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 Cumberland Panthers quarterback Nico Scarfone runs for one of his four touchdowns against the Orleans Bengals on Saturday, Oct. 21. FRED SHERWIN PHOTO |
The U10 Cumberland Panthers football team have advanced to the NCAFA A-Cup championship game after beating the Orleans Bengals 42-0 in the semi-finals on Saturday, Oct. 22.
The Panthers were led by Nico Scarfone who scored four of the team’s six touch-downs. Channing Mailhot scored two majors, as well, while Emerson Touchette successfully kicked three of his six two-point convert attempts.
The game was relatively close until the 6:43 mark of the second quarter when Scarfone broke the 0-0 deadlock in spectac-ular fashion, racing 35 yards down the near sideline and breaking at least three tackles along the way for the touchdown.
After the Bengals failed to pick up a first down on the next series, the Panthers scored again, this time on a 40-yard run down the middle of the field by Mailhot. And that’s when the floodgates really opened up.
Cumberland would add two more touchdowns in the final two minutes of the first half. Scarfone scored his second of the game on a 10-yard run with 1:23 left in the half and then a Carter Tedondo fumble recovery with 25.4 seconds left would set up Scarfone’s third major.
After a scoreless third quarter, the Panthers added to their total with two more touch-downs in the fourth.
Scarfone his fourth scored on a 50-yard with 5:17 left in the game and Mailhot scored his second on a 15-yard run to make the final score 44-0.
The Panthers held the Bengals scoreless thanks to the outstanding play of their defence led by Mavrick Poirier who was making tackles all over the field.
The misty, wet conditions played havoc with the Bengals offence, causing a slew of turnovers especially when they lined up in shotgun.
As it was, Jaxon Kritsch, played had an excellent game on offence with several long carries, but unfortunately he was never able to get in the end zone.
The only thing that stands between the Panthers and an undefeated season finishing in the A-Cup championship are the Cornwall Wildcats who beat the Gatineau Vikings 44-18 in Saturday’s other semi-final.
TAPROOM 260 presents Nate Silva live from 8 p.m. No cover charge. Located in the Orléans Town Centre on Centrum Blvd.
CORO VIVO OTTAWA PRESENTS “..a child is born” at Orléans United Church, 1111 Orléans Blvd. (just north of Hwy. 174) The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. both nights. Tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased at eventbrite.ca. Children under 14 admitted at no charge.
ORLÉANS HOLIDAY ARTS MARKET from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Shenkman Arts Centre featuring unique gift ideas along with children’s activities and entertainment.
