The Pitt Meadows Marauders won their first-ever football championship on Saturday at BC Place, as they downed the Eric Hamber Griffins 33-14 to cap an undefeated season.
Coach Matt Todd said his players were “laser focused” as they arrived at the locker room in Pitt Meadows at 6:40 a.m., and then drove to The Dome.
“It did not take much to get them all ready for the game because they were all so jacked to play in BC Place for a chance to win Pitt Meadows first championship,” he said.
There was no score in the first quarter. Hamber tried to establish their ground game, but Todd said outstanding play by the entire defence, led by Brandon Hunt, Haydn Barton, and Tayden Mountford stopped the run.
On offence, Haydn Barton hit Mountford for a huge gain, but it did not end up with a score.
“We were held scoreless in the first frame but we gaining confidence with every play,” said Todd.
Mountford took a punt return for a huge gain, giving the Marauder offence great field position to get the first score of the game, with Brandon Hunt running it in.
Barton was next into the end zone, driving it in on quick hitting run.
Hamber responded with their first touchdown of the game, and the score was 13-7 with four minutes left in the half, and there was enough time for the Marauders to score again.
They drove the field with a combination on runs and passes, and a big third down pass from Tato Ferreyro to Barton put them a perfect spot score again before halftime.
“We pounded them with the run, taking time off the clock, and scored with a run solid run by Barton,” said Todd.
With 30 seconds to halftime it was 20-7 for Pitt.
Hamber came back with deep passes that put them in position to answer, but a huge knock-down in the end zone by Marauder Matt Mullen ended the half.
The third quarter started with an onside kick by Eric Hamber, but Kevin Purdon was ready for it and had no problem handling the kick.
Pitt’s next score came when Barton blocked a punt to create a short field for the offence, and Hunt ran it in.
The defensive line made adjustments and started to dominate the game. Defensive ends, Ferreyro and Angus Mcdonald were sealing the outside, and the Griffins could not run at all.
The score heading into the fourth quarter was 26-14, and the Griffins again tried an onside kick. Purdon was ready and recovered his second onside kick.
In the fourth quarter the Marauder defence game up nothing. Hamber abandoned the run, but the Marauder line was all over the Griffin QB as he tried to pass. Ferreyro, Mcdonald, Gio Manu and Cody Driver brought the heat, which led to a great interception by Brayden Anderson
Pitt’s last score came with Ferreyro throwing a strike to Mountford.
“We were a young determined team that came together as one, and improved each week,” said Todd. “I am so happy for these boys for all the time they put in and to become Pitt Meadows marauders first-ever football champions.”
The Marauders have a bright future. Todd noted the winning roster had just three Grade 12 players, while there were six Grade 9s who played up with the senior team, who could end up playing four years of senior ball.
