Rage win, playoffs set
The Rutter Rage were a happy team with an angry name after popping their football cherry in a 20 - 8 win over Tol's Thunder to earn their first win of the season.
The Rage went into their final game sporting an ugly 0-17 record and carrying the memories of a 36 - 0 drubbing at the hands of the Thunder in the Rage's opening game of the season. But the upbeat Rage jumped ahead early and carried a 14 - 6 lead into the fourth quarter. The Thunder had the ball deep in Rage territory and were threatening to score when defensive captain Rob Hillier made a game-saving interception on the goal line. Hillier carried the ball to about the 20-yard line. From there, quarterback Derek Thistle led his team on a clock-eating touchdown drive to seal the game.
The win earned the Rage a brief appearance on NTV news, where the ecstatic footballers were seen celebrating between footage of car accidents on Logy Bay Road, the Newfoundland Herald Lucky Number Spin 'n Win Contest, and This Day in History, featuring Elvis Presley, Joey Smallwood and Adolph Hitler.
News and Notes did not witness the TV appearance, as News and Notes watches CBC's Canada Now exclusively. CBC Television. Trusted. Connected. Canadian.
In other football action, the Harbour Gulls and the Mud Pigs clinched the final two playoff spots in the last week of the regular season. The Mud Pigs earned a trip to the postseason with a 43 - 7 drubbing of the Greensleeves Edge. Jason "Ultra" Hull was the star of the game with two key interceptions and two touchdowns. The loss eliminated the Edge from the postseason. The Mud Pigs ended the regular season in fifth place with a 9-8-1 record. They will play the 10-8 Hurricanes in next week's quarterfinals.
The Harbour Gulls grabbed the sixth and final playoff spot on Sunday with a 48-0 victory over the Mud Pigs. Jason Kelly had two touchdowns and two interceptions for the Gulls. The Gulls failed to grab fifth place on Monday when they dropped their final game of the season to the defending champion Mustangs 20 - 6. The Gulls finished the season with a 9-9 record and will play the 12-6 Mustangs in next week's quarterfinals.
In women's action, the final weekend did little to change the playoff picture. Hickman Motors clinched first place and ended their season 14-1 after a 46 - 0 rout of the Heat and a 20 - 0 defeat of the Sterling Syrens. Hickman's will play the 6-8-1 Heat in next week's semi-final. In the other semi-final the 13-2 Republic will face the 7-7-1 Renegades. The Renegades clinched third place with a 24 - 6 win over M5 Rockets.
News and Notes
Packtastic! The Pack finished 1-3 at this weekend's touch football Tournament of Champions in Montreal, but were a safety or a two-point convert away from finishing 3-1. The Pack lost 29 - 28 to Montreal Heenan Blaikie - the law firm of former Prime Ministers Pierre Trudeau and Jean Chretien - on the final play of the game when the Montreal team kicked the ball through the end zone. The Pack also lost 21-20 to the top-ranked Burlington Crusaders. The Pack earned a 28 - 20 win over the ironically named Ottawa Revenge. Jeff Snook, Pat Kennedy, Craig White and Mark Dawson all scored 1 touchdown with Nick Pearson adding 4 points on converts. Football sources say the Pack were much more sober and better behaved than the Goldens' at last year's tournament.
Thanks, I think. One member of the Pack who didn't make the trip was league icon and reigning Beast Award winner Dave Trickett. Trickett fractured several bones in his face in an end-zone collision last week. As a gesture of goodwill, league tech-geek Todd Pardy asked players from around the league to sign a custom-designed card bearing a caricature of Trickett. Not realizing it was a get-well gesture, and thinking it was a thank you card for Trickett's work during the provincial championship tournament, Shawn Gibbons of the Falcons (Version 2.0) signed the card, urging the surgically-repaired Trickett to "Keep up the good work!"
She did everything but punt. Sue Hickman of Hickman Motors was a one-women wrecking crew in her team's 46 - 0 drubbing of the Heat. Hickman had four intereptions, returning three for touchdowns, scored 24 total points and later threw a touchdown pass. Hickman finished the season with 124 points, 16 interceptions, two sacks and three touchdowns and makes a strong case for MVP of the women's league.
