Chargers, Stallions win big

BY MICHAEL PIASETZKI



Three local senior teams took to the field last weekend at different venues in hope of bringing back provincial championship mugs. At McGill University’s Molson Stadium, the midget AAA North Shore Mustangs came up short while the midget AAA St. Lazare Stallions captured a consolation title. At the Université de Montréal’s CEPSUM Stadium, it was mission accomplished as well for the Montreal Senior Metropolitan Football League North Shore Chargers.

Mustangs lose to Dragons

Minutes before Sunday afternoon’s highly anticipated midget AAA provincial showdown, the undefeated Beauce Dragons could be seen heading into their dressing room stone-faced, serious as Soviet Union hockey players back in the early 1970s. The Dragons appeared almost robotic on the field during the game afterwards as well, punching in for just another normal day of work, clocking out with a 31-7 victory. Much had been said coming into the game concerning the advantage the Dragons had over every other team in the league — including the Mustangs. They were after all, a high-school team that practised five days a week with a full-time coaching staff able to take Fridays off to concentrate on game strategy playing in a community league where teams only practised two or three times a week and coaches have full-time jobs.

It is up to the Quebec Midget AAA Football League to decide how to handle this piece of controversy, but the bottom line as far as Sunday’s game was concerned was this: the Mustangs were not out-coached, and did not lose due to a lack of practice. They simply lost to a team that not only wanted it more, but one blessed with more talent. Particularly at the running-back position, where Olivier Nassif-Bouchard was unstoppable, probably leaving CEGEP and university scouts drooling at the possibility of recruiting him. Nassif-Bouchard put together 220 yards on 37 carries to lead the Dragons.

“Our team didn’t come out as we should have,� said a teary Mustangs linebacker and placekicker David “Tank� Therrien, named Most Valuable Player for his team. “We lost to them by only seven points a few weeks ago. I know we could have given them a bigger battle than what we showed.�

The Mustangs remained competitive in the first half, trailing only 14-7 at the break with quarterback Victor Kozlowski scoring their touchdown on a 20-yard keeper. They remained in the game for the better part of the third quarter as well, even establishing a bit of a running attack and relying on a solid defence that began to play the way it had for the past several weeks. However, with a little over five minutes left in the third, the Dragons recovered a fumble and on the ensuing drive made it 21-7 on an Eric Gadouas-Poulin touchdown run. That was when the wheels fell off for the Mustangs. Their offensive line suddenly succumbed to a Dragons defence that began to blitz successfully, injuring Kozlowski in the process. The rest of the game was all Dragons, who went on to capture their second consecutive provincial title.

Chargers win title

A third quarter Kyle Zurba touchdown that broke a 3-3 tie proved to be the difference Sunday as the North Shore Chargers went on to beat the South Shore Huskies 17-3 to capture its first-ever Montreal Metropolitan Football League provincial championship. Zurba’s score on a 15-yard crash off left tackle culminated a long time-consuming drive by the Chargers, one that ate up most of the third quarter. The score remained that way until Chargers quarterback John Roveto handed the ball off an audible to running back Richard Gabaton who scampered 22 yards to seal the deal. Placekicker Phil Plamondon was good on both converts and added a field goal.

“We took control of the game by relying on the short pass and our ground game, particularly in the third quarter,� said Chargers head coach John Roveto. “As we gained momentum, our offensive line began to block better as well. But our defence was the key. It played amazingly. It was a low-keyed provincial title win, but one the guys should be proud of.�



Stallions win Cup

Last Friday night at Molson Stadium, the midget AAA St. Lazare Stallions led 14-3 at the half, 28-10 after three quarters before going on to defeat the Greenfield Park Packers 28-23 to capture the Jack Simpson Cup, a consolation trophy.