Dec 2011

Provincial Finals Produce Exciting Games

Midget Division

The Midget game featured the two top seeded teams in the league with the White Rock Titans having a banner year going undefeated all the way through while the Coquitlam Falcons finished second over all with an 8-1-1 record having only lost their first game of the year, that at the hands of the Titans. Like many playoff finals both teams came out conservative leading to a competitive defensive battle until the Titans struck first in the second quarter. This lead to an explosion of offense by White Rock and before the half ended the Titans were up 22-0.

Coquitlam got things rolling early in the second half scoring their first major of the night but they were unable to control the pass happy Titan offense as White Rock added fourteen more points in the second half finishing off the Falcons with a 36-13 win and capturing the 2011 Provincial Championship.

Bantam 12-man Division

For the North Surrey Tigers one has to go back to October 25th in 2009 to find the last time the Tigers lost a regular season game. After going undefeated in 2010 North Surrey lost to Langley in the VMFL finals with a score of 39-7. This year the Tigers continued their domination of the Bantam division by going undefeated again, this time landing themselves in BC Provincial final against the sixth seed Victoria Spartan's, a team that finished the year with a 5-5 record. This game was a defensive show down from kickoff as neither team was able to move into the opponent red zone, playing most of the day in a battle of field position. The Tigers got on the board first with a rouge off a missed field goal and followed that up with another later on to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead at the half.

With 9:00 minutes left in the game the Tigers finally broke one free off a long run to score what would be the only North Surrey major on the day giving them a 9-0 lead. With the game clock winding down in the final minutes Victoria got one more kick at the cat and in the dying minutes managed to score their first touch down of the game leaving 34 seconds on the clock and after the successful convert trailing only 9-7. The onside kick attempt was successful with the Spartan's recovering the ball and with a quick pass play completion Victoria was sitting on around the Tiger 30 yard line. With the play clock running and no time out called it looked like Victoria was going to run out of time when with one second left on the game clock the Spartan's were called for too much time, freezing the clock. Quickly the Spartan's got ready and with the snap of the ball the kick was up and good giving the Spartan's a miracle ending win with a final score of 10-9. For a second year in a row the Spartan's, this time the Bantam team, pull off a Cinderella season and take home the Championship trophy.

Junior Bantam Division

For what might be possibly the first time ever, only historians could tell you, the VMFL didn't have a team playing in the BC Provincial finals this past weekend as the South Delta Rams fell victim the previous week in the Semi-Finals against an impressive Kelowna-Mission Lions. This set up a Kelowna versus Meadow Ridge Knights final here in Langley. The Lions, well know for their passing game, didn't take long to show case their talent as the big plays turned into major scores leaving the Knights with their hands full. Meadow Ridge finally got a score of their own late in the game but the Provincial Championship went to Kelowna after a 44-6 final score.

Peewee Division

In the Peewee Division the North Delta Longhorns road a successful run of wins until losing their only game of the year in week seven at the hands of the Cloverdale Bobcats. After that loss the Longhorns never looked back, dominating all the teams in their following regular and post season games and up to the big Provincial Final. The Abbotsford Falcons, a team with a history of Provincial appearances including their 2009 championship season were not going to let anything worry them entering this final game. Both teams came out strong, each with a running back that put down some major yards in each drive however by the fourth quarter the Longhorns were getting the better of the field position leading them to a strong victory over the Falcons and Provincial Champions for the 2011 season

  VMFL Final Standings
  VMFL Playoffs
  BC Provincial Scores

Grey Cup Parade

The 2011 Grey Cup parade was a smashing success for both the Grey Cup Committee as well as the Vancouver Mainland Football League as our float and . its participants were the cheered on the loudest by the parade crowd as reported in the Vancouver Sun newspaper.

