PIT TOUCH and FLAG FOOTBALL in WINNIPEG MANITOBA - FOOTBALL!

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The largest season of Spring indoor football came to a close on Saturday with some very entertaining games, records set, and many a celebratory beer drank afterward. Without further adieu here are the game summaries:

Coed 1: Flying Squirrels defeat Reebok Choy 37-19
The Flying Squirrels go to their fifth straight championship final, winning the last two as they try to shed the “Buffalo Bills” moniker that has plagued them after they dropped their first three championship games. The Squirrels have demonstrated that is not necessarily the skill of the guys that win these games as the ladies of the Squirrels have proven themselves to be some of the best in the game. The Squirrels were led in points by Laurene Bachand (39), Andrea Tyler (26) and Katherine Huebner (26), the first time the trifecta has been pulled off in the league. Not to be outdone, in the final the Squirrels leading scorer was Cara Isaak who potted 13 points on two touchdowns and a convert. Of note, Courtney Dyck of Reeboy Choy finished second overall in scoring in the league proving the skill level of the ladies in the PIT has never been better. Maybe one day we can get a division dedicated directly to the ladies of the PIT!

Coed 2: Smarty Pints defeat She-Unit 20-14
Smarty Pints run the coed gauntlet knocking off She-Unit II in the semifinals then their sister team She Unit in the finals. Ryan Smithson threw six TD passes in the two games, Devyn DeGagne had four sacks and Ezra Krahn 25 points. She-Unit was headed by Courtney Dyck who scored 26 points in two games, led the entire Coed Division in scoring and has put her name in contention for the best female player in the province. Smarty Pints takes the title in their first year of coed, the sky is the limit for this newly formed team.

Elite: The Horde defeat Guild of Calamitous Intent 33-6
The Horde pulls off only the second ever “PIT Grand Slam” winning consecutive titles in the Summer, Fall, Winter, and Spring, and became the first team in the elite division to claim that honour. Mark Ridd adds to his legendary status pouring in 19 points and making some incredible one handed catches on route to not only the game MVP but his sixth elite scoring title in seven seasons. The Horde defense was once again stout giving up six points, none through the air. The youngest team in Elite hopes to make it a second straight outdoor title and fifth in a row overall as the summer season heats up now that the indoor session has come to an end.

Division 1: Guild of Calamitous Intent defeat Nemesis 51-21
The Guild of Calamitous Intent sweeps Division 1 during indoor winning each of the Fall, Winter and Spring division titles adding to the hardware collection of the most decorated team in PIT history. The Guild were led by the four touchdowns of Keith Bourgeois and the nine points and two interceptions of Ev Jackson. JJ Mikolash also pulls off a very impressive feat as all three of the Nemesis touchdowns came on consecutive drives…each of those drives consisting of just a single play. Not sure I have ever seen a QB go three for three for three touchdown passes before!

Division 2: Warriors defeat Primetime Six 43-41
In the match of the night the Warriors and Primetime combine for 84 points in a game that featured last second touchdowns, Hail Mary passes, lateral interceptions returned for touchdowns, and pretty much every other offensive event that could possibly happen in a game. Primetime Six was led by the 6 TD passes of Steve Trinder and 20 points from Nick Trinder. JJ Mikolash claims his second straight title for the Warriors throwing for four touchdowns and running the winner in with less than a minute remaining in the contest. One of the best indoor games I have ever witnessed bar none.

Division 3: MapeTown defeat Goodfellas 18-16
Maples Pride is a theme this championship night as the teachers of Maples Collegiate win coed, the Rhinos were mostly born and bred in the Maples, the Horde and Guild QB plied his trade there, and MapeTown represents the heart of the Maples. MapeTown was led by the three touchdown passes and two sacks of Dharmpal Brar and the 12 points of Harman Brar. MapeTown wins their second championship of this indoor session having also won in the fall. These guys are great athletes and if they keep playing my bet is they will be found very regularly in these championship write-ups. MAPLES!

Division 4: House of Blues defeat Nomads 31-18
The Nomads sing the blues as the House of Blues take division four in no small part to Josh Weisz scoring 24 points, going all John Lee Hooker on the Nomads defense. Nomads QB Glen Dyck just saw Muddy Waters all game as the offense couldn’t figure out the vaunted 3-1 Kyle Hosein defense that was played ad nausea. With the ghost of Huddie William Ledbetter and B.B. King on his side, the Nomads had chance at stopping the Marc Hebert led offense. Boom, boom, boom, boom, the Nomads were shot right down.

Division 5: Team West defeat Danger Zone 24-20
Team West entered the Danger Zone and came out unscathed in a 24-20 battle of the top two teams in the division. Mike McCheyne scored 12 points and grabbed two interceptions, however it was not enough to upset the undefeated Team West. Team West was led by the two interceptions of Steve "Crushing Neil interception totals since 1976 " Nabess and the 12 points of Kyle "Master of the 3-1 defense" Hosein. Kyle got his name inscribed on his second trophy of the night all while upstaging the Elite talent found on the Danger Zone team.

