Perfect season complete: Blues survive Bombers scare as playoff field is set

Rick Grant Landscaping finishes 12-0 after Vince Pitines’ 95-yard game-winning touchdown

Rick Grant Landscaping Blues receiver Vince Pitines makes a leaping catch for the game winning touchdown while in coverage by CMF Automotive defender Jesse Bremner. The Blues victory secured a perfect 12-0 Orillia flag football season.

The road to Power Bowl 39 is officially set.

The Rick Grant Landscaping Blues completed a perfect regular season Sunday night at the West Orillia Sports Complex, surviving a furious comeback by the CMF Automotive Silver Bombers before Vince Pitines delivered one final highlight-reel moment to preserve perfection.

Meanwhile, the Wagner Lawn Care Trojans and Mara’s Nook Huskers punched their tickets to the postseason, while the Orillia Synergy Healthcare Augies saw a remarkable playoff streak come to an end.

When the dust settled on Sunshine Superwash Orillia flag football Week 10, the Blues finished atop the standings at 12-0, the Silver Bombers locked down second place, the Trojans claimed third, and the Huskers secured the final playoff berth.

The Augies, who appeared in each of the last five Power Bowls and had qualified for the playoffs in six consecutive seasons entering the year, will miss the postseason for the first time in seven seasons.

The night’s marquee Orillia flag football matchup featured a battle between the top two teams in the standings, and for a brief moment it looked as though the Silver Bombers might hand the Blues their first loss.

The Blues built a 26-13 lead and appeared in control before the Silver Bombers stormed back. Behind the arm of Colton Thompson and the playmaking ability of Ethan Phillips, CMF erased the deficit and eventually grabbed a 27-26 lead late in the fourth quarter.

The advantage lasted only one possession.

With the perfect season hanging in the balance, Rick Grant launched a pass downfield that found Pitines streaking behind the defence. The league’s most explosive playmaker did the rest, hauling in a stunning 95-yard touchdown that restored the lead and secured a dramatic 33-27 victory.

The win completed an unbeaten 12-0 regular season for the Blues.

Grant threw for 309 yards and three touchdowns, while Connor Woodbeck added another 168 passing yards and two scores as the Blues piled up an astonishing 577 yards of offence. Andrew Billark added 106 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns.

The Silver Bombers matched the offensive fireworks nearly blow for blow.

Thompson threw for 304 yards and three touchdowns, Jesse Bremner added 236 passing yards and even caught a touchdown pass, while Phillips delivered one of the best performances of the season with seven receptions for 184 yards and two touchdowns.

The game may have turned earlier in the second half when Amber Weiss made a critical flag pull inside the one-yard line during a goal-line stand that prevented CMF from scoring.

Wagner Lawn Care Trojans receiver Adam Vastopa makes a touchdown catch while in coverage by McLean & Dickey defender Ethan Barber.

The Wagner Lawn Care Trojans left no doubt about their playoff intentions, rolling to a 38-6 victory over the McLean & Dickey Insurance Thunderbolts to secure a postseason berth.

The Trojans struck quickly and never looked back after Tyler Hinds intercepted the opening pass of the game, setting up a touchdown on Wagner’s first possession. From there, the Trojans unleashed a big-play attack that overwhelmed the Thunderbolts.

Oswell James was nearly flawless, completing 6-of-7 passes for 179 yards and four touchdowns, while Hinds added 137 passing yards, two touchdown passes, an interception on defence and three receiving touchdowns. Mathieu Bolduc also had a monster game, hauling in three catches for 85 yards and two touchdowns.

The Trojans needed just 15 offensive plays to score 38 points and averaged more than 21 yards per play. They produced touchdown strikes of 32, 32, 85 and 51 yards while finishing with 326 total yards of offence.

The defence was equally impressive. Martin Cunningham recorded a sack, Hinds intercepted a pass, and the Trojans held the Thunderbolts scoreless for three quarters before Ethan Barber finally broke through with a 41-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter.

Despite the loss, the Thunderbolts continued to battle until the final whistle. Kayden Halloch threw for 165 yards and a touchdown, Shawn Harrison added 106 passing yards, and Barber finished with 104 receiving yards and the team’s lone score.

Mara’s Nook Huskers receiver Scott Oliver attempts to secure a catch while in coverage by Orillia Synergy Healthcare defender Alex Winacott.

The Mara’s Nook Huskers punched their ticket to the playoffs with a convincing 28-6 victory over the Orillia Synergy Healthcare Augies, ending the Augies’ remarkable streak of five consecutive Power Bowl appearances.

Facing a must-win situation, the Huskers exploded for 423 passing yards and four touchdowns while generating big play after big play. Josh Ayers was virtually unstoppable, catching four passes for 212 yards and two touchdowns, including scoring plays of 65 and 95 yards. Lucas Di Mattia and Calvin Hale split quarterback duties and combined for 423 passing yards and four touchdown passes.

The game was far closer early than the final score suggested. The Augies twice marched deep into Huskers territory in the opening quarter but came away empty-handed after defensive stands and pass breakups near the goal line. Moments later, Di Mattia found Ayers for a 65-yard touchdown strike to open the scoring and give the Huskers momentum they would never relinquish.

The turning point came in the second quarter. After the Huskers extended their lead to 16-0 on Ayers’ spectacular 95-yard touchdown reception, the Augies appeared ready to answer before Ben Prinzen intercepted a pass and halted the drive. Mara’s Nook never looked back.

Hale took over in the second half, engineering touchdown drives that ended with a 40-yard scoring connection to Di Mattia and a 42-yard touchdown strike to Mike Black. Scott Oliver quietly played a huge role in the victory, hauling in five catches for 78 yards and helping move the chains throughout the game.

The Augies refused to quit. Alex Winacott provided the highlight of the day for Synergy with a breathtaking 95-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter. Connor Flannery added 58 receiving yards, Raygen Hendley contributed 69 yards from scrimmage, and the Augies finished with 350 total yards of offence.

Defensively, the Huskers were equally impressive. Hale recorded a sack, Di Mattia and Prinzen each intercepted a pass, and the defence repeatedly came up with key stops inside the red zone.

The victory secured a playoff berth for the Huskers, while the loss ended one of the league’s most impressive runs as the Augies missed the postseason for the first time in seven seasons.

Attention now turns to Power Bowl semifinal Sunday.

The Trojans will take on the Silver Bombers at 7 p.m. in a matchup featuring two teams that split their two regular-season meetings and appear evenly matched heading into the playoffs.

At 8 p.m., the Huskers face the daunting task of knocking off the undefeated Blues.

The Augies and Thunderbolts will meet in a 7 p.m. exhibition game.

By the end of the night, two teams will be one step closer to Power Bowl glory, while the Blues attempt to cement the greatest season in Orillia flag football history alive.

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