Close to 300 players and cheerleaders marched through the streets of Vancouver on Saturday making noise and interacting with the spectators. Fun was had by all with a great representation by the VMFL associations throughout the league. Photos and some coverage links below:

  Vancouver Sun Article

  Live Video Courtesy Vancouver Sun : 22min mark

 Youtube

  Province Newspaper

July 2011

Spring Flag

British Columbia Wins Gold At National Championships

HALIFAX, N.S. – The Coquitlam Falcons, representing British Columbia, have won the gold medal at the Flag Football 2011 Canadian National Championships in the male under-16 division after scoring a 48-12 victory over Team Alberta on Monday in the gold medal game held at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

The U-16 Falcons finished the tournament undefeated posting an overall record of six wins and no losses while out-scoring their opponents 269-43. The U-16 Falcons were led by coaches Paul Lancaster, Eddie Ferg and Steve Marshall, along with team manager Jayne Ogundehinde. The members of the U-16 Falcons are Chase Malcolm, Malcolm Lee, Tristan Sands, KJ Johnson, Kevin Marshall, Jalen Jana and Shane Noel.

The U-16 Falcons are the second team representing British Columbia to capture a national medal in the sport of football this summer following Team BC’s bronze medal performance at the 2011 Football Canada Cup held in Lethbridge, Alberta.

British Columbia was also represented at the Flag Football 2011 Canadian National Championships in the male under-18 division by the Vancouver Westside Packers.

 The U-18 Packers concluded their tournament in fourth place after dropping a 27-20 decision to Team Manitoba in the bronze medal game. The U-18 Packers were led by coaches Mike Pauls and Doug Pauls. The members of the U-18 Packers are Eli Pauls, Liam Mahara, Andrew Pauls, Angus Ker, Cam Bonoc, Mitch Corea, Daniel Laventure, Justin Sanvido, and Lucas Domingo.

Full tournament results for the Flag Football 2011 Canadian National Championships can be found at www.footballnovascotia.ca

May 2011

Spring Flag

2011 Season Ends

The 2011 VMFL Spring Flag Football season finished their series of five weekend jamborees in May and held the U18 Provincials in Vancouver earlier this month. Westside Pauls Packers were victorious in their capturing the U18 Championship title and have earned themselves a trip to Halifax in July for the National Championships.

The three divisions of U12, U14 and U16 ran through a multi-round robin schedule this last weekend with each team getting four to five games on Saturday and another three or so Sunday.

The results of the weekend produced the South Delta Rams as the inaugural U12 Champions. In the U14 category is was the home town team of the Okanagan Mission Saints who won the division while the Coquitlam Falcons took the U16 Championship and will join the Westside Packers U18 team on the trip back to Halifax for the National Championships.

Congratulations to all the teams, players and coaches with 62 teams in all competing over the weekend.

April 2011

Starbowl 2011

VMFL wins Bantam Division

The best of the best is what Starbowl is all about and the best weather possible came out as well as Star Bowl had nothing but blue skies to be played under.

In the traditional format the Bantam VMFL team took on the hosting VCFL team to start the day off. It didn't take long for the VMFL to get on the board as they quickly went up 14-0 in the first quarter.

The Valley was far from throwing in the towel and during the second quarter they came back with a major of their own. Failing on the two point conversion the score was left at 14-6.

The third quarter was hard fought with defense controlling the game allowing neither team to score however both team's offenses came alive in the last quarter. First up it was the VMFL adding to their lead going up 21-6 but within minutes the Valley stormed back with a punt return for six of their own.

Late in the fourth Cory McMurchy of the Mainland kicked a 30 yarder for three points but the Valley got the last score of the day with a dive play near the goal line to finish the game off leaving a final score of 24-18 for the VMFL.

The format for Star Bowl changed this year in the Midget division due in part to the integrated schedule between leagues. This year it was Team Red versus Team White. Team Red consisted of the best players from Langley, Coquitlam, North Delta, Victoria, Chilliwack, Maple Ridge, Westside, and Vancouver while Team White had players from White Rock, Cloverdale, Nanaimo, Mission, North Surrey, Cowichan, Richmond, and Burnaby.

Much like the Bantam game one team got the lead quick with Team White scoring two majors in the first quarter including one off a deep pass route. In the second White scored again with another pass play, this time to Nathon Leader from White Rock.