Division 6: GC Elite defeat Ninjas in Paris 38-26
The fourth seeded GC Elite slay the Ninjas in Paris in a high scoring affair. Game MVP Adam Areia threw six touchdown passes to four different receivers including three to Brett Peterson. Evan Weins replied for the Ninjas with four touchdown passes with the Kochans on the receiving end of 19 points. GC shows why they are Elite en route to winning their first ever PIT title.

Division 7: Gym Class Heroes defeat Nasty Boyz 25-19
In yet another of the great games that took place on Saturday the Gym Class Heroes win the Division 7 title with seconds remaining as Nick Mulvey (4 TD passes) hit Matthew Lofendale for the game winner. The last second touchdown was only necessary because Eric Hladkyj (13 points 1 TD pass) hit Dave Misir for the game tying touchdown with less than a minute to play. A fantastic finish to a fantastically played game. A heroic effort from the Gym Class heroes as these two up and coming teams put on a great display of football prowess.

Division 8: Snipers defeat Kings 25-18
When the PIT league began way back in 2008 the Snipers were perennial division champions and if you examine the record book you will see their names inscribed in the record book and on various division trophies on multiple occasions. Having said that the Snipers have been in a bit of a drought not having hoisted the trophy in years. That drought was ended when Roger Pachet threw four touchdown passes, two each to Shawn Pachet and Michael Rogers putting the Snipers back in the winner’s circle. Nick Jessamine couldn’t King the Snipers despite his interception and two touchdown passes. Congratulations gentlemen on your return to championship glory!

Division 9: Tropics defeat Fort Rouge Boys 41-13
In one of the few games that didn’t come down the last minute of the game, the Tropics imposed their will on the Fort Rouge Boys putting up a 41 spot in large part to the 20 points of Brenden Okaley, 13 points of Sam Johnston and five touchdown passes of Christopher Rosa. Drew Hawkins kept the Boys in the game with two touchdown passes one each to PJ Intrater and Joshua Vandenberg-Molina but that wasn’t enough to prevent the Tropics from running the table during an undefeated season.

Division 10: North Bay defeat Kiss the Baby 38-18
I’m Just Here So I Won’t Get Fined AKA North Bay wins their second straight championship as Raza Butt threw 5 TD passes, scored another and registered a sack. Not to be outdone Brandon Smith also threw down 19 points for North Bay. Neil Walton led the Babies with three TD passes while Andrew Gregoire contributed a pick and a touchdown. Over the last two seasons teams have been allowed to visit picturesque North Bay however they rarely leave with a victory!

Division 11: Rhinos defeat Midlife Crisis 34-7
The Rhinos gore their way to the championship trophy as Darren Bishop gashed the Midlife Crisis defense for four touchdowns and impaled them with two interceptions. Scott Bedard gouged his way to six points and three sacks while Chris Welburn suffused the Crisis defense to the tune of 19 points. Finally Danny Martin perforated his way onto the score sheet with six points and a touchdown pass. Below is footage from the carnage that was the Div 11 final.

I am unsure how the Rhino thought stealing gold from a train would allow him to control the world…or how the conductors survived the Rhino attack but I guess that that kind of thinking is left for wiser men then I.

Division 12: Silverbacks defeat Gotham Knights 20-14
The Silverbacks marked their territory and demonstrated why they are the dominate species in Division 12. Scott Hjartarson threw three touchdown passes, two to Joshua Kleinsasser and another to Kene Knadi. Ray Haliuk tried to tame the Silverbacks with four interceptions and a touchdown however the Knights were just no match for the size, strength, and speed of the young Silverbacks. The Silverbacks will be ruling over their troop at least until next Fall!

Division 13: Back That Pass Up defeat Sneaky Beavers 19-6
Back That Pass Up goes wire to wire to take Division 13. Back that Pass Up had a well-rounded attack in the final had them ensnaring the Beavers at every turn. On offense, Dave Colomy threw three TD passes and Brian Sawatzky scored 12 points, while the defense was led by the four sacks of Tyler Paavola. The Sneaky Beavers dammed the BTPU offense up for most of the game thanks to the two sacks of Wesley Sysa but they couldn’t must enough offense to wrest the title away.

Masters: Buffalo All-Americans defeat Rock Island Independents 1-0 (Default)
The Masters division was competitive all season long with the three teams combining for an 8-7 record. Parity reigns as teams are always not only equally matched against one another but the Masters teams still give the younger teams a run for their money in crossover scenarios. A great final was set until the wives of three Rock Island Independents grounded them for the weekend. The loss of those three guys ended Rock Island’s game and will result in the unyielding mockery of those players for eternity. Jason Cassie shows how it’s down by still coming down to the field to claim the crown for Buffalo and some beer on the PIT.

Thanks to all 68 teams who registered in the Spring season, the largest registration in Spring history! A record 17 champions were crowned with each team getting their names engraved “Stanley Cup Style” on the nicest trophies in rec sports! Summer season can now get into full swing, we thank all of the teams that participated in indoor this year and we hope to see you all back next year!

The PIT Crew