OT win sends Hawks to U12 final

   Jaden Hinde scores decisive TD in a 19-13 minor football semifinal victory

  October 31, 2022

By Rob J. Ross

ST. THOMAS - The St. Thomas Hawks saved their best for last.

Jaden Hinde scored the winning touchdown in overtime, to lift the Hawks over Red Storm, 19-13, in a London Minor Football Association U12 semifinal, Sunday, at City Wide Sports Fields.

The Hawks will take on the Bulldogs, in the U12 championship final, November 6, with kick-off at 12:15 p.m.

"Great play call by Darren (Congdon), our offensive coordinator. Like a reverse play, he (Hinde) comes off the edge. We made sure we got those blocks and that allowed him to get in," Hawks' head coach Patrick DeRosiers. "They (Red Storm) knew we were going up the middle. We were pounding hard. So we wanted to change it up a little bit and hit the edge."

The Red Storm had first possession in OT, but the St. Thomas defence prevented few yards to be gained.

Riding the momentum created by the defence, the Hawks' offence quickly moved the ball to the Red Storm's six yard line on a run by Quinn Humphreys. Moments later,

Hinde was running into the end zone and putting the Hawks in the final.

"Our O-line is the bread and butter of this team. They allow us to move the ball and chip away at the clock," DesRosiers said. "We like to manage the clock and we like to possess the ball. Bit by bit, four or five yards at a time. I've no problem with that."

St. Thomas led 6-0 and 13-6 on TDs by Humphreys and Brody Penhale.

Donavan Lambert and Connor Daigenault scored TDs for the Red Storm.

"We knew their number 12 was their best player. We knew their intention was to give it to 12. We had a man on 12 and had eyes on him the whole time," said DesRosiers. "We made sure we were in the back field to make the tackle before he gained yards."

The Hawks struggled with a few penalties in the first half, including being pushed back 15 yards twice. Still, the Hawks ended the drive in the end zone.

"We had some injuries and we had to sub in, so there was a little confusion," said DesRosiers. "We had some penalties. We had a talk and it cleaned up after that. We stayed calm and collective."

Quinton Herbert finished with 74 total yards, Penhale racked up 64 yards, Humphreys, 52 yards and Hinde, 42.

"We don't rely on any one player," DesRosiers said. "We like to mix it up. We like to have lots of people touching the ball, so the (opponent's) defence doesn't know who is getting the ball and where it's going."

In U10 semifinal action, the Hawks fell to the Red Storm, with Mason Killough having the lone Hawks' TD.

The Red Storm dominated the U10 division going 7-0 in the regular season, outscoring opponents, 273-35.

The U14 Hawks lost their semifinal to the Rams, 33-12.

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