Barons win NDA Jr. Football title

The Algonquin Barons Junior Football team won the NDA Junior Football Championship for 2012 with a nail biting 8-7 victory over the West Ferris Trojans.

The back and forth contest ended with a rouge as the Barons were able to steer the Trojan returner out of bounds with no time remaining on the clock.

The Barons were leading 3-0 at half after a Jim Hegyi field goal opened the scoring in the 2nd quarter.

West Ferris recovered an onside kick off to start the 3rd quarter but the Barons defence prevailed and setup a second Hegyi field goal to put the Barons up 6.

The Trojans scored the game’s lone touchdown on a well-thrown pass and run out of the backfield, scored by Nic Deschesnes on a pass from Trojans QB Matt Valiquette.

Deschenes also kicked the extra point to put the Trojans up 1 with just over 5 minutes remaining.

The Barons took the following kickoff and drove the ball into West Ferris territory before Zach Villeneuve punted the ball out of the end zone for a single point to tie the game at 7 with 2 minutes remaining.

After a Ferris three and out, the Barons took over on the Ferris 30 with just over a minute remaining. Barons Defensive Backs coach Paul Marier said, “The Trojan touchdown was hard for the boys to accept after some tough stops, but they went back onto the field motivated to create get the ball back on the next drive. Justin Ross and David Lambert were stellar with some great reads against the Trojan option offense in the 2nd half.”

After a tough Pat Menard run, Dolan Dallaire took the ball to the West Ferris 2 yard line before Villeneuve punted for the rouge as time ran out.

“The boys played hard today and we took advantage of the chances we had to move the ball," said Barons offensive coordinator Alain Rancourt.

"Nic Besner and Zach Villeneuve connected on some great passes today, which forced the defense to stay honest against the run.”

For the Barons, this is their third consecutive NDA title, as well as their 7th final appearance over the last 8 years.