She did everything, for both teams. Julia Hicks of the Sterling Syrens made a late push for rookie-of-the-year when she was in on all the scoring in her team's 27 - 6 win over the M5 Rockets. Hicks threw two touchdown passes, ran for a touchdown and a one-point convert, and returned one of her two interceptions for a touchdown. Hicks even got in on the scoring for Rockets, when Maria Churchill intercepted one of Hicks' passes and returned it for a score.
Third time unlucky. League stenographer David Cochrane earned a dubious distinction this weekend when he became the first player to lose to the Outlaws while playing for three different teams in a single season. Cochrane was wearing Wolverines' green and gold in the Outlaws 13 - 0 win in July. Cochrane was wearing the Gulls orange and black when the Outlaws won the provincial championship final 28 - 18. This weekend Cochrane was wearing Thunder blue when - in a flagrant violation of league rules - he suited up for a few series to give the Thunder enough players to start in the Outlaws 62 - 6 drubbing of the team from Tol's. Cochrane now has recurring dreams where he knows Wheeler is going to throw to Cooper, but he is powerless to stop it.
He likes his Coffee Crisp. Shawn Gibbons of the Falcons (Version 2.0) may struggle with get-well cards, but not with catching the ball in the end zone. Gibbons finished the season with 179 points to win the league scoring title. Gibbons' teammate, Dave "The G is Silent" Rouagh was second with 144 points, while Tim Hoskins of the Mustangs was third with 141 points.
And she can get great deals on cars. Sue Hickman of Hickman Motors ran away with the scoring title in the women's league with an impressive 124 points. Hickman - a threat to score when either team has the ball - had more points than the second and third leading scorers combined. Connie Flemming of the Republic scored 58 points, while Pam White of the Renegades had 57.
He didn't catch that many balls from Wheeler. League MVP frontrunner Craig Cooper of the Falcons (Version 2.0) finished the season with 23 interceptions to lead the league. Jason Kelly of the Gulls was second with 21 picks. The Edge's rookie safety Sandy Peddle finished third with 18.
These girls were just greedy. Pam White of the Renegades played strong defence all season and had a league-high 26 interceptions. Michelle Healey of Hickmans Motors was second with 22 picks; her teammate Sue Hickman was third with 16.
Joey Newman finished third. No-shirt-club founding member and Edge rusher Paul Smith was this year's sack-king with 36. Rookie Ian Snook of the Thunder was second with 33. The stat-conscious Joey Newman of the Outlaws was third with 31.
Sack Queen. Allison Coffin of the Renegades was the top rusher in the women's league. Coffin finished with 27 sacks. The M5 Rockets rookie rusher Tanya Campbell was second with 23. Karen O'Neill of the Republic was third with 22.
TD King. Geoff Tessier of the Pack wins the league passing crown with 71 touchdown passes. Greg Woolgar of the Falcons (Version 2.0) finished a close second with 69 and probably regrets giving teammate Chris Wheeler all those backfield plays near the goal line. Jason Reynolds of the Gulls was third with 47 touchdown passes.
TD Queen. Sharon Gregory ran away with the passing title in the women's league. Gregory threw 61 touchdown passes for the Republic this year to lead the league. Michelle Healey of Hickman Motors was second with 35. Bobbi Benson of the Renegades was third with 15.
He now has X-Ray vision. Police cadet and Mustangs star quarterback Harry "Tackleberry" Patterson will be able to see just how girlish his team's jerseys are now that he has had laser eye surgery. Patterson was seen at the field sporting a Doctor Octopus look as he recovers from the vision enhancing process. Patterson is expected to be fully recovered and able to suit-up when the playoffs begin next week.
Joey Newman stat-watch. Joey Newman of the Outlaws finished the season with 32 points, one interception and 31 sacks. Newman had a touchdown and two sacks in the Outlaws' season finale against Tol's Thunder.
Coming next week! News and Notes will have a recap of the first playoff weekend. Plus, News and Notes picks the year-end award winners - and losers.
