World Footy News

On October 11 and 12 2008, the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs hosted the 12th annual USFooty National Championships. Unfortunately, while Colorado Springs promised beautiful surrounds it delivered a very very cold, foggy, windy and somewhat wet Nationals. A low cloud cover hang over the weekend threatening rain and actually delivering rain during the afternoon games on Saturday. The big winners on the weekend were the Vancouver Cougars who went home to Canada with the first John Harrell Memorial Trophy to cross the US’s northern border.

In second division, the Seattle Grizzlies were able to quiet the other Canadian team in the mens, the Calgary Kangaroos. The third division championship was taken by a resurgent Kansas City Power. In Division Four, the Ohio Valley combination of Louisville and Cincinnati takes home a National Championship and the big responsibility of hosting the 2009 USFooty Nationals in Mason, Ohio. In the Women’s, the Atlanta Kookaburras lost their first National Championship to yet another Canadian team, the Calgary Kookaburras.

The first division was full of upsets. The first occurred on Saturday morning in Pool A when the No. 4 Vancouver Cougars defeated the home team and 2007 National Champions the No. 1 Denver Bulldogs. The Cougars brought a very strong team that included a number of mobile and skillful talls, and speed to burn in their midfield. It was the best team that Vancouver had traveled with in 2008 and certainly belied their 2-3 record in USFooty League matches. They definitely were not the team that Denver had slaughtered back in July. According to Vancouver’s Stu Grills, the team included three Canadian Northwind representatives and a number of others who are on the cusp of making the Canadian national team. Denver’s age may have been a factor but in the end, Denver loss by 7 was the closest any team would come to Vancouver all weekend.

In Pool B, the No. 4 Boston Demons defeated the No. 2 Baltimore Washington Eagles as the rain poured down. The Eagles’ game of short precise football with long runs from the wings and through the center was severely hampered by the wet. Afterwards, the Eagles Denis Ryan said “the last time the Eagles played in the wet was ten years ago!” Boston, on the hand, played perfect wet weather footy with long kicks, and moving the ball by punching it forward and kicking off the ground. Boston won by 6.

Things in Pool B, got even stranger when the No. 3 Golden Gate Roos defeated the No. 1 San Diego Lions. Golden Gate had been humbled by the Baltimore Washington Eagles earlier in the day and took out their frustration out on the Lions. This result left each team in Pool B with one loss and one win after Saturday’s action.

In Pool A, Vancouver hurled towards their National Championship thrashing the No 2. New York Magpies. The No. 1 Denver Bulldogs finished their day in the cold and wet kicking 4.11 to defeat the No. 3 Orange County Bombers. After an excellent season, the Bombers were unlucky to get such a low seeding in probably the tougher pool.

Championship Sunday began with some sunshine, but quickly deteriorated as the low clouds came in and the wind dropped the temperatures and changed the game plans. The Coopers tent filled up quickly as players and supporters looked for shelter, a warm Four n Twenty Pie and a Cooper’s Ale.

Although Pool B had ended on Saturday a bit of mess, a close game between Golden Gate and Boston would mean that the final pool game of the day, San Diego versus the Baltimore Washington Eagles would serve as the preliminary final to decide who would face the unstoppable Vancouver Cougars. The dryer weather suited the Baltimore Washington Eagles as they proceeded to walk over the Lions. Again, Head Coach Aaron Tyndall was brilliant in the center, winning the ball, getting the ball out to his wingers or giving a pinpoint pass to his forwards. Rich Strayer was hard charging at half forward, kicking some important goals. It was a hard loss for the proud San Diego Lions club. Head Coach, Simon Schenk, worked as hard as anyone in the Lions midfield, but it wasn’t to be.

The Division 1 Grand Final was the last game of the day and it was the No. 4 Vancouver Cougars taking on the No. 2 Baltimore Washington Eagles. Vancouver won the toss and elected to kick with the wind. A fateful decision as the Cougars were able to kick long to their big forwards and put three goals on the board without the Eagles troubling the scorer. The Eagles were able to hold the ball up and play possession football into the wind, but the Cougars made the most of their opportunities. Brent Frewen had a great tourney and was a deserved MVP in the Grand Final. The Eagles had a chance and the wind in the second half and they were able to put up two goals to Aaron Tyndall and Rich Strayer. However, the Cougars half back line was as good as it had been all tourney. The Eagles were simply not able to penetrate into their smaller half forwards. The Cougars sealed the game with a goal against the wind. The Vancouver Cougars 4.4 (28) defeating the Baltimore Washington Eagles 2.0 (12) for the Division I USFooty National Championship.

Despite the loss, the Eagles can hold their heads high, finishing the season 10-2 with some great footy. Congratulations AT, Cord and all the boys and girls for a great year. Carna’ Eagles!