Capital Area Minor Football Association
"Subway" 12 Man Bantam League
2008  Game Summaries (Ages 14-15)

Published in the Daily Gleaner on November 17, 2008
Appeared on Page B4

Teams from the Capital Area Minor Football Association ran into some tough competition not to mention rough weather in pursuit of Maritime football championships Sunday at Rocky Stone Field in Moncton.

Both the Fredericton Junior Black Kats and George Street Crusaders fell short against their Nova Scotia opponents in Maritime bantam and pee wee football finals respectively.

The bantam final was particularly heartbreaking as the Kats fought back from a 14-0 deficit with two late fourth quarter touchdowns to force overtime only to lose 15-14 to the Annapolis Valley Bulldogs on a rouge after driving the ball down to the one-yard line before punting it out of the end zone for the margin of victory.

The pee wee final wasn't nearly as competitive as the Dartmouth Destroyers shut out the Crusaders 32-0.

In the bantam final, the Bulldogs scored on the game's first play as Brandon Patterson returned the opening kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown. The convert by Mitch Getson gave the Bulldogs an 8-0 lead right off the bat.

They extended that lead to 11-0 when Getson registered a field goal from 15 yards out late in the first quarter. The Bulldogs could managed another field goal by Getson from about 15 yards out with the wind in the second quarter to take a 14-0 lead into the second half.

Even though they had the wind to begin the second half, the Jr. Black Kats couldn't muster anything offensively, partly because MVP running back Jake DeWolfe sprained an ankle just before the half and was unable to continue.

Facing the wind and with the rain pouring down on the field, the Kats defence rose to the occasion, forcing a couple of turnovers to create scoring chances. And the Kats capitalized with quarterback Alex Dee passing to Mathieu MacDonald from about 15 yards out for one touchdown. Another turnover set up another Dee touchdown pass, this one to Pat Surette from about 25 yards out. Jeremy Boutot was able to convert one of the two majors, making the score 14-14 and forcing an overtime shootout.

The Kats started with the ball on their own 35-yard line. However,they fumbled, allowing the Bulldogs a chance to close the deal. And they did, marching down to the one-yard line before earning the rouge for the margin of victory.

In the pee wee final, the Destroyers dominated early on, getting a 30-yard touchdown run from quarterback Cody Cluett to take an early lead. Nevel Provo added a five-yard TD run in the second quarter and with the Travis Stanfield convert, Dartmouth was up 14-0. Cluett added another major score on a 1-yard plunge just before the half to make it 20-0 at the break.Cluett threw touchdown passes to Connor Moore and Daniel Sule in the fourth quarter to put the final points on the board for Dartmouth.

By Bill Hunt 
Published in the Daily Gleaner on November 10, 2008
Appeared on Page B1

The Fredericton Junior Black Kats put their noses to the grindstone Sunday afternoon at Chapman Field - and came away with the New Brunswick bantam football championship.

Running back Jake DeWolfe racked up some key yards along the ground before driving across from the one-yard line for the go ahead touchdown in the third quarter and went up the middle for 38 yards to set up the fourth quarter clincher by Garret Gee to lift the Kats to a come from behind 20-8 victory over the Hampton Huskies.

For the Kats, it represents the continuation of an unbeaten season - although the Huskies provided a bit of a scare, certainly.

Kats opened the scoring in the first quarter when starter Alex Dee connected with wide receiver Mathew MacDonald on a 26-yard pass and run on the final play of the first quarter.

Hampton got it back when Ben Shepard, their impressive pivot, put together a second quarter drive highlighted by a 44-yard pass and run to Sam Merrithew that set the Huskies up first and 10 from the Kats 30. They marched it from there to the Kats three, where Peter Morell finally cracked over. The booted convert made it 8-6 for the Huskies at the half.

No problem.

"We just put more effort into the second half I guess," said DeWolfe, who enjoys the contact and the heavy traffic inside. "It's enjoyable," he said. "There's a lot more contact involved."

The key play, everyone agreed, came in the third quarter. Kats were trailing with the clock ticking, failing to move the ball in three downs and, facing fourth and long on the Hampton 52, forced to punt it away.

