Hawks fall prey to Wolverines

   Two first half TDs the difference as the Wolverines capture the U12 title

   for London minor football downing the St. Thomas Hawks, 20-6

  November 7, 2021

By Rob J. Ross 

LONDON, Ont. - The St. Thomas Hawks gave a spirited effort but Wolverines showed how they were the top team all season. 

A last minute touchdown in the first half, helped give the top seeded Wolverines a 14-0 lead, on their way to a 20-6 win over the St. Thomas Hawks, in the London Minor Football Association U12 final, Sunday, at City Wide Sports Park.

"It was hard fought," Hawks' head coach Patrick DesRosiers. "We knew they were a good team. They can pass the ball. They can run the ball. We knew they would run the sweeps and be hard on the edges."

The Wolverines finished first with a 6-1 record and beat the Hawks, 47-29, during the regular season.

"We made a few adjustments on defence," DesRosiers said. "We knew we wanted to get pressure on them. We did do that. We got some sacks. We had some guys in the back field making tackles. Last game we played them, they put up 40-plus points and we held them to 20 today. All of their touchdowns were broken plays where they kind of slipped by us. Defensively we had a great game."

Harper Asuncion had two touchdowns for the Wolverines, his second in the last minute of the second quarter, for a 14-0 lead at half-time.

A 22-yard reception for a TD by Evan Vanderbrink put the Wolverines in control at 20-0.

The Hawks found the scoreboard in the fourth quarter when Jaden Hinde's 42-yard reception, set up a one-yard plunge in to the end zone by Brady Congdon.

"We had our chances. We had opportunities. We played our game," said DesRosiers. "We came in and knew we wanted to run the ball. We just had a couple missed opportunities."

Congdon finished with 19 carries for 83 yards and one TD.

Mason Cowie had six carries for 24 yards and an 18 yard reception, while Ben McCoubrey had four carries totalling 44 yards.

The U12 Hawks finished an overall record of 6-3, placing third in the regular season at 5-2.

"Every week we improved. Every single game," DesRosiers said. "We had goals every week. To make it to the final, it's not easy. I'm happy with how the season went."

This year, the Hawks at each of the three levels (U10-tyke, U12-atom, U14-peewee), won five games and made their respective division semifinals.

"We're always making the playoffs and in the mix," said DesRosiers. "It starts with the tykes and coach John Jakobi. He gets the kids going. They move up and they're already skilled and have knowledge of the football game. The tyke program is huge for us."