Nov 22, 2009 by Amit Gossai Mississauga News
Richard Deschamps of the South West Football Association Raiders tries to recover a fumble as the South East Football Association Bear Hayden Phillips gets blocked by Malcolm Stokx during the Mississauga Football League finals held at the Mississauga Valley football fields yesterday afternoon. – Photo by Claudio Cugliari
The South West Football Association captured two Mississauga Football League championships on Saturday at the Mississauga Valley football fields.
In the bantam division, the SWFA Raiders capped off its undefeated season with a 31-12 romp over the Bears of the South East Football Association.
“It was one of those games that we (Raiders) weren’t going to get denied,” said Raiders head coach Dan Deschamps. “This was probably the best team I’ve coached in years because there were absolutely no egos on this team.”
After a Bears touchdown that cut the lead to 12 in the fourth quarter, the Raiders came right back with a touchdown of their own.
Raiders Quarterback Bobby Shields threw a strike right to Patrick Lafleur who ran 62 yards for his second touchdown of the day.
“We got up quick and we just kept at it,” said Shields. “At the end, we had the heart and determination to win the game and the victory just adds to an amazing season.”
Raider Richard Deschamps had one interception, which he ran back for a touchdown, while Shields rushed for a major of his own.
The Bears, who went into the finals with a 3-6 regular season record, were the underdogs.
Bears head coach Liston Bates said no one expected them to be in the finals.
“We came in knowing we were the underdogs,” said Bates. “We wanted to steal a win from them (Raiders) and we almost did it.”
Bear Kellen Cummings caught a seven-yard touchdown reception while quarterback Colton Rich rushed for another in the losing cause.
The SWFA Raiders also won the atom division championship, defeating the SEFA Kodiaks 56-30.
SEFA however did not go home empty handed as its tyke and peewee teams won their respective divisions.
In peewee, the SEFA Grizzlies defeated the Central Mississauga Football Association Cougars 20-12.
“The Cougars came ready to play and were actually leading at the half,” said Grizzlies head coach Jay Bodnar. “After we changed up our game plan between passing and running the ball, we were able to split the Cougars defence right up the middle.”
Malik Thompson, D.J. Lester and Duane Rehberg each scored touchdowns for the Grizzlies while Cougars’ Rasheed Gillis rushed for two touchdowns in the losing cause.
In atom, the SEFA Bruins beat the Streetsville Meadowvale Football Club Mavericks 54-34.
“We were outnumbered in the game,” said Bruins head coach Scott Harris. “But these kids had a lot of heart and eventually we just overcame them (Mavericks).”