Harewood boys hang on to title

The Harewood Bulldogs junior bantam football team won the league championship on Thursday, defeating the Oceanside Titans 19-7.

Harewood Bulldogs ball carrier Tristan Doner, front, makes a big gain against the Oceanside Titans during Thursday’s Mid-Island Co-op League junior bantam football championship at Merle Logan Field.

Harewood Bulldogs ball carrier Tristan Doner, front, makes a big gain against the Oceanside Titans during Thursday’s Mid-Island Co-op League junior bantam football championship at Merle Logan Field.

The future looks bright for Bulldogs football.

The Harewood Bulldogs junior bantam football team won its third straight league championship on Thursday night, defeating the Oceanside Titans 19-7 under the lights at Merle Logan Field.

The JB ’Dawgs, many of them future John Barsby Bulldogs, gained some big-game experience winning in front of one of the largest crowds yet at the new artificial turf field.

The game was a close one at halftime but the Bulldogs never trailed.

“We knew [the Titans] were pumped up and we knew we were in for a game and they proved that in the first half,” said Randy Cooper, the team’s coach. “We settled down, we got into our rhythm by halftime and then controlled the game.”

Jacob Oud was selected as his team’s most valuable player in the game as he, Johnson Nguyen and Tristan Doner scored touchdowns.

Cooper said the team defends its title with pride each season.

“It’s been an exciting year with the group of kids we had,” said the coach. “We knew we had our challenge ahead of us for even making the championship this year but I’m so proud of these kids for the way they’ve gotten better and played together throughout the year. It’s been a lot of fun.”

sports@nanaimobulletin.com

Nanaimo News Bulletin