Bulldogs Capture U12 Crown
Story and photos by Robert Thomas
Friday evening saw the Moose Jaw Bulldogs were a machine perfectly firing on all cylinders.
No matter what they did to get going the Bulldogs opponent the defending champions Moose Jaw Lions tried to do it ala No, OK, yeah 2Awas if they simply spun out.
In the end - led by three second half defensive touchdowns by Andrew Lazurko - the Bulldogs defeated the Lions 66 to 20 to claim the U12 championship trophy in the Kinsmen Moose Jaw Minor Football League.
The Bulldogs hoist the U12 championship trophy
The Lions would score in the first quarter to initially take the early lead but by the halftime break the score was tied at 14 - 14.
But in the second half the Bulldogs would take over.
“(Andrew) Lazurko getting three picks for touchdowns is really huge for us. He is just phenomenal player. He definitely set the pace for our whole team tonight,” Bulldogs head coach Jodi Throssell said.
Moose Jaw Bulldogs Samson Hawke (left) is ecstatic after capturing the U12 championship trophy
“That hasn’t happened all season. But he (Andrew Lazurko) came to play today. I think the whole team came to play and it just showed,” he said.
The Bulldogs success was “honestly because everyone came to play today. And they played as a team,” he said.
“I think what did it for us tonight it was just 100 percent a team effort.”
Late fourth quarter worry was evident on the Moose Jaw Lions bench
Throssell said he was surprised by the Bulldogs dominating on the field and the score clock the way they had.
“Honestly I thought the game was going to be a lot closer than it was. At half time it was close. It was tied at halftime. For us to pull ahead the way we did it was a little bit unexpected. But we knew our team had it in them to do it. They came. They showed up today. That’s exactly what they did.”
Looking back at the season - even without the championship win - Throssell typified it as a fun season.
It was a happy Moose Jaw Bulldogs team
“It was just a lot of fun. You know what these kids are so awesome. Everybody here clicks so well together. They are just great group of kids to coach,” he said.
“I have had nothing but fun.”
Throssell wanted to give kudos to the Lions as “they are a great team.”
“We were nervous coming into this game obviously. This victory was a little bit unexpected for going the way it was but our kids didn’t lay off the gas pedal and they kept grinding. I’m so proud of them.”
Waiting for the game to end along the sidelines
“This one the Bulldogs and went out and they earned it tonight. They fought really hard. They have some amazing players on defence and they made it very hard for us to move the ball,” Lions head coach Kellyn Bollinger said.
The struggle was intense Bollinger said.
“We came to a point where we were struggling to get the ball moving and credit to them they moved the ball great on both sides of the ball. They played amazingly both defensively and offensively,” Bollinger said.
Moose Jaw Lions Logan Florent (left) tries to get around Moose Jaw Bulldogs Andrew Lazurko. Lazurko would score three defensive touchdowns during the game to earn him defensive player of the game honours
The Lions had no response for the Bulldogs quarterback Jax Throssell.
“I think the scoreboard showed that.”
The Bulldogs Andrew Lazurko was another player the Lions couldn’t solve.
“That’s really two games in a row. The last game I said someone please block number 50 (Lazurko) but it is another game he has really taken it to us.”
Moose Jaw Lions Logan Florent breaks a tackle
Bollinger said he was happy with how the season turned out.
“I’m very proud of the Lions. I’m very proud they fought hard all season. All night even when things went bad they were still fighting.”
“I’m really proud what were able to accomplish this year. It’s a reflection about how hard we worked all season.”
Moose Jaw Lions Ryder Darroch knocks the ball lose for Moose Jaw Bulldogs Jax Throssell. The Bulldogs would recover the fumble
The team has improved immensely from the first practice to the final game.
“This age it’s always amazing to see the growth.”
