Peewee Cougars Win OFC Title

On Saturday, the Chatham-Kent Cougars Peewee team closed out an undefeated season in the OFC Peewee Division, defeating the Burlington Stampeders at home to go 6-0, and capture the OFC championship.

The Chatham-Kent Cougars took the victory, and with it the OFC crown, by a 37-6 score.

“Saturday’s game was a fitting ending to an incredible year,” says Peewee Cougars head coach Cesar Torres.

“This years group improved everyday and were the most dedicated and motivated team I’ve had in the 4 years I have been coaching the peewee team. Our success came from the hard work put in by the coaching staff. They did an amazing job preparing the boys for every game. Our success is directly related to a great house league program run by Sel Jordan. The talent being produced here in Chatham is on par with the best football organizations in Ontario.”

Nakoma Scott started off the scoring with the first 2 touchdonws in the first quarter giving the Cougars the 12-0 lead. Scott rushed for 97 yards and 2 TDs in the game. Darion Bacik played both ways as the starting LB and rotated in on offense on key downs. Bacik scored the next TD on a 15-yard run to give the Cougars an 18-0 lead in the 2nd quarter. With under 2 minutes left in the half, Darion Bacik threw a pass to Ethan Jordan along the sideline and Jordan was able to out run the Stampeder safety for a 65 yard TD connection, putting the Cougars up 24-0 at the half.

In the first series of the 3rd quarter Darion Bacik had a 65-yard run on a misdirection play where he out ran the Stampeders to the sidelilnes and then to the endzone to give the Cougars a 30-0 lead. Late in the 4th quarter, Ethan Jordan was able to score on a 12 yard QB keeper, before Hunter Shepley kicked the extra point to give the Cougars a commanding 37-0.

Burlington would score on the last play of the game to make the final 37-6.

The Cougars defense had a strong game and season only allowing 4 touchdowns in 6 games.

Tanner Hoorelbeck lead the defense and special teams with 12 tackles, while Ethan Cuipka had 10 tackles, and Aiden Legroulx and Russell Jaques had 8 tackles. Evan Torres and Hailey Penny had 5 tackles, and Drey Ronda, Shawn Guy, and Dante Handsor had 3 tackles each, while Quinton Emerick had an interveption and 1 fumble recovery. Tyler Shumanski and Griffeon Simpson had 5 tackles and 2 passes knocked downs between them.

The Cougar also received excellent blocking in the game by the Coguars offensive line of Jake Deneau, Alex Sullo, Tyler Creechan, Tate O’Leary, Trevor Lawton, Nicholas Phillips, Noble Stonefish, and by TE Nolan Larouche. Larouche also had 2 key catches and a run for first downs in the win over Burlington. At wide receiver, Connor Roebuck, Bennett Schaffer, and Darwin Mitchell had key blocks that turned first downs into touchdowns. Both Roebuck, Mitchell, and Schaffer had an amazing season catching the deep pass and blocking and on special teams.

The Cougars also recognized the coaching of Head Coach Cesar Torres, and assistant coaches Dean Creechan, Dan Deneau, Alex Sullo, Mike Hadden and Jordan Arseneau, and Selwyn Jordan for their efforts with the team.