Sports Review TNT Express Varsity championship OMFL

"Offence scores points, but defence wins games"

That saying couldn't be more true after Sunday's Ontario Minor Football League Varsity Division championship game at Centennial Park Stadium in Etobicoke that saw the TNT Express win the cup with an 11-3 victory over the Hamilton Steelers.
Right from the start the Express squad dug in and for almost the entire first half they didn't allow the Hamilton Steelers to get out of their end. In fact they kept up that pressure for the rest of the game.
For the most part it was a highly defensive game on both sides which explains the score.
The Express averaged 21. 5 points per game over the regular season.
The Steelers averaged 33 points.
This clash of the Titans for the final game was somewhat of an upset. Not that the Express wern't prepared, but the two losses they suffered in the regular season were both to Hamilton. And the Steelers were undefeated for the season and clearly came to the game as the odds-on favourite.
But what the Express had was sheer determination. You could tell from the get-go that they wanted to win.
The Express lit up the score board early in the second quarter.
The set up was a pass to Justin Howell-Duncan who made it down the one yard line.
Quarterback Matthew Patterson went for the short side pass on the next play and tossed one in to Connor Murphy in the end zone for the TD.
Later in the quarter the Express were making good yards and came down to the thirty.
Kicker Fraser McCrae placed one between the uprights for the the three point field goal and an 11-0 lead.
The second half was almost a repeat of the first. But now the Steelers were going with the throwing game to try to make some gains.
Again the Express defence turned up the heat.
The Steelers made it on the scoreboard with a pretty incredible 40 yard field goal in the fourth quarter.
The successful kick now gave the Steelers an opportunity to get back in the game needing a single TD and a two point convert to tie it up.
But the Express held tough in the final 15 although the Hamilton squad was going all out to make those points.
The game ended with the ball in mid field and the Express taking the win.
It has been a highly successful season for the Express Varsity.
A lot of determined players and a skilled coaching staff led by head coach Mario Addorisio turned out a great team and a solid season.