Mustangs lose, A Ma Baie champs

Another season came and went for the Midget AAA North Shore Mustangs last Saturday when they dropped a 21-17 decision in the Quebec Midget Football League to the Greenfield Park Packers at Glenn McHugh Field in Dollard des Ormeaux. The loss ended the Mustangs 10-2 quest to win the provincial title for the first time since 2004. As for the Packers, they will have the chance to capture top honours since 1998 this Sunday.

The Packers took an early 14-0 lead in the first quarter, only to squander it when defensive back Jordan McLaren took a spectacular punt return to the house in the second to put Mustangs up 17-14. The two sides remained even until the two sides remained even until the Packers quarterback Jarred Carson took advantage of missed containment with 7:38 seconds remaining in the fourth. “The entire game they were boot legging, we knew about their long passing game, and it should have been easy for us to stop it considering our strong defensive players,” said head coach Justin McHugh. “We saw it coming on, but we made to many mental mistakes on defence.”

Offensively, the Mustangs struggled to keep the Packers from getting to quarterback Matthew Leblanc late in the fourth, as he was sacked twice in the dying moments. Any attempt of a come back was snuffed by constant penalties on key passes. The Mustangs were penalized 14 times while Greenfield only had one.

Next season, the Mustangs will have a strong core of returning players as well as new comers from the North Shore Lions and Cheetahs. “We have a good core on paper; hopefully, next year, we won’t play our worst game during the playoffs,” said McHugh.

Also on Saturday, the bantam AAA North Shore Lions won 48-28 against the underdog St-Bruno Barons.

North Shore dug themselves into a hole by conceding two touchdowns in the first half, making it 15-7 for the Barons. The third quarter, however, was much different story. Running backs Andrew Hopkins, Ernst Pierre and Tyrin Rose-Eisan contributed with a touchdown. While quarterback connected for three more majors with receivers Jordan Tyrell, Kyeon Nicely and Chris Cione. “We came out flat, it wasn’t the first time this season, but we made some adjustment to our blocking schemes at half time, and we saw the difference,” said head coach Jason Jourdenais. “Football is game about readjustments, if you can’t do that, you won’t often.” “I’m just glad we won,” Hopkins said. “Our coach made some blocking adjustment and we just played well.”

The Lions will face the St. Leonard Cougars in the Quebec Bantam Football League on Sunday at Hebert Stadium.

In other North Shore action, the mosquito A Ma Baie Eagles captured the provincial title Sunday against the Sun Youth Hornets, winning 20-12.