PIT Football had an exciting, abbreviated summer season of touch and flag football.
Despite the late start to the season, it was perhaps one of the best summers for outdoor football. The weather cooperated, the fields were in perfect condition, and the play on those fields was outstanding!
A shout out to our women’s provincial flag team, which capped off a very rare undefeated outdoor season. Parity also reigned supreme as almost half the teams (nine of 19) that won their respective divisional finals were the underdogs going into championship weekend!
Highlights of the championship finals can be found here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CjWcWO2gT88/?hl=en
Flag Division
Flag Football Coaches Who Drive Vans (Frank the Tanks) 26 Here for Beer 15
The Women’s Provincial Flag team who finished seventh at Nationals in the Spring continued their winning ways in the Summer becoming the only team to go undefeated.
After an 11-0 regular season, the Tanks jumped out to a comfortable advantage, led by two touchdowns receptions by McKinly Rochon and six points from Ramey Goetz. Amanda Wong replied with the only offensive touchdown from Here for Beer, who made the game interesting with a safety and an interception returned for a touchdown in the final quarter.
However, the Beers couldn’t stop the potent Tanks offence and their bid for undefeated immortality. The season of outdoor football should help the provincial team climb the rankings at the next national tournament.
Coed Division
Here for Beer 14 Dillo House Party 7
While Here for Beer couldn’t pull off the Flag football championship, they did take the coed title in a defensive battle against the top seeded Dillo House Party.
The Dillos defence only gave up one touchdown on the day and was led by interceptions from Cara Isaak and Lauren Garbutt. However, Here for Beer had an even better defensive effort, scoring eight of their 14 points on the defensive side of the ball.
The defensive juggernaut was led by game MVP Kene Nnadi, who had both a safety and pick six while rushing the quarterback! It was those points on defence which were the difference maker in this game.
5 v 5 Division 1
Knights 38 MonStars 18
The Knights showed why they were the top seed in the 5v5 division, having knocked off all comers during the regular season and outscoring their opponents 84-36 in the playoffs.
Owen Kornelsen scored four touchdowns in the championship game for the Knights to win MVP honours. Stephen O’Leary replied with two touchdowns for the MonStars, but the dropped pick six might have been the game changer.
The MonStars kept it close until halftime, at which time the Hall of Fame Knights team blew the game open to add to their legacy of championships.
5 v 5 Division 2
MennoKnights 45 Big Baller Brand 38
The Division 2 final took the cake as the best game of championship weekend, and the one with the wildest finish!
Big Baller took a 31-15 lead into halftime, scoring on a Hail Mary on the final play of the half. That play should have been the dagger to just play out the remaining time. Credit the MennoKnights for not quitting, storming back, and putting up and incredible 30 points in the final 30 minutes.
Big Baller still had a chance to win the game, scoring right at the three-minute warning and then getting the ball back with just over a minute remaining to set up a final drive for the win. Big Baller drove to the one-yard line, however, with just seconds remaining, Kyler Harder intercepted a pass in the end zone to end triple B and give the Mennoknights the incredible comeback victory.
5 v 5 Division 3
Loose Cannons 33 No Yelling 20
Loose Cannons and No Yelling were the two bottom seeds in Division 3, and both knocked off the top teams in the division en route to the finals. This game was as much a roller-coaster ride as was these two team’s ascents on the championship game.
Loose Cannons jumped out to a big early lead, only to have No Yelling come storming back to nearly tie the game midway through the second half. It was that wake-up call that spurned the Loose Cannons to re-wrestle control of the game, scoring two late touchdowns. Shawn Pachet (early) and Joey Faraci (late) both put up 13 points for the Cannons.
This game was the definition of any given Sunday!
5 v 5 Division 4
Cutest Show on Turf 20 Gang Green 13
The St. Vital Mustangs took on the Vincent Massey Trojans, with the Cutest Show on Turf taking the inter-conference football championship.
Gang Green took an early lead and looked in control up 13-0, but the Cute ones scored 20 unanswered to take the Division 4 trophy.
Gang Green put up a valiant effort, however their top scorer and quarterback were both summoned by McMaster to play for the Marauders, which put them at a bit of a disadvantage come playoffs.
The showstoppers took full advantage and ground out an uncharacteristically low scoring victory between these two offensive juggernauts.
5 v 5 Division 5
MegaPowers 32 Beer Guts 8
The Beer Guts went wire to wire in Division 5 during the regular season, however this is why we play the games!