Tom McGinn got downfield and pounced on a fumble by Hampton punt return man Geoffrey Wilson, and the Kats took over first and 10 from the Hampton 23.

Six plays later, DeWolfe was bringing it to the house - and the Kats were on their way to bringing home the Samuel Babb Trophy as provincial bantam champs.

"That could be it," admitted the modest McGinn, asked to find the turning point in it all. "But there was some tough running by Jake. He did a good job. There wasn't really a turning point in this game. I expected it to be a tougher game. I knew we were going to win. I had a feeling we were going to win."

Arsenault, who took over at quarterback from starter Alex Dee at the half - that was the game plan all along - agreed.

"We knew we were going to win," he said. "Our team. It's a good team. Once we got that touchdown to go ahead, we knew we were going to win."

Coach Mark Dee was proud of his team.

"They were committed today," he said. "Friday at practice they weren't ready. They were a different football team today. We knew we were going to have a hard game, but mentally, I think the boys were prepared. At halftime, we made an adjustment defensively, and we went back to basics, pounding the ball off tackle. When they started bringing the house, we rolled out of the pocket and had some crossing routes and threw the ball."

There's a medal collection in the Dee household, with head coach Mark and sons Oliver and Alex sporting gold from the bantam championship and youngest son Charlie earning his gold earlier in the day with the Crusaders.

"It's a happy household," he said. "Matching medals. Now we're looking forward to next week."

By Bill Hunt 
Published in the Daily Gleaner on November 7, 2008
Appeared on Page B5

The Fredericton Junior Black Kats bantam boys football team will rely on their 'D' - and on their Dees - Sunday.

The Black Kats, the champions of the Capital Area Minor Football Association 14-15 (Grade 9 and 10) age group, put their unbeaten season record on the line against the Hampton Huskies at 3 p.m. at Chapman Field in provincial football's version of Super Sunday. The George Street Crusaders peewee boys team kicks things off at 1 p.m. when they battle the Lancaster Abbies for the provincial banner in the boys 12-13 age group.

The games are on the turf at Chapman Field - but for the Kats, it might as well be Sesame Street.

This game brought to you by the letters Dee and Gee.

There's that impregnable defence of theirs of course, which second-year head coach Mark Dee notes has been a key to their unbeaten status. But there are all those other Dees too. There's one on the sideline - head coach Mark. One on offence - 14-year-old quarterback Alex. And one on defence - 15-year-old outside linebacker Oliver. There's even one on the Crusaders - 12-year-old Charlie, the baby of the football family.

There's a Gee too. Running back Garett, who scored a key touchdown late in the first half and then the winner in overtime to preserve the unbeaten season and lift the Black Kats past the Oromocto Tigers to a 24-19 victory and into the provincial title tilt.

But Dee - the dad - believes it will come down to the D. Hold the vowels.

As offensively gifted as the Black Kats may be - and they are - "I've told the guys the strength of the team, the reason we win, is on defence."

The guys who carry much of the mail in the offensive backfield, league outstanding player, 195-pound truck Jake DeWolfe, and his offensive running mate, league all-star Garett Gee - also are fierce linebackers.

DeWolfe and Shawn Reid are the inside linebackers, Dee and Gee are on the outside, "and in the opinion of most coaches, that's the best linebacking corps in the province," said Mark Dee. "The way we'll play Hampton, there will be a lot of linebacker tackles in the backfield come Sunday."

When it's necessary, mind you.

The Black Kats have a high-powered offence: Alex Dee the scrambler and Kyle Arsenault the pocket passer, working one quarter on, one quarter off at quarterback. They get the ball to guys like the tall and sure-handed Grade 10 rookie, six-foot-three Peter Esson, or the lightning quick Tommy McGinn, with Gee and Patrick Surette and Thomas Tremblay also providing ample targets. They combined for more than 1,000 yards passing in six regular season games - all victories. They outscored opponents 180-29 along the way.

"The big thing is, we have an outstanding offensive line," Dee said. "They give the guys time to pass, they block well and we've had very few sacks."

