were good. In the second, the Thunderbirds scored a touchdown on a fake field goal attempt and then followed up with a successful a field goal. London added a fourth touchdown in the third with a two-point convert.

“We had a tough game with many factors against us from the start, we need to come out and put forth a team effort from here out” said Bantam Head Coach Cliff Bruce after the loss on Saturday.

Burlington finishes the regular season in fourth place and travels back to London on Saturday for the OFC South semi final game.

Varsity Stamps shut out Thunderbirds 28-0, end season undefeated, in first

The Varsity squad joined the bantams in London and had a much different game. Aaron Veltri, Julien John and Doug Corby each scored majors, Alexander White was perfect on the converts and good for three. The defence contributed as well with Alex Dragojlov and David Shuta’s tackles for safeties.

The Varsity Stamps face perennial rivals, Hamilton Panthers who finished the season with a 3-5 record, at home, Notre Dame Secondary School, Sunday July 24 at 5pm.