Just call them the Cochrane Snow Lions.
With the game on the line, and the Calgary Broncos kicking at the door, the Lions defence dug deep into the morning blizzard to defend their den.
The epic three-down, goal-line stand with less than a minute to go in the Nov. 2 tilt ensured the Lions would win the Calgary Peewee Football Association Division 3 city championship 18-12 over the Broncos at Calgary’s Shouldice Park, Stampeder Field.
It’s the second time in as many weeks the defence has been summoned in white-out conditions to hold the fort. Cochrane’s 13-0 semifinal win the previous Saturday over Calgary’s Hilltoppers was largely the defence’s doing.
“Another tough, snow-bowl type of game,” elated head coach Paul Vaillancourt said immediately following the city championship. “And another courageous win by the Lions. We’re so proud of the guys.”
Coaches parsed game film from the snow-filled Oct. 26 semifinal win over Hilltoppers and crafted a bad-weather game plan for their 11- 12-year-old players in the Nov. 2 city championship.
“We did not attempt to pass once today,” Vaillancourt stated, citing Cochrane’s key interception of a Hilltoppers pass last week that was the dagger in that tilt. “Sometimes what you don’t do is as important as what you do.”
Quarterback Xavier Vaillancourt scored a touchdown on a dive up the middle and Dawson Gladue ran for two scores. None of the point-after attempts by either team succeeded.
“Our whole team did an excellent job,” said fullback Isaiah Springer, sporting a welt on his right cheek from taking a whack in the game. “Our O-line was crisp and perfect. As a unit, we did exceptional.”
Lions quarterback Vaillancourt, who’s been coping with a knee injury, could only watch as Cochrane’s defence was on the field to seal the deal.
“It’s tough being on the sidelines when the game’s on the line. They (Broncos) have a good player in the backfield, but you just have to shut him down.”
Next for the Lions is a Nov. 16 date for a Division 3 provincial championship – opponent to be determined – at Shouldice Park, Hellard Field, noon kickoff (1 p.m. if no bantam final).
