Raiders head to playoffs with local help

Châteauguay versus Châteauguay. Black for silver. Teammate turned opponent.

There were so many seven to nine year olds playing football this year in Chateauguay that the Raiders Football Association fielded two Atom teams. When they faced each other for the last game of the season, only one point separated them on the scoreboard at the end of the game.

Did Châteauguay Black enjoy beating his friends and former teammates on Châteauguay Argent, 13-12?

“The kids were going crazy,” said Chateauguay Black head coach Vincent Messier. “They were jumping like they won the Super Bowl.”

The snapper of his team, Teieronhiathé: thà Bauersfeld, is a Kahnawa’kehró: no who participated in the winning game. “Really athletic and a very good football spirit,” said Messier. “I’ve played it on both sides all season.”

If the score doesn’t prove the two teams are tied heading into the playoffs this weekend, their records do. Châteauguay Black finished with a 4-4-1 record and Châteauguay Silver 4-5.

Like all Raiders teams, Châteauguay Silver also has talents from Kahnawake: Stone Hemlock, Rohtehra’satste Jacobs and Craig Standup.

“You still have a playoff opportunity. It’s a new season, ”said Jim Petelle, head coach of the Silver team and president of the Raiders’ organization.

This year, the Raiders’ organization has 30 young Kahnawa’kehró: not in its ranks, and with five of this year’s six teams entering the playoff season, football is once again on the minds of many locals. from the city. Generations of Kahnawa’kehró: no have played with the Châteauguay Raiders.

Sadly, for the first time in the Raiders’ 60-year history, the organization hasn’t been able to field a Midget squad. It was a disappointment for Petelle, but he is excited about the young players in the organization.

“I hope they have a lot of playing time, a lot of fun and a lot of great memories,” he said.

“Defense wins championships”

The Raiders team with the strongest record is the Mosquito team, age group 9-11. Their record is 7-2, a second-place finish in the league on a seven-game winning streak. They will face seventh-place Alexander Park in the quarter-finals this weekend.

“I think we have a good chance of qualifying for the final,” said Kevin Wyeth, who is in his first year as a coach. “It will be a tough road to go, but we have a tough team.”

The team has six Kahnawa’kehró: no: Levi Jacobs, Nicolas King, Aiden Davis, Ryder McComber, Jaxton McComber and Raianahsnó: re (Gary) Norton.

“It’s exciting,” said Jye McComber, Jaxton’s father. “Jaxton is on defense so he’s part of closed defense.”

He thinks the team has a good chance of reaching the final and hopefully closing the deal.

“I love the Raiders,” McComber said. ” It’s the family. They are still good. They are good coaches. They are good for children.

“To sum up, these groups of kids are great together, they motivate each other and the culture is amazing,” said Sose Jacobs, Levi’s father. The organization has provided encouragement and support to all of its players from his own days playing for the Raiders, he said.

For Jacobs, it’s more important to him that Levi puts in a good effort and has a positive attitude than focusing on winning.

Team Peewee, aged 11 to 13, was seventh with a 3-4-1 record, which isn’t bad considering the team’s injuries. A running back and wide receiver both pulled their hamstrings, a defensive lineman broke his elbow and the quarterback missed a game due to COVID-19.

Takarahkwensere (Ducky) Benedict, Kyler Montour, Bryce Montour, Wylie Delaronde, Carson Delisle, Atewennateka McComber and Bentley Diabo are all Kahnawa’kehró: no in the squad.

Head coach Dale O’Neill has discovered that Kahnawake sends “very nice” kids to the organization.

For most of the team’s players, this is their first year in organized football. Early in the season, O’Neill found his players reluctant to tackle, clinging to jerseys more often, so he asked his team to go out on the pitch in oven mitts to practice.

The team is healthier heading into the playoffs, but it’s always more difficult for a lower seed, O’Neill said. They will face second-seed Sunnybrooke this weekend.

The team was on vacation last weekend, but decided to accept an exhibition game with Lakeshore, the number one seed. The Raiders held on at halftime, losing just 20-16.

“My wide receiver made a nice diving catch in double cover thanks to two people to score a touchdown. It was beautiful, ”said O’Neill. The second half didn’t go so well for the Raiders, however, and the final score was 54-16.

The Bantam team, which includes players up to the age of 15, finished with a 2-6 record. The playoffs start a weekend later than the other age groups, but the Raiders are off this weekend. “Our season could have gone better, for sure,” said Corey Cook. “But we were competitive in more games than we were.”

Many of the team’s players were in their first year of football, and Cook said the season has been a success from a player development perspective.

James Phillips, Ronan Diabo, Bocephus Dailleboust and Tehaianerahkhwa Deer are the Kahnawa’kehró: not of the team, and they are a welcome and coachable group, Cook said. “Bocephus Dailleboust immediately entered the starting XI on both sides of the ball, which is testament to his natural athletic abilities. “

Due to the pandemic, the playoffs are shortened and split into two tiers. The Raiders will play in the lower tier, but will still be competing in playoff football.

The team could face the LaSalle Warriors in the first round depending on how the games unfold this weekend. The Raiders lost to them last time around, but it played out in the dying moments of the fourth quarter. “We lost 27-23, but we know we can compete with them,” Cook said. “It would be a great game if that happened. “

Don’t forget the Tykes!

The only Raiders who aren’t making their way to the playoffs are the kids of Team Tykes – but only because the
the level of competition is lowered for five to seven year olds.

“Technically we don’t have the record for wins and losses, but my competitive side made me keep track,” said head coach Ricky Imhoff with a laugh.

Rory Randle, Brayan Randle, Brant Montour, Silas White, Hendrix Leclaire, Holden Beaton, Jackson McComber, Dainian McComber and Tehona’kara: a Diabo are all kids from the community who play on the team.

“They had a lot of fun whether they win or lose,” Imhoff said. “They always had a smile on their face. “

The team will enjoy a separate banquet from the rest of the Raider teams, and each child will walk away with a trophy to commemorate their year.

“I hope they will create lasting friendships with their teammates now and continue to play football,” Imhoff said.

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