27 October 2011
The Mosquito AAA program completed its perfect season by winning its final game against a Sherbrooke Bulldogs team resolute on spoiling the party. The game turned into a thriller and the post-match celebrations were as much out of relief than anything else.
The Spartans had won all 9 regular season games, and had already been crowned MRFL AAA Red division champions, but players and staff understood that going 10-0 was something special to achieve. They started the game in a manner befitting their rank, and took a 16-0 lead on two quick scores by RB's Jahlyd and Keyshawn. Meanwhile the defence was holding strong behind the play of Alessandro and Kendrix. The festive mood was going to turn far more somber when in a flash the game became a lot tighter. After recovering their own punt, the Bulldogs replied with a long score of their own in the middle of the second quarter. Even more worryingly, Sherbrooke found its rhythm and in a subsequent drive took the ball to the St-Laurent goal line. But the crisis was averted on a tremendous stand, concluded with a fumble recovery by LB Jeremy.
The score remained tight until the end of the third quarter when Keyshawn again produced one of the most exciting rund of the year. With the ball on St- Laurent's 27 yard line, the small back was able to change direction a couple of times and elude the entire defence for a 83-yard TD. From that point on the game seemed to tip St-Laurent way, the team not only scoring on another run from QB Brendon, but also recorded its first defensive points of the year, when LB James made a tackle in the endzone, getting the two points of the safety.
The final score of 33-8 sounds much more comfortable than the game was in reality for the young Spartans, as it was party time after the game. Head Coach Jimmy Skoulos received the customary ''Gatorade Shower'' to mark such events, and fans rushed onto the field to immortalize the moment as the players and staff posed for the impromptu team picture.
The Mosquito program joins the 2010 Midget Spartans in achieving the perfect score for the season. However the staff will be keen on trying to avoid their elders fate in the playoffs. The first round was fatal last season to the Midget Spartans when they fell to eventual provincial champions St-Leonard Cougars. The Mosquito will be travelling in the playoffs to Chateauguay on Saturday October 29th. The Raiders finished in second place at 7-3 in the AAA Blue Division. The challenge is immense, but the reward at the end of a playoffs run is a return trip to Molson stadium.
