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Express Bantams go to OMFL championship

August 8, 2013   ·   0 Comments

The TNT Express Bantam Division had an outstanding season with a 7–2 record earning them the right to go the Ontario Minor Football League championship held at Esther Shiner Stadium in Toronto on Sunday, August 4.

In the end, the only team they lost to all season, the Orangeville Outlaws, again took the win in the final game.

The Outlaws were undefeated this season so the Express knew it was going to be a tough battle.

The Express scored first in Sunday’s championship with a first quarter crash through the Orangeville line.

The Outlaws battled back to tie it up in the first half then take a lead to have a 19–6 lead going into the second half.

The Express returned for the second half determined to get back in the game and made good yards starting with a long pass to receiver Ethan Irwin who made it to the goal line.

A late game TD from Tommy Stante after a long run brought the Express closer but they couldn’t make up the deficit before the clock ran out.

The final was 39–20 for Orangeville.

“Orangeville put up a great fight,” Said Express running back Denver Ross. “Our team, the Express, I’m proud of the guys. We did a great job. Everybody gave it their all.”

The fact that TNT scored first was a major factor in the game as no team has done that to the Outlaws all season.

“I have no doubt that shook them up,” Ross said of the Express opening the scoring. “But football is a contact sport, and they came back and they adapted. That’s what it’s all about.”

The Express coaching staff put together a solid team for this season and trained them well.

The team scored 229 points in the eight regular season games while allowing only 77 points against.

They won over bigger centres including a decisive mid-season victory over the Steel City Steelers.

At the end of the regular season the Express Bantams finished with a second place spot in the standings.

By Brian Lockhart

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