In the spring season, PIT Football set a Canadian Touch and Flag Football registration record, with 102 teams vying for 24 championship trophies. For the first time in spring, PIT Football offered flag football, touch football, coed football, and women’s football — making PIT Football the only league in Canada to have all non-contact football under one umbrella.
The PIT Football League continued to partner with Football Manitoba and Football Canada to offer the Canadian Flag Football League which will provide the winners an opportunity to represent Canada at the World Championships in South Korea in 2020!
Canadian Flag Football League (CFFL) Division 1
Team Canada 33 Manitoba’s Most Wanted 26
Team Canada continued their tune-up for the CFFL Regional Championships by defeating Manitoba’s Most Wanted for their second consecutive championship. Former Manitoba Bison and Valley Husker Brandon Poulin set a CFFL season scoring record with 77 points in just four games.
Team Canada will now take on the best teams from B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan as they defend their national championship.
Canadian Flag Football League (CFFL) Division 2
Arrows 25 Chronic Ballers 24
A great game which came down to the final minute to decide the victor!
Chronic Ballers scored with 37 seconds remaining to take a 24-19 lead when Dillon Clarke hit Winnipeg Rifles standout Domenic Horvath. However, veteran Arrows QB and WHSFL Steinbach Sabres coach Andrew George took just three plays to put the Arrows ahead as time expired.
The Arrows have punched their ticket to the CFFL Regional Championships May long weekend and in doing so end the undefeated season of the Chronic Ballers. The Chronic Ballers succumbed to the undefeated curse – if you don’t take a loss in the regular season, inevitably you will take one in the PIT Football championship finals.
Canadian Flag Football League (CFFL) Division 3:
The Chapos 39 Beerguts 28
Worst to first for the Chapos, who proved that come playoff time, the playing field gets levelled.
The Chapos went on a scoring spree, averaging 42 points per game in the playoffs after averaging just 6.1 during the regular season.
Game MVP Jordan Poitras scored 39 points and added four interceptions in the playoffs which spearheaded the offensive burst for the Chapos. Spring season Most Valuable Player Luc Rodrigues continued his amazing play scoring 14 points, throwing for a touchdown, and adding three interceptions, but it was not enough for the Beerguts to stop the Chapos from earning their first championship in the PIT!
Canadian Flag Football League (Women’s Division)
Fireballs defeat the WC 26-12
The Fireballs and the WC played in their second-consecutive championship final, with the Fireballs avenging their loss in the Winter by playing a near perfect game (after the first five minutes). The WC team had not lost a championship game since 2015 and looked to continue that streak by jumping out to a 12-0 lead just five minutes into the game.
The Fireballs kept their composure and responded with some relentless offence and stout defence. Young fireball Oliva Cassie had 13 points and two sacks while Jessica Smilar contributed 13 points of her own. Two very contrasting teams as the Fireballs are the young up-and-comers and the WC the wily veterans.
Are we starting to see a changing of the guard in women’s football? The debate and the games between these two teams in the future should be epic.
Coed Competitive
Connor McDavids 38 The Sofas 18
The Connor McDavids completed the hat-trick, winning their third-consecutive competitive indoor championship.
It may seem like the McDavids are running away with coed, however the top four teams all finished with identical records and the Sofas knocked off the McDavids during the regular season with a thrilling one-point victory after stopping the McDavids two-point convert attempt on the final play of the game.
In the championship game, it was the ladies who stepped up as Teagan Mah, Samantha Matewish, and Morgan Rennie all scored touchdowns for the McDavids to lead them to victory.
Coed Intermediate
Football-demort 41 Defensive TD Fever 31
Football-demort finally got the championship monkey off their backs as they defeated Defensive TD Fever to win the Intermediate coed championship.
The Fever was victorious in the winter season, but Football-demort studied the tape and made the necessary adjustments. Fever QB Jordan Demerchant threw four touchdown passes to four different receivers including one to game MVP Jessica Smilar who also added an interception on defence.
WHSFL Hall of Famer David Shoup had two touchdowns for Football-Demort, helped by 12 points from Olivia Cassie. The Cassie’s must hold the record for MVP nods for a family by now.
Coed Recreational
Flea Flickers 32 Coed Free Agents 12
The Flea Flickers captured their first-ever PIT Football championship with a great offensive performance led by the five touchdown passes of Michael Klassen, two each to Cassie Wiebe and Peter Reimer.
The Coed Free Agents were once again led by Jina Chaengpaseutsak, who is very quickly proving to be one of the best female players in the province. On this day, however, the Flea Flickers defence held the Free Agents offence in check and deservedly take home their first division title!
Division 1
Guild of Calamitous Intent defeat Team Canada
The longest-running team in the PIT Football league racked up their Provincial record 28th championship banner. The Guild lost their only game to Team Canada during the regular season but win the return match in a walk. Keith Bourgeois led the team in both scoring and interceptions, demonstrating he has become a complete player at the top level of football.