Centre Colin Gerrard is a key, snapping the ball to whichever quarterback happens to be working out of the shotgun formation which triggers most of the offence.

After winning just one game in bantam last season, the Kats knew they had the elements to achieve something special this season.

"I think we had the expectation of a good season," said Dee. "We knew we were going to have a special group of athletes. We weren't surprised."

It almost came to a premature end last week with a dogfight against the Blues. The Kats trailed most of the first half until Gee took it to the house on a 30-yard run with less than a minute left in the first half. The Kats kicked the convert to go up 8-6 at the half.

They added another TD to go up 14-6 but the pesky Blues sent it to overtime with a touchdown and a convert with less than three minutes left and the Kats had to cash on the second series of "shootout" overtime to win the Mike Dollimore Trophy and the right to keep going Sunday.

In hindsight, the scare - some of it could be traced to the two-week layoff prior to the Dollimore Trophy game - might have been good for them, Dee said. "One hundred per cent," he said. "Seeing some kids step up and basically refuse to lose ... there were a group of them who rose to the occasion. And then everybody rose. Being tested ... if we're in a close game with Hampton, that may make the difference for us."

Regardless of what happens, Dee won't be disappointed.

"There's no question Hampton will be ready to come play us Sunday. We would be extremely disappointed if we didn't have the outcome we hope for for this year.

"A loss wouldn't ruin it,'' he said. "There's been too much good happen over the season. The plan is to win. But it's been a great year."

The Fredericton Junior Black Kats put their unbeaten season record on the line tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Chapman Field against the Oromocto Junior Blues as championship weekend kicks off in the Capital Area Minor Football Association.

At stake is the Mike Dollimore Trophy, which goes annually to the 12-man bantam-aged (14-15) champion in the capital-area circuit, and a berth next in the Samuel Babb Bowl provincial championship game, set for Chapman Field on Nov. 9 at 3 p.m. against the winner of a semifinal between Riverview and Hampton.

The Kats have steamrollered to a 6-0 record this season in the 12-man circuit, including a 30-14 win over the Blues in their last meeting on the turf of Chapman Field Oct. 13.

Head coach Mark Dee says playing the game under the lights and on the state of the art field turf at Chapman "changes the experience for everyone. It's how they do it across America on Friday nights," he said.

The Kats have traditionally been a defensive powerhouse, but with quarterbacks Alex Dee and Kyle Arsenault hitting receivers Pat Surette, Thomas Tremblay, Garett Gee and rookie Peter Esson, they've combined for more than 1,000 yards passing in six regular season games.

"We're lucky to have players who can execute a college playbook at this level," said Dee.

Jack DeWolfe leads the rushing attack and is also a defensive force, leading the team in tackles.

The Black Kats opened the season with a narrow 13-12 win over the Blues in the season-opening jamboree at Chapman Field Sept. 5. Since then, they've outscored opponents 180-29, including a 25-7 win over the Blues Sept. 16 in Oromocto. The Blues bring a 3-3 record into the kickoff.

The 8-man junior final is set Sunday at 1 p.m. featuring the Northside Junior Lions against the Junior Black Kats at Chapman. At 3 p.m., the Middle School final will pit the George Street Crusaders against the Oromocto Tigers, with the winner advancing to the provincial peewee final Nov. 9 at 1 p.m. against either Sackville or Lancaster.

Oct. 26                                              Semi Final

                     Oromocto Junior Blues 63 Northside Junior Lions 0 

          Austin Dalton, Peter Wilde and Joel Toole each had a pair of TDs for the Blues. James Mitchell and Mitch McCoy added one touchdown each. McCoy also ran for a convert, kicked five converts and a field goal. Xavier Richards ran for a convert.

Oct. 17                                         North-South Bowl X

                     Fredericton Junior Black Kats 46 Northside Junior Lions 0 

          Peter Esson and Thomas Tremblay caught TD passes from Kats QB Alex Dee. Kyle Arsenault connected with Esson for six more points. Garrett Gee ran for a pair of touchdowns. Jake DeWolfe added another major on the ground. Jermey Boutot kicked five converts.
          

