The Orléans Star

Mosquito Panthers lose exciting rematch against Kanata
By Fred Sherwin
Oct. 17, 2019

Shiloh Mukendy (left) and Thomas St Laurent (right) both had out-standing performances against the Kanata Stallions on the weekend, but it wasn't good enough as the west end team managed to hang on to beat the home side 38-34. FRED SHERWIN PHOTOS .

If there were any doubts that the Cumberland Panthers and the Kanata Stallions are the best two mosquito teams in the city, they were emphatically put to rest on Sunday as the two rivals played an epic contest filled with big plays on both sides of the ball.

The Stallions won the first match between the two teams, which took place on the opening weekend of the season, by just two points 27-25. That was nearly two months ago. Since then both squads have run roughshod over the rest of the league in the lead up to their regular season finale.

The Panthers had reeled off six straight shutouts, averaging more than 46 points per games, while the Stallions gave up just one touchdown in six games and averaged 50 points per game.

With both teams possessing a potent offence, Sunday's rematch would come down to the defence that would provide the key critical stop.

The game opened as advertised with the Panthers scoring on a 53-yard pass from quarterback Shiloh Mukendy to Isaiah Wallace on just their second play from scrimmage.

Mukendy tadded the two point convert to give the home team the early 8-0 lead. The Panthers defence then forced the Stallions to turn the ball over to set up the longest drive of the game as the Panthers moved the ball 70 yards in 12 plays culminating in a 22-yard touchdown pass from Mukendy to Thomas St. Laurent on a third and 12 play. A missed two-point convert attempt would leave the score at 14-0.

The Panthers looked to be in total control at that point, but looks can often be deceiving. Following the ensuing kick off the Stallions showed off their own quick strike offence, scoring on a 49-yard run on their first play from scrimmage. A two-point convert would cut the deficit to 14-8.

When the Panthers failed to pick a first down on their next series, the Stallions struck again, this time on a 49-yard run again on their first play from scrimmage and just like that the game was tied 14-14 with Kanata managing to score two touchdowns despite running just eight plays in the first half.

After the halftime break the Panthers took just two plays to re-establish the lead on a 50-yard run by Mukendy. A turnover by the Stallions on the ensuing kickoff would set up another TD, this time on a 65-yard run by St. Laurent which increased Cumberland's lead to 28-14.

Just as they did in the first half, the Stallions managed to storm back two plays later with a 52-yard effort by their big running back Nanakjeet Auluk. A successful two-point convert kick would cut the deficit to 28-22.

Then after back-to-back defensive stands by both teams, the Stallions got the game-tying touchdown they needed on a 45-yard run by Auluk. The two-point convert would move the Stallions into the lead for the first time in the half. The audacious visitors then pulled off an onside kick which gave them a fresh set of downs at midfield.

Unfazed by the apparent change in momentum, the Panthers' defence stymied the Stallions on three straight plays leading to a turnover on downs which the offence took full advantage of.

Digging into their own bag of tricks, the Panthers ran a reverse to St. Laurent which covered 62-yards for a touchdown and allowed Cumberland to regain the lead 34-30.

It didn't last for long, however, as the Stallions answered back with yet another Auluk run for a touchdown and Kanata moved back into the lead 38-34 with only 3:43 left in the game. Unfortunately, the Panthers failed on three attempts to pick up a first down on the ensuing series as nearly a minute melted off the clock.

Cumberland's only hope was to prevent the Stallions from picking up a first down of their own. They held them once, twice and what looked to be a third time, but when the sticks were brought onto the field for a measurement they confirmed that the Stallions had indeed picked up a first down by a foot, and the Panthers hopes of a possible comeback were dashed.

The only good news for local football fans is that the two teams will likely do it all over again in the A-Cup final in three weeks barring any upsets in the first two rounds of the playoffs.

In other action involving Cumberland Panther teams on the weekend, both of the club's tyke teams won their respective games. The Tykes 1 team beat the North Gloucester Giants 44-34 to end the regular season in second place with a 6-2 record and the Tyke 2 squad beat the Bell Warriors 28-12 to improve to 5-2-1, good enough for sole possession of fourth place in the standings, which means both teams will open the playoffs at Millennium Park.

The Panthers peewee team won by forfeit over the Giants (0-8), who decided to take a pass on a potential drubbing. The win improved the Cumberland team's record to 7-1 and second place in the standings thanks to a 44-42 win over the Nepean Eagles earlier in the season.

Last but by no means least the Panthers bantam squad locked up sole possession of first place and the number one seed in the playoffs thanks to a 45-7 win over LaSalle in Montreal on Saturday.

For the first time this year, the National Capital Amateur Football Association and the Quebec Minor Football League played an interlocking schedule at the bantam level with each NCAFA team playing a home and away game against a QMFL opponent � and while the results count toward the standings, the NCAFA and the QMFL teams will each have their own playoff.

The Panther organization is heading into the post season hoping for a repeat of last year's success when they won three of the four A-Cup titles up for grabs. The playoffs get underway this weekend with all five Panther teams playing at home.

(This story was made possible thanks to the generous support of our local business partners.)