Matthew Dueck did his best Hulkster impression to Jock Christie’s Macho Man as these two went all SummerSlam ’88 on the Beer Guts. Jock threw for five touchdown passes — four to Mr. Dueck.
The Beer Guts were forced to go deep often to try to make up ground quickly, however that just played into the MegaPowers’ defence who had three interceptions on the day. Fast forward, and the MegaPowers put the three-count on the Beer Guts to raise the championship belt.
Watcha gonna do when the MegaPowers run wild on you?
5 v 5 Division 6
Sonic Youth 45 Onslaught 25
Youth was served in this game as the young upstarts Sonic Youth took it to the veterans from Onslaught.
The game was close at halftime as Mike Funk from Onslaught caught both a long bomb touchdown and took an interception to the House.
Sonic Youth regrouped at halftime and proceeded to score at will in the second half. Four different Sonic Youth players scored, including Riley Hansen who had 18 points — fresh off his National Flag Team championship game where Riley also put up three scores in victory.
It was quite the summer of football for Riley and his teams!
Division 1
Rebellion 31 Dirty Dozen 28
Rebellion captured their fourth consecutive Division 1 title over their sister team the Dirty Dozen. Even more impressive is that they were able to stop Peg City’s attempt at sweeping the Division 1 championship across all four seasons of football.
Rebellion will be given Manitoba’s top seed at the National Tournament held in Markham, Ontario. Ideally, Rebellion (or one of our other Manitoba entries) will be able to bring home Manitoba’s first touch football national title since 2011.
The Dirty Dozen nearly pulled the upset as this game came down to the wire, however they just couldn’t stop CeeJay Powell and his three touchdowns and a convert in the victory.
Division 2
North Bay Summer Squad 19 The Kings 13
Last summer the Summer Squad (AKA the Guild) were the top seed and were able to knock off the fourth place Kings in the final.
This year, the Summer Squad had to win their last game and hope for some help just to get into the Division 2 playoffs. Once the Summer Squad secured their playoff birth they played some of their best football of the season. First, they defeated the top seeded Blount Force and then second seeded Kings in the final for the upset and the two-peat.
The Kings did have a chance to win the game with the ball on their opponents 5-yard line on the last play of the game. A similar scenario played out in the regular season matchup between these two teams. The Kings had the ball on the 5-yard line and went wide side of the field for an impressive winning score. This time, Summer Squad was ready for the wide side play and were able to avenge their loss and take home the ‘ship.
Division 3
Strange Brew 27 Gym Class Heroes 26
In one of the best games of championship weekend, the veterans Strange Brew took a one-point victory over the up-and-coming Gym Class Heroes.
The Heroes put on a time-clock management clinic as they had possession of the ball for approximately 75 percent of the game. The difference was Strange Brew’s ability to make some circus catches at crucial moments of the game to either extend drives or score points.
The Gym Class Heroes defence was stout, however they just couldn’t stop the second comings of OBJ that quarterback Steve Nabess had at his disposal. Khaleel Hosein led the Strange ones with eight points and numerous highlight reel catches.
Division 4
Win or Lose We Drink Booze 16 The Gamecocks 15 (Overtime)
Both teams struggled to move the ball consistently in this game, and the defences looked overwhelming.
Win or Lose took at 13-0 lead early, before the Gamecocks defence clamped down. Halfway through the fourth quarter it remained the same score before the Gamecocks battled back to tie the count and send the game into overtime.
From two anemic offences during the game to two unstoppable forces in overtime. The first five one-point converts were all completed until on the sixth convert the Gamecocks went for two to end the game (this was the right call!).
Despite making the correct decision, Win or Lose made the defensive play, sending the team to a local Speakeasy to Drink their booze.
Division 5
Running Riot 39 North Bay Panthers 20
Running Riot is just a different animal come playoff time.
During the regular season the Riot were 5-7 and often played with close to the minimum number of allowable players. Cue playoffs and this team had a committed squad out and ran roughshod over their opponents!
Jon Mark Neufeld threw for six touchdown passes (a season high), while Jeremy Yuen scored 14 points (a season high) and Steven Nikkel took down two interceptions (you guessed it, a season high).
This game was less about what North Bay could have done better, and more about running into a Running Riot team that year after year dials it in for playoffs with some great individual performances.
Division 6
DTF x PDPR 35 Past our Primetime 18
DTF x PDPR ruined Past Our Primetime’s bid at an undefeated season during the final weekend of the regular season.