Oct. 13            Fredericton Junior Black Kats 30 Oromocto Junior Blues 14 

          Kats QB Alex Dee connected with Peter Esson for a pair of TDs. Jake Dewolfe ran for a touchdown and Tom McGinn returned an interception for six  more points. Jeremy Boutot added three converts.
         Blues pivot James Mitchell passed to Pat Haley for one TD and James Wilde ran for another. Tyler Merrett kicked the convert.   

Oct. 3                 Oromocto Junior Blues 51 Northside Junior Lions 0 

          Blues pivot Mitch McCoy threw two TD passes to James Mitchell. Xavier Richards had two TDs. Ian Smith and Joel Toole added another major each. Mitchell recovered a fumble for six more points. McCoy booted four converts and ran for one.

Sept.  26              Fredericton Junior Black Kats 51 Northside Junior Lions 8 

          Peter Esson and Pat Surette caught a pair of TD passes from Kats QBs Alex Dee and Kyle Arsenault. Thomas Tremblay and Mathieu MacDonald also caught touchdown passes. Reid Johnson ran for another Kats major. Jermey Boutot kicked four converts and ran for another.
          Lions pivot Jason Hearn passed to Mitchell Stevens for their score. He also kicked the convert.

Sept. 19              Oromocto Junior Blues 30 Northside Junior Lions 0 

          Blues pivot Mitch McCoy threw TD passes to James Mitchell and Jessy Godin. Peter Wilde and Ian Smith each rushed for six pointers. McCoy booted three converts.  

Sept.  16              Fredericton Junior Black Kats 25 Oromocto Junior Blues 7 

          Jake DeWolfe had a pair of touchdown runs and Kats QB Alex Dee connected with Garrett Gee on a 40 yard pass and run for the Kats scores. Jeremy Boutot added three converts. Peter Esson kicked a single.
         Jessy Godin returned an interception 30 yards for the Blues TD. Mitch McCoy kicked a single.  

Sept.  12              Fredericton Junior Black Kats 28 Northside Junior Lions 0 

          Kats QB Alex Dee connected with Andrew Fauvelle on a 30 yard pass and run for the Kats first score. Jeremy Boutot added the convert.
          Garrett Gee returned a punt 60 yards for the Kats second major. Boutot's convert made it 16-0 after one quarter.
          Kats pivot Kyle Arsenault hooked up with Peter Esson on a 60 yard pass and run for another six points. Arsenault also found Thomas Tremblay alone in the end zone from 10 yards out for the Black Kats final score just before halftime.
          The second half was scoreless.

Sept.  9              Oromocto Junior Blues 43 Northside Junior Lions 0 

          With the wind at their backs the Blues engineered first quater touchdowns from Zach MacLaren and James Mitchell.
          In the second quarter the Lions gained the wind advantage and drove to the Oromocto two yard line before turning the ball over on downs. The Blues took the ball and marched 108 yards for another TD. This time James Mitchell passed to Mitch McCoy for the major. McCoy converted his own major to stretch the lead to 20-0.
          The Lions mounted a drive of their own inside the Blues ten yard line just before the half. However an untimely fumble gave the ball back to Oromocto as the half ended.
          The Blues reeled off three unanswered second half touchdowns to put the game out of reach. Austin Belliveau Dalton had a pair of long runs and Mitchell hooked up with McCoy for another six pointer. McCoy booted two more converts and MacLaren ran for an extra point.    

Sept.  5              Fredericton Junior Black Kats 13 Oromocto Junior Blues 12 

          The Black Kats jumped out to an early 13-0 lead on Kyle Arsenault's10 yard TD pass to Pat Surette, Jake DeWolfe's 1 yard plunge and Tom McGinn's run for a one point convert.
          The Blues narrowed the gap to 13-6 on James Mitchell's 10 yard TD run just before the half.
          Mitchell hooked up with Mitch McCoy on a 30 yard TD pass with less than a minute remaining in the game. The Kats blocked the convert attempt to hold on for the victory.