The game continued on the same pace in the third and Team White added another touchdown early in the quarter but Team Red was not done yet. By mid-quarter Team Red took control and started to dominate the game including a scramble by Cody Parray from Chilliwack to score their first major of the game.

Despite being down 27-7 Red continued to rally and early in the fourth it was Jordan McCarty connecting with his wide out Crosby Stewart for their second but last touchdown of the game. Team White went on to win 27-14 in a spectacular game show casing some great plays and incredible talent.

For more information including rosters see the Starbowl 2011 page.

Pictures

Feb 2011

VMFL AGM

2011 Brings Some New Faces To Executive

The 2011 VMFL AGM was held on Saturday February 19th and along with the business of new rules comes a new executive.

Gord Johnson stated he would not return in a capacity of President after filling in a year for the departed Gord Bath in 2010. Mr Johnson did however return as a Director for the new year and is anticipated to fill the vacant roll of commissioner for 12 man football. This is a role he filled for seven years previously.

Taking the past Presidents position will be the former Vice President Paul Sparrow. Having three years of VMFL executive experience under his belt Mr. Sparrow feels comfortable in filling some big shoes of previous Presidents.

Some new faces joined the Executive this year starting with a new Vice President position being filled by Valder Belgrave. Mr. Belgrave's background has been with Coquitlam Minor Football where he has filled several roles including executive positions over the past many years. Joining Mr. Belgrave in his first year will be Derek Faggiani who will fill one of the Director roles. Mr. Faggiani's background is from the coaching side where last season he lead the Cloverdale Bengals Midget team to a 8-2 record, good for third overall.

Returning for another year of executive work will be Helen Johnson as Secretary, Shane Thompson and Director and Head of Coaches, Gord McPhail as Director and 9 man Commissioner, Dan Bouchard as Treasurer and Doug Pauls as Director and Spring Flag director.

VMFL AGM

2011 Rule Changes

As it is done annually at the AGM a new crop of rule changes appears before the members for voting on and this year was no exception. Twenty three proposals were put to the floor this year, many were just house keeping rule changes but some big ones came forward as well.

Here are but a few:

Midget rosters will now be up to 20 Eighteen year olds however only 10 can be new players to that association. Exception is new to the league teams who will be allowed 20 players regardless.

Midget minimums for players dressed increased to 20 and roster minimums increased to 24

Bantam minimums for players dressed increased to 18 and roster minimums increased to 22

Released Eighteen year olds after week three must have their contact information sent to the League Head Office.

Bantam division will have play counting now for VMFL playoffs

All divisions will now be able to wear plastic screw in cleats.

Junior Bantam will now have to conform to Canadian Numbering rules for the players

Age of Flag players now includes five year olds

Dec 2010

Provincial Games Recap

New Faces Is This Year's Theme

Atom: Since 2001 the VMFL Champion has come from either South Delta or Coquitlam with South Delta holding five of those titles including last years.  Six of those teams went on to win Provincial Championships as well.  However this year the Westside Warriors defeated the Cloverdale Lions in a game where both teams had gone undefeated all year.

Their competitor in the Provincials was no sluff themselves as the Abbotsford Falcons destroyed their competition all year going undefeated all season. However on this day the Warriors proved to be unstoppable as the marched on to a 42-0 victory thanks in part to the driving effort of tailback and game MVP for the Warriors, Luke Dolman.

On the other side of the ball Abbotsford's quarterback Zachary Langfield scrambled all day in an effort to pick up yards but despite his MVP effort the Falcons had met their match today. Westside Warriors 42 - Abbotsford Falcons 0

Peewee: This year the big and tough Coquitlam Wildcats however looked like the champion team of old as they powered their way to a 20-0 victory over the South Delta Rams. Going undefeated all year this team was a force to be reckoned with.

This year the Chilliwack Giants Blue finished one game back of first but showed a strong finish to the season by representing the VCFL in the provincial semi-finals where they knocked off the Kelowna-Mission Lions to earn their shot at the BC title.

