Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Last minute heroics led the Napanee Jr. Hawks football team to a thrilling 26-20 victory on their home turf of NDSS on May 31.
Eython Consack scored two touchdowns in the final three minutes of play to stun the visiting Belleville East Defenders.
Things were looking good early as Napanee’s Aaron Van Hoek got the home crowd fired, scoring on the first play of the game. Cody Storey added another touchdown for Napanee, but still the Hawks found themselves down a touchdown entering the final three minutes of the game.The defense, led by Jacob Carreiro with a huge interception, kept Belleville close throughout the game to help set up the action-packed finish.
Napanee’s Cody Storey airs out a pass. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
Making the victory all the more impressive was the fact Napanee had just 23 players in uniform, including one Grade 5 and five Grade 6 players. Still they managed to more than hold their own against the full roster of Belleville with over 40 players available.
Napanee is now 2-1 in the Belleville Minor Football League, which is made up of elementary school players born between 2010 and ’12.
After a 12-6 loss against the Belleville West to open the season, Napanee edged the Bancroft T-Hawks 7-6 in Week 4. That required nine defensive stops within Napanee’s 20 yard line to close out the game. Van Hoek blocked Bancroft’s kick attempt on the final play. Gabe Antwni was a notable performer as defensive end with Consack and Carreiro at lineback. Walker Pressley made some great plays at halfback.
Napanee closes out the regular season on Friday with a road game against Campbellford at 7 p.m. The playoffs get underway the week of June 11.