PIT Football made a return to indoor football after over a year and a half away from the game due to the Covid-19 restrictions.
A remarkable 119 teams registered in our first season back since the pandemic began and challenged for 24 championship trophies! Despite the long layoff, the PIT ‘Curse of the Top Seed’ was still in full affect as only six of the 24 top seeds took home a trophy. And of the 10 undefeated teams going into the playoffs, only five finished the season unscathed.
Amazing parity among the teams where anyone can win on any given day!
Coed Division 1
Assassin Legends 40 Murder Hornets 18
The Assassins Legends made a triumphant return to coed, murdering the Hornets in the coed Division 1 final.
The brothers Robson combined for 32 of the 40 points as the guys on the Assassins coed team did the heavy lifting In contrast, the Murder Hornets ran a more spread offence as Ramey Goetz and Vanessa Hogue lead the team in receptions, while Nick Trinder cleaned up at the goal line.
The Assassins ended the record-breaking run of the Connor McDavids and look to begin their own line of coed succession.
Coed Division 2
Flying Squirrels 39 D2 Hustlers 26
The previous all-time winningest coed team, the Flying Squirrels, returned from playing in the men’s divisions to defeat the D2 Hustlers in a furious comeback in the Division 2 championship final.
Down two scores for most of the game, the Squirrels showed their veteran savvy by chipping away at the deficit and finally taking the lead with only minutes remaining. The Squirrels were led by Dillon Clarke’s 25 points and two sacks, while the D2 Hustlers were guided by Summer MVP Armi Warha’s 19 points and one interception.
These two teams have some of the top female players in the province in Jessica Similar, Kathryn Huebner, Ramey Goetz, and Lauren Garbutt, all of which have taken home season MVP awards in previous years.
Coed Division 3
Running Pylons 13 Unnecessary Ruff-ness 6
The Running Pylons have always been on the cusp of championship glory and it was nice to see them finally break through.
All-world player Caden Caligiuri led the Pylons offence to victory, throwing scores to both Daniel Audit and Laura Dacey. Unnecessary Ruff-ness had a tough start to the season as this rookie-laden team tried to pick up the nuances of touch football. They got the hang of things halfway through and made a nice run to end the season, almost culminating in a championship trophy.
In the Winter season, watch out for this coed team!
Coed Division 4
Flipadelphia 26 Top Shottas 2.0 7
Never count anyone out in Touch Football!
Flipadelphia knocked off the top-seed and defending coed champs in the first round and then shut down the Top Shottas offence in the final to take home the coed division four title. Flipadelphia was led by Kevin Cortens, who is gaining quite the reputation as one of the best all-around players in the PIT. Kevin had two sacks, and four touchdown passes, all to Buster Kroeger.
The Top Shottas keep getting better with every season and we are sure they will get their hands on the championship trophy soon enough!
Coed Division 5
Birds of Prey 8 Quesa-Dillos 0
Congratulations to the Birds of Prey who not only won the first ever Division 5 coed championship, but also avenged their regular season defeat to the Quesa-Dillos. In doing so, the Birds of Prey became the first all female team to win a coed championship!
The Birds of Prey swarmed on defence, picking off seven balls, four by Angelica Mandapat and three by Division 5 MVP Aleena Kudlacek. After the loss, the Dillos were seen drowning their sorrows in mimosas and queso-dip.
Division 1
Peg City 2.0 31 Knights 25
Peg City got the monkey off their back by defeating their arch-nemesis in the semi-finals, then knocking off the previously undefeated Knights in the championship final.
The Knights have a very storied history, having their team already enshrined in the touch football hall of fame, and two players (Jim Bell and Jake Kornelsen) with busts in the HOF.Peg City is trying to reach that level of fame and did well to kick off that quest this Fall. Peg City was led by former Rifle and Bomber alum Andrew Ricard who had two touchdowns and a vital interception to help seal the victory.
Division 1 in the fall saw the resumption of some high scoring dramatic football games, something that has been missing from the division of late.
Division 2
Big Baller Brand 34 Guild of Calamitous Intent 20
Big Baller Brand shocked the world by knocking off the previously undefeated and reigning Division 2 champions Guild of Calamitous Intent in a game featuring some great receptions and defensive plays.
Big Baller started the season in Division 3 but punched their ticket to the Division 2 final with their finest season to date, continually knocking off higher seeded teams. Their only loss during the regular season was to the Guild.
The brothers Trinder led the Big Ballers with a combined 26 points and an interception, while the Guild was directed by former standout Bisons and Rifles quarterback Jamie Ybarra. On this day, age triumphed over youth.
The Guild, who are the all-time winningest franchise in Manitoba Touch Football history, will be back to avenge their loss in the Winter.
Division 3
Warriors 45 Gators 18
It was with a heavy heart that the Warriors played with during the regular season, dedicating their play to Scott Naujoks who passed away just prior to the season beginning.
