Against all odds: Trojans steal final playoff spot on wild final night
The defending champs entered the final night on the outside looking in, stunned first-place to survive, and now get another rematch with a trip to Power Bowl 40 at stake
The defending SportsKlub Orillia Flag Football champions aren't going away quietly.
With their fate hanging in the balance, the Mariposa Building Services Trojans delivered their biggest performance of the fall season on Sunday night, stunning the first-place CMF Automotive Silver Bombers for the second week in a row.
The Trojans beat the Bombers 42-35 in Week 9, and 41-35 on Sunday at the West Orillia Sports Complex. Now they meet for a third consecutive matchup on Monday, Nov. 2, with a spot in Power Bowl 40 on the line.
The other semifinal will feature two teams that looked every bit ready for November on Sunday. The Hotshots Sandblasting Augies rolled past Wagner Lawn Care 42-18, while Rick Grant Landscaping overwhelmed Synergy Healthcare 48-13.
That sets up an Augies versus Blues semifinal at 8 p.m., immediately following the Silver Bombers and Trojans rematch at 7 p.m.
For the four teams outside the playoff bracket, the season isn't quite finished either. Wagner Lawn Care will meet Speaking of Wildlife at 7 p.m. in an exhibition game, followed by Synergy Healthcare against McLean & Dickey Insurance at 8 p.m.
Trojans remind everyone why they're the champs
The Trojans road through Season 40 has been anything but easy.
They opened their Power Bowl title defence with three consecutive losses and spent much of the fall trying to climb back into the postseason picture.
On the final night, they looked like champions again, scoring in every quarter and surviving a 35-point performance from the Silver Bombers to escape with a 41-35 victory.
Tyler Hinds delivered another huge performance when the Trojans needed it most.
The reigning Power Bowl MVP completed three of five passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns, rushed for another 70 yards and a touchdown, and added a 50-yard reception.
Sam Skalosky was equally efficient, completing six of eight passes for 135 yards and three touchdowns.
Then there was Martin Cunningham, who caught four passes for an incredible 220 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 55 yards every time he touched the ball through the air. He also intercepted a pass and broke up another defensively.
The Bombers hardly went away quietly.
Walker Armatage threw for 165 yards and a touchdown on three attempts and rushed three times for 90 yards and another score. Ethan Westbrooke turned just two receptions into 165 yards and a touchdown, while Rishan Harlos caught two passes for 115 yards and a score.
It wasn't enough. And now the Silver Bombers face an unusual challenge.
After spending Season 40 establishing themselves as the team to beat, the Silver Bombers road to Power Bowl 40 begins against the same team that just beat them two weeks in a row.
Monday, 7 p.m.: Mariposa Building Services vs. CMF Automotive.
No. 1 versus No. 4. The defending Power Bowl champions against the Season 40 regular-season leaders.
Augies roll into postseason with 42-point statement
If the Hotshots Sandblasting Augies wanted to send one final message before the playoffs, consider it delivered. They piled up 555 yards and scored on six of eight drives in a 42-18 victory over the Wagner Lawn Care Huskers.
Braeden Price put an exclamation mark on a massive regular season. He completed 12 of 16 passes for 295 yards and three touchdowns without an interception, then caught four passes for another 115 yards and two scores. That's 410 combined passing and receiving yards and five touchdowns.
Tyler Evans also completed eight of 12 passes for 175 yards and three touchdowns, while Mike Black produced 170 yards between rushing and receiving.
Brandan Piitz made his presence felt on both sides of the ball, catching two touchdown passes and intercepting two passes defensively.
Josh Ayers continued his outstanding season for the Huskers despite the loss, throwing for 200 yards and two touchdowns, rushing for 80 and catching three passes for 105 yards and another score.
But Sunday belonged to the Augies. After beginning Season 40 with consecutive losses, they have transformed into one of the defining stories of the fall.
Blues drop 48 ahead of Augies showdown
The Rick Grant Landscaping Blues aren't entering the playoffs quietly either.
Despite being without several star players, the Blues erupted for a 48-13 victory over the Orillia Synergy Healthcare Monsters, generating seven scoring drives and forcing three turnovers.
Connor Woodbeck was a perfect seven-for-seven passing for 96 yards and a touchdown. Canyon Cairns completed five of six for 70 yards and two touchdowns, while Hayden Woodbeck went seven-for-eight for 98 yards and another score.
The Blues also found the end zone on the ground through Aiden McMaster, Andrew Billark and Connor Woodbeck. Billark added two interceptions defensively, while McMaster picked off another pass.
Bailey Yeoman caught three passes for 45 yards and a touchdown for the Monsters, while Lucas Ginger threw for 88 yards and a score and caught a 29-yard touchdown himself. Ethan Barber finished with four catches and six flag pulls.
For the Blues, the result sends them into Monday with momentum, and waiting for them is a familiar opponent.
Monday, 8 p.m.: Rick Grant Landscaping vs. Hotshots Sandblasting.
The Blues entered Season 40 coming off an undefeated spring regular season.
The Augies became one of the biggest stories of this fall after overcoming their slow start and surging toward the top of the standings... Now one of them will play for Power Bowl 40.
Thunderbolts play spoiler against Scouts
The Speaking of Wildlife Scouts entered the final night with everything to play for, but the McLean & Dickey Insurance Thunderbolts had other plans.
The Thunderbolts defeated the expansion Scouts 28-7, breaking open a 7-7 game with 21 unanswered points.
Mitchell Hurtubise turned in one of his best performances of the season, completing 11 of 15 passes for 247 yards and three touchdowns without an interception.
Percy Thomas was his biggest target, hauling in five passes for 126 yards and a touchdown. Jackson Denne added 87 yards and a score, while Colby Shaw and Devin Coombs also found the end zone.
The Thunderbolts defence intercepted three passes, with Shaw, Kayden Halloch and Thomas each recording a pick. Denne added five flag pulls and two pass breakups.
The Scouts were held to 191 total yards and one scoring drive. Jacob Hammill rushed for 63 yards, while Matt Bolduc caught four passes for 59 yards and the team's lone touchdown.
It was a difficult finish to the regular season for the Scouts, but hardly the end of what has been a memorable inaugural season.
The Scouts will get another game Monday against Wagner Lawn Care, giving both teams an opportunity to finish strong on the field.
Four teams, one more night together
The playoff spotlight will understandably fall on the Silver Bombers, Trojans, Augies, and Blues. But SportsKlub's Monday Night Orillia Flag Football isn't only about the bracket.
At 7 p.m. on the Yellow Field, the Wagner Lawn Care Huskers and Speaking of Wildlife Scouts will meet in an exhibition matchup.
At 8 p.m. on the Orange Field, Synergy Healthcare and McLean & Dickey Insurance will do the same.
There is no Power Bowl berth attached to either game, and there doesn't need to be.
It's one more night under the lights. One more game with teammates before splitting up for All-Star festivities. One more chance to make a ridiculous catch, throw a touchdown, pull a flag, razz a friend and create another story before the fall season winds down.
Because that's still the point of the whole thing.
The road to Power Bowl 40
The regular season is over.
What began months ago with eight teams has been cut to four in the race for the championship.
7 p.m. — No. 1 CMF Automotive vs. No. 4 Mariposa Building Services
8 p.m. — No. 2 Hotshots Sandblasting vs. No. 3 Rick Grant Landscaping
The winners advance to Power Bowl 40. And after what happened Sunday night, neither matchup needs much selling.
The defending champions just knocked off No. 1 in back-to-back weeks. The Augies have the toughest defence, the Blues have the scariest offence.
Now there are two games left to decide who gets to play for it all.
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