BURNABY — Some last-play heroics led the U19 Ravens of North Surrey Minor Football to a flag football provincial title on Sunday (May 31).
The Ravens beat West Kelowna 14-12 in the final, giving the squad its second straight BCCFA Spring Flag Football provincial championship.
The game came down to the last play, according to coach Jim Head. An interception by Kelowna in the dying moments of the game put North Surrey's 14-12 lead in jeopardy. Then, on the final play of the game, from inside the five-yard line, North Surrey’s Willy Brenner knocked down Kelowna’s pass to preserve the victory, Head told the Now.
The tourney saw 13 teams and more than 100 players from across B.C. converage on Burnaby Lake Sports Complex over the weekend.
The North Surrey Seahawks also had a great showing, placing sixth in the province, Head added.
North Surrey Ravens are Colby Peters, Chase Head, Emeka Okuma, David Lagou, Willy Brenner, Simon Odong, Mark Leonardo, Jerald Leonardo, Jake Bracey, Sam Malana, coach Jim Head and manager Cathy Peters.
This coming weekend (June 6-7), the U10, U12, U14 and U16 flag football provincials will be held at Capital News Centre in Kelowna.
More than 1,400 athletes will be participating from across the province, Head said.
"This is the largest number of teams and athletes competing at the BCCFA flag football provincials since its inception.
"North Surrey will be represented with 2 teams in all divisions, with 3 in the U14 division. After regular season play, North Surrey had 2 teams in the top 5 in all but 2 divisions, including 1st place in U10 (NS Lions), U14 (NS Villains) and U19 (NS Ravens). So North Surrey is looking to show big in Kelowna."