But that shouldn’t matter to the team who only lost once, had the top quarterback, and highest scoring player during the regular season right? Wrong.
DTF apparently has Past Our Primetime’s number as they beat them for the second time in three weeks, this time on Championship Sunday to take down the coveted Division 6 trophy.
PDPR was led by game MVP Armi Warha’s 25 points as they cruised to victory on the turf at Murray Field over a Past our Primetime team that was clearly not DTF.
Division 7
Necessary Roughness 21 Rebels 19
Necessary Roughness matched their playoff win total to their regular season win total!
The season begins anew in the playoffs and Necessary Roughness took that to heart as they knocked off the top two seeds to win the Division 7 championship the hard way.
Game MVP Neal Einarson threw three touchdown passes to three different receivers, including the game winner to his favourite target Mike Searcy.
There is truth to the adage of ‘just get into the playoffs and you will never know what will happen’!
The Rebels scored twice on offence and one on defence to keep the game close, but the curse of the Rebels franchise continues as that ever-elusive championship persistently stays just out of reach.
Division 8
Wickermen 45 Glue Factory 7
The Wickermen took full advantage of the Glue Factory playing without their starting quarterback, through a stifling defence while scoring nearly at will.
While most championship games during the summer playoffs were close and came down to the wire, this game was a rout from the start. Tanner Smith threw for five touchdown passes on offence, while the Wickermen defence had seven interceptions on the day. The Glue Factory’s dreams of a second straight summer championship were quickly dashed.
Game MVP Zachary Hares celebrated in style winning tickets to the first-place clinching Bomber game for his efforts!
Division 9
Kraken 21 Trigger Happy Bunnies 0
The Kraken win???? That can’t be right. *Checks notes* Indeed, the Kraken did win a championship!
The Kraken may be the most snakebitten team in the league, having made it to numerous championship games over the last five or six years, not only to lose, but to lose in spectacular fashion.
Give up 60 points, check.
Score zero points, check.
Do both! Check.
The football Gods decided to balance the scales a little and the Kraken won the Division 9 championship comfortably on the strength of some great defence and the two touchdown receptions and two interceptions from game MVP Joel Bohemier.
The Kraken finally get the sea monkey off their back!
Division 10
Huddle Buddies 25 Cobras 20
The Cobras were in a second straight summer championship final and were hoping not to start a Buffalo Bills-esque losing streak, whereas the Huddle Buddies were trying to cap off their first-place regular season finish in style.
This game was all Huddle Buddies through three quarters as they led 25-6 with 10 minutes remaining. Cue the furious comeback where the Cobras scored 14 straight including forcing the Huddle Buddies to concede a safety with enough time remaining on the clock for one last Cobras’ drive.
A curious decision to take the ball on their thirty-five instead of having the Huddle Buddies kick into the wind from their own 35 after the safety might have been the downfall for the Cobras as their desperation Hail Mary pass fell well short on the final play of the game.
Buffalo fans have placed the Cobras on notice.
Division 11
One Bourbon One Scotch and One Beer 21 Generation Gap 20
A solid game with a suspect finish allowed the champs to drink a cornucopia of different alcohols.
The two division 11 combatants played some solid defence (Bart Lange with two interceptions for Generation Gap, while Julien Labossiere registered four sacks for One Bourbon), and some great offence (Generation Gap QB John Jonker throwing for three touchdowns to three different receivers, and Bebo Innocent scoring three touchdowns for One Bourbon).
The last three minutes were a bit of a fiasco as neither team looked like they wanted to win! Both teams threw two interceptions with chances to either retake the lead or put the game out of reach.
With time mercifully ending, it allowed Troy “23 years without a championship” Thompson to finally raise the championship belt.
Summer MVP
Jason Cassie
Congratulations to Jason Cassie, who won the Summer Most Valuable Player award as voted by his peers.
After each game, teams pick the MVP from their opponents and the player that accumulates the most votes receives the MVP belt (and an array of prizes from our sponsors) at the end of the season.
This is Mr. Cassie’s third league most valuable player award. Perhaps we should change his name to MVP Cassie. Jason was also able to hoist the championship trophy with Sonic Youth team to cap off another great summer season for this PIT Football veteran.
The PIT Football league is the official touch football league of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Registration for the Fall indoor league is now underway. Information can be found here: https://pit.redzoneleagues.com/forums/messages/28332-fall-indoor-registration-opens#m28332 or by following @PITFootball on Instagram and Twitter.