Scott was a long-time player in the PIT and was on the Manitoba Bisons coaching staff at the time of his passing. Scott was in the Warriors corner during the final as they played their finest game of the season on both sides of the ball.
Timmy Solypa ensnared the Gators with 20 points and two interceptions, while JJ Mikolash had five touchdown passes and one on the ground to lead the Warriors to victory in their dedication game to #85.
Division 4
North Bay Elites 25 Mapetown 19
The North Bay Elites were one of the few top seeds to take home the gold and avoid the curse of the undefeated regular season in this battle of geographic references.
Dharmpal Brar tried to extend the curse with his interception and three touchdown passes to three different receivers, however it was not enough to stop the homage to Mike O’Shea’s hometown.
The North Bay takeover of the PIT is almost complete as you will see jerseys, clothing, dedicated Instagram pages, and a cult-like following of players all led by football/criminal/lawful/imbibing mastermind Raza Butt. How soon until the league is run completely out of North Bay?!?!
Division 5
The Filthy Few 33 Yolksters 26
Unlike the Elites, the Yolksters couldn’t prevent the curse of the undefeated season, having been stunned by the Filthy Few in a masterful performance by Danny Harris. Mr. Harris had a touchdown, two sacks, and four touchdown passes as he continued to transform from an elite running quarterback to elite throwing quarterback.
Neil Smalley led the way for the Yolksters, throwing four touchdown passes of his own as both defences had trouble containing the multi-facet attack of each offence. In the end, it was that lone running touchdown which separated the teams and kept the curse intact.
Division 6
The Avengers 35 Awesome Luck 27
Awesome’s luck ran out and there was no endgame in this championship.
In perhaps the best game of championship night, these two teams combined for at least a dozen highlight reel catches as receivers on both teams put on a clinic of one-handers and toe-tappers.
The Avenger’s Jordan Loewen threw for five touchdown passes, three to his brother Ryan, as this superhero team up couldn’t be stopped simply by luck, nor by awesomeness.
Perhaps the MCU should take a page from these guys and have them featured in Phase Four rather than the lacklustre efforts being put out by Disney currently!
Division 7
The VaudeVillians 32 North Bay QB Roulette 18
QB Roulette almost revolutionized touch football…almost.
With a game plan of revolving quarterbacks, all nine members of the team would rotate plays at quarterback, center, and receiver. Each player had to be multi-dimensional and game plan on the fly when it was their turn to captain the huddle.
The top-seed however succumbed to the VaudeVillians (one of the best names in touch football), who avenged their regular season loss to Roulette and were able to successfully game plan against nine different offensive strategies.
In the end, the VaudeVillians capitalize on the En Prison roulette rule on route to victory.
Division 8
Necessary Roughness 26 North Bay 18
Long-time outdoor team Necessary Roughness finally dabbled in some indoor football and struck gold by knocking off the top seeded OG North Bay team to win the Division 8 championship.
Necessary Roughness had two sacks and eight interceptions on defence, but despite this monumental defensive effort were down two scores at halftime! Necessary Roughness made some halftime adjustments and came out in the second half swinging.
Led by Mike Cuma’s three interceptions and a sack, Necessary Roughness chipped away at the lead and finally came out on top with just second remaining on the clock.
One of the better comeback victories you will ever see!
Division 9
Rouge Gods 44 The Dark Side 8
It’s rare that a prequel is better than a final instalment in a Star Wars movie, but in this case the Dark Side showed well in the semi-finals knocking off the top-seed in the division.
However their midichlorian count (why ruin the force, Lucas?!!?) fell dramatically in the final as they were bounced by the Rouge Gods.
Vancouver Broncos alum Ethan Schnerch did his part for the Rebellion throwing five touchdowns, running for one, and getting his hands on three interceptions.
An all-world performance for the game MVP and a big reason why we aren’t currently ruled by the Empire.
Division 10
Buns a Glazing 55 Tightest Ends 8
Two double entendres collided and only one left with the trophy.
Unfortunately for the Tightest Ends, they were the top seed and thus had to also combat the wrath of the curse…which was in full force in this game.
St. Vital Mustang superstar teammates Riley Walters (13 points, two sacks, one interception) and Richard Wyss (seven touchdown passes, two interceptions, and seven points) capped off their tackle championship season with a touch football crown.
A double championship for the two sport athletes, with the double meaning.
Division 11
Bullet Club Farm Team 45 Bishop Sycamore 40
If you are a fan of offence, this was the game for you!
Both offences ran roughshod over their opposing defences as Braden Chappell (Bishop Sycamore) and Steve Nabess Sr (Bullet Club) combined to throw for 13 touchdown passes and nearly 1000 yards between them.
