The Cochrane Lions wrapped up their perfect Calgary Peewee Football Association regular season (8-0) with a near-perfect performance Oct. 20 against the Calgary Golden Hawks at Calgary’s Shouldice Park.
A last-play touchdown by the Golden Hawks was the only blemish in a game dominated 38-8 by Cochrane. The Lions defence and offence were both on their game.
“Sometimes I go with the flow and sometimes I can tell what’s going to happen and change directions,” Lions fleet-footed running back Dylan Neis said following the contest. “That’s the kind of stuff we work on in practice. We work on dodging and how to get away, and holding the ball.”
Neis scored three touchdowns against the Golden Hawks and has been a scoring machine all season for Cochrane. Ethan Noble scored two TDs and Isaiah Springer scored one against the Golden Hawks.
Neis credits the offensive line for Cochrane’s scoring success.
“They’re really good. They block the defence which ever way they need to.”
Lions head coach Paul Vaillancourt has been supremely confident in this bunch from the season’s opening kickoff in August. He’s made no bones about his team’s skill, strength and preparedness.
“The last time we played these guys, it was 31-0. We’re probably going to see these guys (Golden Hawks) in the city final,” Vaillancourt said. “I’ve talked with confidence all season long. And that’s for these guys,” he added, pointing to his players.
“To inspire confidence. But never cockiness. We know this is football. You’re one play away, one injury away, from being bounced out.”
That was never more evident than on a second-half play that saw starting quarterback Xavier Vaillancourt hobble off the field with a hurt knee.
“I’m good. I fell on it,” the quarterback said following the game. “We have good players and good plays. We have three or four running backs and two wide receivers and lots of slotbacks. We have plenty of depth.”
He’ll be ready to go, as will the rest of the Lions for their Oct. 27 city semifinal against the Hilltoppers, 2:30 p.m. kickoff at Shouldice in Calgary.