The Guild has infused quite a few younger players into the roster for the summer season, it will be interesting if they will be able to keep their streak alive in the highly-competitive Division 1.
Division 2
Knights 37 Kings 20
It appears a Knight can indeed overthrow a King!
The Knights added a third Division 2 trophy to their mantle and first in almost three years after defeating the Kings in game where the Knights went up big early and then had to fend off a late charge. Both teams had five interceptions on defence, but it was the veteran Jim Bell’s six touchdown passes that were the difference.
While the Knights have played at the top level for years, the Kings showed they are one of the up and coming teams in the province. After moving up from Division 3, they showed they can hang with everyone in Division 2, making the final in their first season.
Division 3
Ducks 41 North Bay Elites 32
North Bay Elites won their regular-season game versus the Ducks by scoring on the final play and hitting the convert to win by a single point, so the Ducks were out for revenge in the finals!
The Ducks jumped out to a lead, but the Elites battle back to score and needed a stop on the final series to have another chance at a come from behind victory. Neil Walton had other plans and hit Phil Siemens with his sixth touchdown pass with only second remaining to seal the victory for the Ducks.
The Ducks go worst to first, having stumbled a bit in the Winter season, but rallying with a vengeance in the Spring!
Division 4
Brewers 27 Filthy Few 26
Filthy Few held a two-touchdown lead with less than 10 minutes remaining in the game and looked to have the Brewers down and out, however the Brewers defence flipped the switch and came up with three consecutive stops, led in large part by Jeff Kull’s five sacks against Filthy Few quarterback Danny Harris, who is regarded as perhaps the best running quarterback in Manitoba. Brewers quarterback Andrew Westwood seized on the opportunity his defence gave him and threw two touchdowns in the last few minutes of the game, one to Kyle Willis and one to Stephan Patushenko to ccp the come-from-behind victory and stun the crowd in attendance!
Division 5
Big Baller Brand 39 Law Firm 28
Big Baller Brand was poised to become the PIT Football version of the Buffalo Bills having lost two consecutive championship finals in spectacular fashion and poised to do the same in this game!
Down nine points late in the second half, the Big Baller Brand defence dug in and made some important stops after veteran Damian McKenize was substituted in to rush. The offence capitalized, scoring twenty points in the final frame to salvage the win.
Law Firm are loaded with young talent, so their day in the sun will come. Can the same be said for the Big Baller Brand? The average age for the Big Baller Brand is pushing 50 years, so we are hoping that the team doesn’t get “retired” like their company namesake!
Division 6
Flying Squirrels 51 Nighthawks 47
If you were a fan of offence, this was one of the highest-scoring games in PIT history!
The Nighthawks are loaded with talent, while the Flying Squirrels have made the transition from one of the most-decorated coed teams in Manitoba history to the men’s divisions. Game MVP Nick Trinder threw for six touchdowns and ran in another as the Nighthawks QB deserved a better fate on this day.
The only stops of the game the Flying Squirrels could muster came in the last two series, which keyed victory as Jon Franklin threw eight touchdown passes, the final two, including the game winner, to Kathryn Huebner with seconds remaining to cap a thrilling back and forth championship game.
Division 7
VaudeVillians 41 Venum 14
Venum has had the VaudeVillians number for a few seasons, defeating them both in the regular season and knocking them out of the playoffs, but the Spring season saw the two sides draw a little more even.
The VaudeVillians took their first ever victory from Venum during the regular season and were able to repeat the performance in the final with a resounding victory. Clint Wiebe threw six touchdown passes to five different receivers as Venum had no answer for the spread offence. Chaka Newman played his ever steady game and recorded three interceptions for the VaudeVillians as they continue to prove they are one of the best indoor teams in history!
Division 8
North Bay 32 The Avengers 26
The North Bay OG squad took on the Avengers, who may have been too busy battling Thanos to ensure they were ready for championship night!
This game saw the lead change hands three times in the final three minutes. The Avengers looked to win the game, when the brothers Loewen hooked up on a scoring play to put the Avengers up with just over a minute remaining. Former league MVP Raza Butt calmly led North Bay down the field and hit a long bomb to Kiril Kleinerman with second remaining. The Avengers had one last chance but unlike the movie, the Avengers were unable to turn back time to sway the battle in their favour!
Somewhere Thanos is pleased. Check out the amazing championship touchdown strike here.
Division 9
Touched by Angels 15 Ten Spas 7
Ten Spas was undefeated heading into the championship game however if you have followed the PIT over the past few years, you would know that undefeated teams meet with “the curse” and often take their first loss in a championship bout.
This was again the case as the two top scoring teams in Division 9 were held to just a combined 22 points. Wade Ryplanski led the Angels defence with five sacks and a safety, while Garth Irvine did just enough at quarterback throwing two touchdowns, one each to his brother Travis Irvine and to Fergus Branton to put an end to Ten Spas quest for a perfect season.