The lone stop of the game came on the final drive where Jaden Cope secured the Bullet Club win with the timely (and perhaps only) defensive play of the game.While the Bullet Club will add yet another trophy to their case, the PIT’s Bishop Sycamore proved they were no fluke and would probably take down IMG Academy if given the chance!
Division 12
Andriys Dream Team 22 ‘hawks 20
One of the top young teams in the league finally took home championship glory as the Dream Team upset the top-seeded and undefeated ‘hawks.
Kurt Conroy did his best to ward off the PIT curse with his 18 points and one interception, but it wasn’t enough as Zack Kent countered with 18 points of his own for the Dream Team and the game MVP.
Andriy and his bowtie-wearing monkey can now both rest easy as their dream of winning a touch football championship has come to fruition.
Division 13
Huddle Buddies 25 Last Call 12
The Huddle Buddies followed up their summer outdoor championship with a Fall indoor championship as they pulled the upset over the division leaders in Last Call.
Ian “Gunshow” Milne threw four touchdown passes to four different Buddy receivers as their spread offence was able to keep Last Call intoxicated. The Huddle Buddy defence were able to hold divisional scoring leader Dillon Clarke to “just” six points and an interception making it last call for Last Call.
Division 14
Trigger Happy Bunnies 40 TD Twisters 0
These Bunnies came out quick, never taking their hand off the trigger en route to a happy conclusion and a championship trophy!
Mattao Urciuoli put up an MVP performance with 14 points and two interceptions, while Jason “Connor MacLeod” Cassie continued to prove he is a highlander with a stat line of a sack, a touchdown pass, and 13 points for the Bunnies.
The Twisters usually-stout defence was overrun with Bunnies as this one was unfortunately (or fortunately depending on your perspective) over quick.
Division 15
Onslaught 45 Young Wild & Free 25
Onslaught quarterback Sean Godard had a career season, throwing for 33 touchdown passes in just five games, the second highest total in PIT history!
Sean continued his season for the ages by capping it off with seven touchdown passes in the final to take home the game MVP and the divisional championship. Mike Funk was a recipient of six of those touchdowns and was the only player in the league to eclipse the 100-point plateau during the regular season.
Rifles quarterback Thomas Hubbard tried to keep the Wild ones in the game by scoring two touchdowns, throwing for another, and hauling in an interception, but no one was going to stop the onslaught of Onslaught this season.
Division 16
Touched by Mummy 41 TNT 31
The Mummies touched off an explosive game with TNT as the two teams combined for the second highest scoring game of championship weekend.
Veteran stalwart David Olynyk had a career game, hauling in three touchdowns and an interception for TNT, but unfortunately that was no match for the 20 points and two interceptions from Cody Johnson and nine points and four sacks from game MVP Sukh Dhaliwal.
The score seems impossible considering the two teams combined for eight interceptions, however the two teams were ready to live and die by the deep ball, a game plan that in the end favoured the Mummies.
Division 17
Diamond Hands 19 Banda Makers 8
The Diamond Hands risk tolerance will have to go up after they captured the perfect season.
Led by the three touchdown passes of Maples Marauder legend Draygan Pilgrim, the Diamond Hands held their position and sold high when Draygan hit Seth Boulding to open the score in this defensive battle.
The Banda Makers had four players combine for five interceptions, however they couldn’t get their offense on track. Fall season divisional MVP Jivitesh Dhillon was held to just two singles which made the difference in this one.
Division 18
Bomber Boyz 33 Stone Cold Killas 0
It is only fitting that if the Blue Bombers win the Grey Cup that the team’s namesake should win a PIT Football championship as well!
Much like the Blue Bombers, the Bomber Boyz defense was suffocating, shutting out the Stone Colds and tallying two sacks and two interceptions along the way. Game MVP Andre “Kyrie Wilson” Vien had two interceptions, a sack, and two touchdowns as he ran all over the Killas. Five different players scored for the Bomber Boyz as their offence went total Zach Collaros on the night.
Just like the big club, the Bomber Boyz will hope to defend their championship in the Winter season.
Division 19
Crusty Crusaders 27 Scranton Stranglers 0
The Crusty ones have well over 100 years of touch football experience between them and it showed as they pulled out all the stops to take home the victory over the upstart team from Scranton.
The defence placed a stranglehold on Scranton combining for four interceptions and three sacks in the smothering shut out. Connor Machum led the crusade with an interception, a rouge, and three touchdown passes.
The Scranton defence played valiantly combining for six sacks and two interceptions, but the offence just couldn’t get on track. While Scranton didn’t take home the trophy, we can all rest knowing that it was Toby who did it!
The PIT Football league is the official touch football league of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. PIT Football would like to congratulate the Winnipeg Football Club on bringing the Grey Cup back to Winnipeg and for helping us grow the game of touch football in the province!
Registration for the Winter league can be found here: www.pitfootball.com
Coed and men’s divisions available. All skill levels welcome!
