Stampeders march to WOSSAA crown

       Camerin Zimmer scores three TDs in the junior football title win over CCH

             November 23, 2017

By Rob J. Ross

LONDON, ON. - A year ago Camerin Zimmer wasn't even playing football.

Flip the calendar and the grade 10 running back is scoring three touchdowns, to lead the Parkside Stampeders, to a dominate 35-7 victory, over London CCH Crusaders, in the Western Ontario (WOSSAA) junior football championship, at TD Stadium.

Tied at seven in the second quarter, Zimmer put the Stampeders back in front with his first major, before returning to the end zone in each of the third and fourth quarters, handing the Crusaders their first defeat of the season.

"We were expecting a tough game since they were the top team in their division (6-0 in the London District). They blew everybody out," Zimmer said. "We just go play by play. We stayed together and made good plays. We started to see their weaknesses on the outside, so we did what we know how to do and that is run the ball."

Zimmer had TD runs of 21 and 35 yards, but his third TD was most exceptional. Following a missed field goal attempt, Zimmer bolted in to the end zone, body-checked the CCH player aside and jumped on the ball.

Parkside struck first on a Mac Watson TD and Brayden Gagnier put the Stampeders up 27-7. Rudy Bukich kicked five single point converts.

"I can't say how hard these kids worked and how dedicated they've been all year. They spent all kinds of time in the classroom at lunches watching film just to get better and be prepared for every play," Parkside coach Jamie Fife said. "We came out ready to play at the start of the game. They have never been on this sort of stage before, so for the kids, the first half was a feeling out process. After the first half they were confident."

The Stampeders took over the game with three third quarter TD's and a defence that silence an offence that scored over 200 points over six regular season games.

"We controlled the outside, the edge for the run," Fife said. "Our D-line and linebacker four have been great all year. They tried to pass, but our secondary was in great coverage too. It was a good team effort all the way around."

It is the first WOSSAA title for Parkside football.

"We were definitely the underdogs coming in," Parkside QB Zach Copeland said. "Everyone thinks St. Thomas is a bunch of farm kids, but we showed, not only CCH, but all of London, we're fully capable of winning football games."

Scoring first and holding the lead at half-time, lifted spirits, but the Stampeder pivot knew his team could not ease up early.

"We started to get momentum and things started to work for us," Copeland said. "Off of the start it was a close game. But once we got our foot on the pedal, we didn't take it off. We knew we couldn't take it off."

Parkside finishes the 2017 football season, as WOSSAA and Thames Valley Region Athletics (TVRA) champions, with an overall record of 8-1.