Hawks split Hammers for the title

     St. Thomas minor football peewee team completes an undefeated season

     Wednesday, November 8, 2017

By Rob J. Ross

LONDON, ON - No one could stop the St. Thomas Hawks this year, not even a team of Hammers.

Joey Crevits scored two touchdowns and quarterback Brady Lidster was named MVP, leading the Hawks to the London Minor Football Association peewee title, breaking the Hammers, 41-11, in the final, at City Wide Fields.

"Seven years we've been working on this. Our third trip to the final in the last four years and we finally won one, so it feels really good," Hawks' head coach Paul Chapman said. "All season it's the work ethic of these kids. They are undoubtedly the most talented team in the league, but they put the work in and they earned it."

In a game played over two days, interrupted due to lightning on Sunday, the Hawks never wavered, completing a 9-0 season, including playoffs, while outscoring their opposition, 330-46.

"The hardest thing to do is to go undefeated and to win the very last game. That happened to us three years ago. We went undefeated but lost the championship game," Chapman said. "The kids stayed focused and bought in to everything we were telling them this season. They put their heads down and did what they had to do."

St. Thomas led 8-0 after one quarter, when the game was suspended, on Sunday, November 5, due to lightning. Not even a two day hiatus slowed the Hawks, who when the game resumed stretched their lead to 18-3, by half-time.

"These kids blew off everything else they had tonight to be here, so that shows the commitment they have for the team," said Chapman.

Lidster, selected the Hawks' MVP, by the Hammers' coaching staff, ran in for a TD, kicked a field goal and booted all four two-point convert attempts. Henry McGuigan and Ethan Dolby, also found the end zone for the Hawks.

"This is really exciting, energetic almost. This definitely ranks at the top of the top," said Lidster, who completes just his first year as a QB. "It feels good because we had a great season. I have to thank the defence. They played great every single game, not letting many points at all. Our running backs, Joey and Ethan, ran the ball really great."

The win washes away the agony of previous seasons' conclusions.

"As a coach, I have been thinking about it for three years, so I reminded them about it too," laughed Chapman. "We just reminded them what it felt like after the game. It didn't feel good. They responded and kept grinding."

Crevits, a third year peewee, remembers that game three years ago.

"When we lost, it really sucked, because we were trying really hard. It's a good feeling tonight to win," said the grade eight student, at Sparta elementary school. "The D really stepped up. It was cool to see them hold the Hammers that much, because they are a really good team."

A key moment in the game was in the second quarter, when the Hawks thought Dolby scored a touchdown. But, it was called back due to a penalty. No matter, Crevits took the ball to the house minutes later. Dolby did find the end zone, for a TD that counted in the second half.

The Hammers had a field goal and a Morley Thompson TD, with a successful two-point convert. Thompson was the Hammers' game MVP.

It is the St. Thomas Hawks' first peewee title since 2009.