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NCAFA
Football
Peewee
Mosquito
Bengals thrilled to win NCAFA B-Cup title
By Fred Sherwin
The Orleans Star
It's
often said that sports builds character. That's especially
true in the aftermath of a disappointing loss. Most athletes
have to wait an entire off season before they get a chance
to get back into the winning column.
The
Panthers were once again led by all-star running back
Khalid Campbell who rushed for 196 yards and all four
of his team's touchdowns on 23 carries to earn MVP honours
If you happen to lose in the first round of the National
Capital Amateur Football Association playoffs, you get
a second chance to finish the season on the high note
by playing for the NCAFA B-Cup.
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The Orléans Bengals pose for a post game photo after beating the Gatineau Vikings 18-8 in the NCAFA B-Cup final on Saturday, Nov. 3. CARINA DAVIDA/PHOTO
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After
losing to the Cornwall Wildcats in the first round of
the playoffs, the Orléans Bengals showed what they are
made of by bouncing back to beat the North Gloucester
Giants in the B-Cup semi-finals on Oct. 26, earning themselves
a berth in the B-Cup championship game held at Millennium
Park on the weekend.
The
final pitted the Bengals against a well-rested Gatineau
Vikings team which had won their scheduled semi-final
against the Myers Riders by forfeit.
In
the days leading up to the game, the Bengals coaching
staff wasn't taking anything for granted despite the fact
they had beaten the Vikings 15-0 in Week 3 of the regular
season.
"You
never know what came happen,� said Bengals head coach
Mike Assivero. "The important thing is that we wanted
the kids to just go out and have fun. It's the same message
we've been preaching to them all year. Just go out and
have fun and the score will take care of itself.�
One
big difference between the final and the other two playoff
games was the presence of Assivero's son Nathaniel who
is the team's starting quarterback. The 11-year-old suffered
a concussion in the final regular season game against
the Bell Warriors and had to sit out the first two playoff
games.
With
Nathaniel back in the line-up, the Bengals' confidence
was sky high heading into the championship game. It was
even higher after he scored the first touchdown of the
game off a fake punt in the first quarter. The play covered
50 yards with Nathaniel avoiding at least a half dozen
would-be tacklers.
The
young Assivero would add a second touchdown off a play
action pass in the second quarter to give his team a 12-0
lead at the end of the first half.
The
Bengals would extend their lead to 18-0 in the third quarter
on a touchdown run by Garlancy Rivi�re. By the time the
Vikings got on the scoreboard with a converted touchdown
in the fourth quarter the game was all but over. A few
minutes later the result was official and the Bengals
were presented with the B-Cup.
It
wasn't the A-Cup, but judging by the smiles on the faces
of the players as they posed for the traditional post-game
picture with B-Cup trophy, they were just as excited and
just happy as any other team that played and won the following
day.
"Our
whole goal at the start of the season was to create a
great football environment,� said Assivero. "Our job was
to get them to be the best that they could be and just
stand back and see what they could accomplish together
which turned out to be a B-Cup championship. I couldn't
be prouder.�
(This
story was made possible thanks to the generous support of
our local business partners.)
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TAPROOM 260 presents Crooked Creek live from 8-11 p.m. at 260 Centrum Blvd. For more information visit 
MATT LULOFF W/ EDISON RUPERT performing at the Stray Dog Brewing Company, 501 Lacolle Way in the Taylor Creek Business Park. To register your team visit 
OTTAWA CARLETON MALE CHOIR in concert at the Navan-Vars United Church 1129 Smith Rd. in Navan at 2:30 p.m. Tickets $20 at the door.
THE ORLÉANS BREWING CO. presents Oyster Wednesdays every Wednesday. The Orléans Brewing Co. is located at 4380 Innes Rd. near McDonalds.
BLACKBURN HAMLET COMMUNITY GARAGE SALE from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The entire community is invited…rain or shine! Please keep visiting blackburn.ca for more up-to-date information as it becomes available.
