The Cumberland Panthers peewee team won their second straight National Capital Amateur Football Association (NCAFA) U14 city championship on Sunday with a hard fought 32-16 over the Cornwall Wildcats.

The Panthers went into the game with their first string quarterback, Grayson Rouleau, relegated to the sidelines with a broken collar bone he suffered in the team's semi-final win over the Nepean Eagles. His backup, Jaylan Clergé, proved to be more than capable of filling in.

Cumberland's first touchdown was scored by the defence. The Wildcats had picked up back-to-back first downs on runs of 16 and 17 yards and decided to run the ball again when Novak Drouin stripped the ball from the player's hands and ran it back 75 yards for the major. An added extra point by kicker Noah Rosarion would give the Panthers the early 7-0 lead.

The Panthers second touchdown came late in the secind quarter. A high snap during a Wildcats' punt attempt gave the Panthers a first down on Cornwall's 19 yard line with 1:12 left on the clock.

After benefitting from a pass interference call that moved the ball up 15 yards, Clergé scored on a quarterback keeper from the four yard line. Another Rosarion extra point would give the Panthers a 14-0 lead at the half.

The second half opened with the Panthers pinning the Wildcats deep in their own end thanks to a booming kickoff by Rosarion. When the Wildcats failed to pick up a first down from their nine yard line, they opted to give up the safety rather than risk giving the Panthers good field position and a possible third touchdown.

The decision proved to be a good one. After picking up an unecesary roughing penalty on the Panthers had to start from their 20 yard line. On their very first play from scrimmage, Clergé was intercepted for a pick six that narrowed their lead to 16-7. The Panthers then responded with an 85 yard return for a touchdown on the ensuing kickoff to make the score 23-7.

The Panthers would give up a safety of their own off a fumbled snap deep in their end in the fourth quarter to make the score 23-9.

The Wildcats would narrow the deficit even further on an 11 yard touchdown pass on the final play of the third quarter that was set up be a 66 yard completion.

The Panthers opened the fourth quarter with a 59 yard scoring drive that was interrupted by back-to-back holding penalties. Facing a first and goal from the 27 yard line, Clergé connected with Precious Okoro for a touchdown to put the Panthers up 30-16.

The Wildcats would be forced to give up their second safety of the game on the very next series when they failed to pick up a first down from their nine yard line. Up 32-16, the Panther held the Wildcats from scoring the rest of the way to secure the win and the championship.

Clergé ended the game with 151 yards on 18 carries and a touchdown. He also completed five passes for 85 yards. Okoro carried the ball 10 times for 64 yards and had two pass receptions for another 43 yards and a touchdown.