Despite the size and strength of the Wildcat team they were not able to outscore the Giants who put up four majors on the day and went on to win the championship.

Fullback Keon Taffe of the Wildcats powered his way for most of the game to earn himself the MVP for Coquitlam while Giants running back Ethan Mastin proved to be more successful and earned the MVP award for Chilliwack Chilliwack Giants 28 - Coquitlam Wildcats 7

Junior Bantam: Things in Junior Bantam were changed up this year when the BCCFA provincial governing body set up a rotating Semi-Final playoff format between the four zones of the Island, VMFL , VCFL and Interior.  The VMFL Champion Coquitlam Raiders went on the road and defeated the perennial favorites the Victoria Renagades 48-16.

In the other provincial semi-final game the Kelowna Dragons came down from the interior to defeat the Abbotsford Falcons 42-16

The Raiders who went undefeated to this point thanks to a huge offensive line controlled much of the game through power running. The Dragons fought back through the air taking advantage of their tall receiving core but in the end came up short as the Raiders went on to victory.

MVP for the Raiders was running back Bryan Whittet who heavily contributed to the total yardage for Coquitlam on the day. For the Dragons the MVP was awarded to quarterback Eli Clark who tossed some nice passes as well as ran for many of the yards gained on the ground. Coquitlam Raiders 64 - Kelowna Dragons 30

Midget: The Midgets division this year encompassed both VCFL and VMFL teams in a test run of sorts and if anything it certainly produced both excitement and some unpredictable results. Victoria ran the Cinderella ride as they squeaked into the playoffs with a 5-4-1 record to capture the eight and final playoff spot. Along their way they defeated the undefeated Langley Stampeders as well as the Cloverdale Bengals who finished third overall.

For the Mission 9ers they had to first win their game against the number two ranked White Rock Titans only to then defeat the North Delta Longhorns who previously won their regular season contest. Despite the challenges by both Victoria and Mission they proved the critics wrong giving the fans a fresh look for the BC Provincials at the Midget level.

The Spartans managed to move the ball through the air while their defense for the most part shut down Mission's running back and game MVP Kyle Ablertini. Mission retaliated late in the game but fell just short of a full comeback giving Victoria the title of BC Provincial Champions. Mike Dumesnil, quarterback for Victoria took the MVP honors for the Spartans. Victoria Spartans 23 - Mission 9ers 20

Bantam: The Langley Mustangs despite finishing second went undefeated through regular season and crushed the North Surrey Tigers in the VMFL finals to earn their shot in the Provincial game.

The Chilliwack Giants however finished first in the VCFL despite having a couple of losses along the way.

The Giants faced a very determined Mustangs team who were playing on home turf. From the very start Langley seized control of the game and dominated the Giants until the final whistle.

Langley's running back Reagan Stard-Doucette won the MVP award for the Mustangs while for the Giants it was Connor Herrmann earning the team MVP honors.
Langley Mustangs 57 - Chilliwack Giants 1

Scores   |   Photos  |  VMFL Playoffs | Provincial Schedule Here

Community Football Loses Hero

Robbie Mountford was instrumental to the development of community football here in the lower mainland and it is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Robbie this past weekend.  Born in 1943, Robbie joined North Surrey in 1970 as a coach and later became President in 1988 until 2009.  It was through his guidance and leadership that North Surrey became  a dominate force in community football both on and off the field.  As well he was President of the Surrey Rams Junior Football team for five years during a time when they went to the National finals in Ottawa.

As a coach he won many provincial titles and as well he held many other positions throughout football including Vice President of the VMFL for eight years. During his expansive football career he won the Football BC Builder award and the Orange Helmet Pioneer Award.  Robbie will be sorely missed by the entire community of football.

Sept 2010

Playoffs!

BCCFA / VMFL Announces Playoff Structure

This year and future years will hold some different looks for the playoffs for both the VMFL and the BCCFA finals. This year as in the past the Flag will continue to have their big jamboree at the end of the season with the site yet to be determined.

