Sault Minor Football crowns three champions

MYTE DIVISION

In what was the game of the night, running back James White scored his fourth touchdown in the first overtime and teammate Jaron Rowe intercepted the opposition's first pass in the extra session to seal the win as the Rezolution Raiderz hung on for a 28-21 victory over Lop Lops.

The teams battled back and forth with Rezolution taking a 21-14 lead into half-time. The two biggest plays in regulation took place when Rezolution was on the Lop Lops four yard line trying to score and take a two touchdown lead late in the game.

The Raiderz running back ran to the right side and was heading to the end zone when he was hit hard by a Lop Lops linebacker at the one yard line causing a fumble. Lops Lops recovered the loose ball setting up the longest touchdown in Sault Minor Football history.

Lops Lops running back Anthony Iacoe took the handoff from Quarterback Austin Maccarone and sprinted 109 yards to the end zone to force overtime. Rezolution's White wasted little time in overtime scoring a 30 yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage setting up Rowe's heroics.

Lop Lops attempted a running back option pass to try to win the game (passing touchdowns are worth eight points in this division), but the ball was under thrown and Rowe stepped in front of the pass for the game winning interception.

Linebackers Jacob Myers from Rezolution and Jeffrey Auger from Lop Lop's had outstanding games for both defenses as they made numerous huge hits to stuff the opposing offenses.

White's four touchdown effort earned him the Scholar's Learning Player of the Game.

TYKE DIVISION

In the Tyke Division final, Kyle Dionisi scored twice and Sports Gold's defense came up with huge plays when they needed it most as Sports Gold defeated Rome's 31-14.

Sports Gold led 24-14 going into the break with the best play of the first coming from their defense. Linebacker Andrew Paluzzi intercepted Rome's pass attempt and ran it into the end zone from 17 yards out to give his team a 16-6 lead.

It was all defense in the second half as well as both teams came up with big plays. Peter Greve had an interception and a quarterback sack and teammate Adam Paci had a fumble recovery for Sports Gold. Rome's cornerback Levi Flemming had a beautiful interception and teammate Chris Macgregor picked one off as well.

Raymond Houle scored the only points in the second session on an 8 yard touchdown run to complete the scoring. Marlon Imosogie and Matthew Mitchell scored Rome's two touchdowns on runs of 55 and 57 yards, respectively.

Sports Gold Linebacker Peter Greve was chosen as Scholar's Learning Player of the Game.

BANTAM DIVISION

Running back Tyler Vernelli returned from injury with a vengeance and his defensive teammates were outstanding as the Aurora's Westside Wildthings shut out Northshore Telus 22-0 in what was anticipated as being a high scoring affair.

Vernelli's return from injury could not have come at a better time as teammate David Quesnele, the league's touchdown leader in the regular season, was not available for the offense as he was recovering from a deep thigh bruise.

Vernelli ran through and around defenders on his way to two touchdown runs and many first downs. Aurora's Brian Nanne moved from quarterback to running back for this game and rounded out the scoring with a touchdown run of his own.

Wildthings linebacker Jordan Alexander had a huge game with numerous tackles behind the line of scrimmage and teammate Jesse Mccaig led his defense with two quarterback sacks. Telus defenders Patrick MacGrath, Logan Jones and Jordan Hoover had strong games in a losing effort.

Tyler Vernelli earned the Scholar's Learning Player of the Game honours.

(Submitted by Ryan Lillington)

LOOK FOR PHOTOS FROM ALL THREE CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES ON THURSDAY.