Former Rifles standout Andrew Ricard threw the lone touchdown pass for Ten Spas in the uncharacteristically low-scoring final.
Division 10
Wickermen 47 Football 19
The Wickermen finished atop the division with the most parity in the Spring season. It seemed every game was a barnburner during the regular season and that season-long playoff atmosphere prepared the Wickermen well in the finals!
After squeaking out a victory in the semi-finals, the Wickermen left no doubt in the final as they jumped to an early lead and kept the foot on the pedal. Tanner Smith threw a Division 10 record 7 touchdown passes in the championship game, three to leading scorer Alex Park to complete the rout.
Division 11
‘Hawks 7 Ninja Turtles 6
The Ninja Turtles were looking for their second straight title, but these heroes in a half shell were stymied in what turned out to be a tremendous defensive battle that included multiple goal line stops by both defences.
James Harron hit Kurt Conroy for the ‘Hawks only touchdown and what turned out to be the winning convert early in the game as both teams just couldn’t get things going on offence. Neither defence put up big numbers, just solid positional play by both teams led to the best defensive game of the night!
Division 12
North Bay Nation 25 Post Dig Picks Route 20
North Bay Nation pulled off a shocker as they knocked off the previously-undefeated Sober Bros in the semi-finals (the curse continues!) and then the heavily favourite and second-seeded Post Dig Picks Route in the finals.
Game MVP Raza Butt had quite a night, having earlier won the Division 8 championship, and had enough gas in the tank to put up a sack, a touchdown, and three touchdown passes on the stat line.
Jesse Harris had 14 points for the Post Dig Picks, however it was definitely a night to celebrate if you are from North Bay!
Division 13
B Team 24 White Men Can Jump 13
The B Team has become the A Team (or, at very least, the B+ Team) after they captured their first championship title after two consecutive less than stellar seasons.
I don’t know if the curse is afraid of B.A. Baracus, but the B Team was able to successfully navigate the perfect season, joining the ’72 Dolphins. While Don Shula might not be sipping champagne with the B Team, he should acknowledge Colin Pich who scored all 24 points for the B Team, and Chris Silva who carved up the WMCJ defence with four touchdown passes.
Division 14
Pirates of North Bay 18 TD Twisters 6
The North Bay franchise captured their third title of the Spring season, narrowly missing out on winning all four championships for which they were in contention.
The Pirates plundered the TD Twisters lead with six sacks by Henry “The King of the Lounge” Oyugi and three touchdown passes by Tyrone Oakley. Abbas Butt returned from a serious ankle injury early . . . to put up zero stats, but “The Coach” was able to help navigate the waters to victory, as the Pirates go looking for their next championship trophy.
The champs are from North Bay. This small Ontario town has become quite the touch football player factory!
Division 15
D3F 27 Dilligafs 14
D3F joined the B Team as the only touch teams to complete the perfect season in the Spring and did so in their first season in the league!
D3F was helmed by rookie quarterback Arminder Warha who threw like a seasoned vet, leading the division in touchdown passes. Arminder continued to dissect defences in the playoffs and threw for five touchdowns in the final, three to Jordan Demerchant. The Down to Football franchise, to which D3F belongs, is beginning to give North Bay a run for their money as the most storied franchise in PIT Football. It will be fun to watch this franchise climb the ranks in future seasons.
Division 16
Top Shottas 24 Suckskatchewan Seniors 18
The Suckskatchewan Seniors finished atop their division for the second straight season, and unfortunately for them they were felled in the championship game for the second straight season.
The Top Shottas road “the curse” to victory, handing the Seniors their first loss of the season and giving the Shottas their second consecutive Spring season title. Daniele Cisternino showed why he is the team captain, leading his team to victory with a stat line that included a sack, an interception, and two touchdown receptions.
The Suckskatchewan Seniors will go back to the drawing board as they attempt to secure their first championship in the PIT!
Division 17
Crusty Crusaders 26 Delayed Projects 20
The Crusty Crusaders won their first-ever PIT Football championship and were able to do so on the final play of the game in what was the most exciting finish of the night!
The seemingly immortal Darryl Packulak hit Patrick Monchamp with a strike on the final play to win the game and set the crowd that gathered to watch into a frenzy! Darryl hit four different receivers for touchdowns, including one to Jeremy Delisle who made an acrobatic catch. Ziggy Haluik led the charge for Delayed Projects with a touchdown, two interceptions and a touchdown pass, but it was not enough to stop the Crustys from crusading to their first championship.
The PIT Football league is the official touch and flag football league of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. PIT Football would like to thank the Winnipeg Football Club for helping grow the game of touch football in the province!
Summer registration indoor registration is open until May 25th for players or teams looking to get in on the action! Check out www.PITFootball.com for more information.