Atom, Peewee and Bantam will also continue to hold the traditional VMFL final day with the winners going on to the next weeks BC Provincial finals. However next year and going forward the Atom division will participate in the 9-man BC Provincials in Kamloops. This will mean an adjusted schedule in the VMFL.

Junior Bantam will now have an adjusted schedule in order to meet the new BCCFA playoff format. That format now features a rotating semi-final game between the four zones of the Valley, Mainland, Island and Interior. For 2010 the Island will playoff against the Mainland and the Valley will playoff against the Interior. This will rotate for 2011 and 2012 and then start over again.

As a result the Junior Bantam schedule will now end after week nine. The top eight teams will start the VMFL playoffs in week 10 with the quarter-finals and semi-finals the following week. Their VMFL final will be one week early with the winner playing off against the Island the next week. The teams that don't make the playoffs will still play week 10 but 9th will play 10th, 11th play 12th etc.

In Midget there will no longer be a VMFL championship game. The Champion will be the team that finishes the highest in the Midget division standings. The league will run 11 weeks before playing the quarter-finals, semi-finals. The finals will be the BC Provincial finals played at the host location of Langley.

** Note Atom will move to 9-man Provincial Championships after 2010 season

*** Provincial Semi-Finals home team is previous years winner. Victoria won last year so the Island representitive will be the host team this year.

April 2010

Star Bowl 2010

April marks the time of year when the annual Starbowl games are played, an event that features the best players of the Valley Community Football League competing against the best of the Vancouver Mainland Football League in both Midget and Bantam divisions. Over the last couple weekends both VMFL division teams have been dusting off the rust and preparing themselves for the big game this last weekend. On a day of mixed sun and rain the action was fast and furious on the Langley McLeod Park field. The first kick off was the Bantam division where the Valley wasted no time is scoring and took off with a strong lead of 26-0 into half time. Things turned around in the second half as the VMFL came back strong scoring three touchdowns in a row including two point conversions to bring the game to 26-24 for the Valley. The VCFL team stood strong and took back the momentum in the fourth quarter going on to win 39-30. Next up the Midgets took the field where the Valley was looking to sweep the day. Both teams played tight to start with neither gaining any ground. Later in the second half the VMFL broke out and never looked backing taking the 2010 Starbowl championship with a 35-9 victory.   2010 VMFL Page 2010 Starbowl Pics and Rosters

Willie Watson of the VMFL sneaks past a diving Valley defender on his way to posting some positive yardage

Feb 2010

Changing Of The Guard

After four years of service as President of the VMFL, Gord Bath announced he would not seek re-nomination for the 2010 season. In his place this year will be long time executive member Gord Johnson who takes over the reigns as President in an uncontested vote. Also returning from last year to the executive are Paul Sparrow as Vice President, Helen Johnson as Secretary, Dan Bouchard as Treasurer as well as Gord McPhail and Shane Thompson as Directors.

Newly elected to the board of executives this year were Doug Pauls and Ryan Leslie as Directors. Doug Pauls will officially head the spring flag football program after helping to run a very successful program last year. Ryan Leslie will over see the 9-man football program. Ryan was a driving force and was instrumental in putting together and supporting the inaugural VMFL 9-man football season last year.  Both Doug and Ryan have years of football background that will add to the already seasoned VMFL executive.

New Rules For 2010 Season

Below are a list of some of the new rules that were past at the 2010 AGM

- Blocking below the waste in the close line area will be allowed for all levels again.  (Previously not allowed in Atom, Peewee, JB). This will now align with the VCFL and BCCFA rules.

- Atom division will now play 10 minute quarters, up from the previous 8 minute quarters.  This will now align with the VCFL and BCCFA rules.

- Visiting team is now required to change uniforms where there is a situation involving two teams with closely matching colours.

- Players leaving team bench for a melee will get an automatic two game suspension.

- Game suspensions will now mean a game played.  Forfeited games will not count towards game suspensions.