DUNROBIN – The West Carleton pee wee Wolverines went in to the bye with momentum on  side following a thrilling, high-scoring win against the Gatineau Vikings and now come out of last weekend’s bye with a tough road ahead in National Capital Amateur Football Association (NCAFA) action.

On Sunday, Sept. 15, on their home field at the West Carleton Secondary School, the Wolverines defeated the Vikings 58-40. The Wolverines scored first on a long 60-yard run when runningback Owen Redmond was able to make a tackler miss and then broke free down the sideline. The Wolverines then completed the two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead.

It was a good start for the Wolverines but the Vikings came back with a long running touchdown of their own. On the preceding kickoff, the ball came off the foot of the kicker low and hard, bouncing off the closest Wolverine and back in to the possession of the Vikings. The Vikings would score on that drive and build an 14-8 lead.

Redmond would score on another long run, this time, right up the middle of the field. Surprisingly, coach Brian Lowe says it was a defensive play that gave the team it’s confidence.

“The defence had a huge goalline stand late in the first half which turned momentum,” he told West Carleton Online yesterday (Sept. 23). “On the next play from scrimmage, the offence busted a huge 109-yard touchdown run.”

So, obviously the team’s running game is on point. Lowe said it was a complete team win though.

“It was a complete team effort, offence, defence, and special teams all had a big part in the victory,” he said.  

The win gives the pee wee Wolverines a 3-2 season record, last weekend was the team’s bye week and next up for the team is a home game against the Cumberland Panthers on Sept. 28 at noon (following the tykes game against the Panthers at 10:30 a.m.). It will be a tough match as the Panthers have a 3-1 record and sit in second place in the league.

The Wolverines sit in sixth position in the 12-team pee wee division but are only two games behind the Myers Riders with a game at hand. Coach says the road is about to get difficult.

“We are at the 3-2 mark, however we have some tough competition upcoming on the schedule,” Lowe said. 

But he’s focused on his own team and likes what he is seeing.

“The team has jelled nicely, and is progressing every practice and every game,” Lowe said. “The goal is to be playing our best ball come the end of the regular season, and I think the kids are focussed and have bought in. It’s awesome to see the team take shape, grow together over the course of the last five games, very much looking forward to the next challenge, and to the playoffs ahead.”

This year’s squad has a bit of experience, a bit of youth and a bit of a brand-new element to it.

“The team is made up of about a third pee wee vets, a third mosquitoes who have moved up, and a third brand new players to football,” Lowe said. “The great thing about this past game is that less seasoned players began shining bright and making plays.”

The mosquito 9v9 Wolverines have a 1-5 record and sit in fourth place in the five-team division. The team lost their Sept. 21 game 30-8 to Bel-Air. Next up for the mosquitoes is a game against South Ottawa Mustangs on the road on Sept. 29 at 10:30 a.m.

The tyke Wolverines are still looking for their first win of the season with an 0-6 record and will have a strong test against Cumberland this weekend.