Bantam Generals advance to regional championship
One of two Niagara Generals football teams advanced to the OFFL regional championships. Photo by Zach Kolodziejczak.
The Niagara Generals bantam football team has qualified for the Ontario Fall Football League regional finals thanks to a convincing 40-0 win over the Brantford Bisons at Kiwanis Field in St. Catharines.
Head coach Chris Lundy described his team as relentless.
“That best describes both the defence and offensive prowess of this team. Right from the get-go, the team went on the attack and stymied anything the Bisons could muster,” he said.
Brantford went three and out on its first possession and Niagara responded with a 75-yard TD run by Ezekial Langendoen and a two-point convert by Brett Wall.
The turning point in the game came seconds later when Cam Kotyk intercepted a screen pass attempt and returned it 10 yards. Quarterback Benji Kolodziejczak ran a perfect QB bootleg for the major and Carter Smith added the two-point convert.
The Generals would add on majors by Luis Corredor-Reyes, Wall and Langendoen to lead 34-0 at the half.
“The defence came in waves all game long,” Lundy said. “From the outside spots, Jack Buckland (fumble recovery) and Spencer McRae just kept coming and coming. Add to that a defensive line that stood tall and a linebacker crew that literally hunted their prey, the potent Bisons’ offence was frustrated time and time again.”
Niagara nows plays the Guelph Gryphons at York University in Toronto for the regional championship.
PEEWEE GENERALS
The Niagara peewee Generals football saw its OFFL season come to an end with a 30-8 road loss to the Oakville Titans in the semifinals.
“It was one of those days when a lot of things we had planned just did not happen,” head coach Cliff Miller said. “On defence, we let up on a few touchdowns in the second half and the offence could not get any more points on the board for us.”
Miller was pleased with his squad’s season.
“We had a small roster and a lot of the kids that came out were new to playing tackle football but they played well and they have made big improvements and that’s what it’s all about at the end of the day,” he said. “With the talented athletes on this team, we will come back as a force to be reckoned with. I am very proud of all the kids who worked very hard to be where they were. I am excited to come back and have a great run in the OSFL (Ontario Summer Football League).
Jaxson Smith had the only touchdown for the Generals against Oakville.
