Youth Tackle Football started (new)

The following article was submitted by Marc Mathon, head coach of the North Bay Bulldogs of the Northern Football Conference.

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The first time North Bay has ever seen kids playing real tackle football prior to high school was Saturday morning as the North Bay Bulldogs Youth Tackle Football League kicked off its inaugural season. The organizers were nervous, the coaches were not sure how it would go and the kids were tentative but excited.

During the summer, the Bulldogs entertained the fans with great football and this year, the Bulldogs players have been transformed into coaches helping to teach kids 11, 12 and 13 years old how to play football. Not only can you find Bulldogs players coaching at high schools around the city, this year and beyond, you’ll find some more coaching youth football.

“I was as nervous as I am before a big game, because we were doing something never done before in North Bay and you don’t really know if you’ve covered all the bases” said Marc Mathon. “The goal is to give these kids such a fun football experience that they’ll want to play this great game for a long time and teach them football skills along the way,” said the chairman of the youth tackle football committee Tom Graham.

“I was surprised at the natural cutback abilities that these kids were showing,” said game field coordinator John Whittett.

Prior to the first game, North Bay deputy mayor Peter Chirico and North Bay Ti-Cat (predecessor team of the Bulldogs) alumni marked the historic event by conducting a ceremonial kick-off.

“What a huge historical event for football in North Bay. Now somebody can play football from the age of 11 to 40 years old as they play through the ranks of Bulldogs Youth Tackle Football through high school and then with the Bulldogs football club,” said project coordinator Dean Paquette.

“Last winter we put out a call for volunteers and although we can still use some more help, some great people joined our organization to make this little dream come true” said Mathon. “What’s more important is that this is helping kids see their dreams come true.”

The inaugural season started with quite a bang as Derrick Garner of the Ti-Cats took the Riders’ opening kick off all the way to the end zone, scoring a 75-yard kick off return touchdown. But in six man football, there is no shortage of offence as the kids seem to have a natural instinct for running to open seams. On the ensuing kickoff the Riders returned it 39 yards. The offense drove down the field capping the drive by a 19-yard touchdown run by Jarrett Cauchy to tie the game.

The game proved to be exciting for the fans as well as it included some surprisingly good passing. One would assume kids that young cannot pass well. The Ti-Cat quarterback completed nine of 12 attempts for 221 yards. Derrick Garner caught eight8 passes for 200 yards.

The game was a very close affair as the teams found themselves exchanging touchdowns until half time with the score 40–32 for the Ti-Cats. Special teams made had a big impact on the game as the Ti-Cats scored twice on kickoff returns.

The third quarter found both teams getting more comfortable with that tackling aspect of the game as each team stopped their opponents on long drives.

The only scoring in the second half came on a 65 yard interception return by the Ti-Cats to put an end to a game tying drive the Riders were effectively putting together.

After a great first game the kids learned the important part of the game that involves shaking hands of the opponents and everyone went home thrilled.

The Ti-Cats finished the game with 114 yards rushing and 221 yards passing for 335 yards total offense with Shawn Larouche leading the team with 59 yards rushing. Defensively Andrew Cowcill led the Ti-Cats with five tackles.

On the Riders side Jarrett Cauchy led his team in receptions with 93 yards on four receptions and was the only target for quarterback Jesse Myre who completed four of 6 attempts. The Riders offensive line blocked well and gave Jarrett Cauchy the running lanes he needed to gain 148 yards on 11 rushes. Jonathan Wilkinson also provided 85 yards rushing on five carries. In total the Riders gained 240 yards on rushing and 93 passing for 333 yards total offence, matching the Ti-Cats 335 yards in this very close game.

Defensively, Jamie Quizon led his team with four tackles and Nathan Cerilli recovered a fumble.

To encourage the development of a kicking game, the league scores a kicked convert as two points and a scrimmaged convert as one point. Jesse Myre kicked a convert for the Riders and Garner booted two for the Ti-Cats.

In the second game, the Stamps took on the Argos which was also a very close game. The Argos had a very balanced attack with the league’s biggest players making it them tough to tackle. Just about every time they needed a short yardage effort, they got it as Spencer Garland of Silver Birches rumbled in from three yards out to cap off a 60 yard drive.

The Argos had the size, but the Stamps showed that they have some speed. On the very first play from scrimmage after the ensuing kickoff, the Stamps responded with a 55-yard touchdown run by David Fournier who provided everyone with excitement all during the game. Once again both teams exchanged scoring drives as the game stayed close through to the end.

On the Argos side, Spencer Garland and Cody Myre combined with Steven LeFaive for 101 yards rushing, while the play action pass was effective also as Delroy Henry caught three passes for 66 yards and two of them for touchdowns. Once again the kids showed they can pass as Dylan Pawson completed five passes on eight attempts for 103 yards. Overall eight different players carried the ball for the Argos as they finished the game with 159 yards rushing and 103 passing for a total of 262 yards.

Defensively, Mark Neethling led his team with four tackles including a big touchdown saver in the second half to keep the game close.

In the end it was the Stamps David Fournier who attracted the attention of the fans as he rushed for 270 yards and six touchdowns plus returning 2 kickoffs for touchdowns as well. His eight- touchdown performance was enough to propel his team to a 51–44 win.

Jacob Fournier scored a convert single with a run from five yards out.

Overall the Stamps finished the game with 391 yards total offence with 323 coming on the ground and 68 in the air.

Robert Tiller and Liam Calhoun led their teams with six tackles each. Each team had one interception each including one on a 37-yard touchdown by Delroy Henry.