WarDogs settle for provincial silver

BY JOHN DECOSTE

Kings County Register

The Valley U-17 WarDogs fell behind early in the Nova Scotia Junior Varsity Football League final June 21 in Halifax and, in the end, the deficit was just too much to overcome.

The top-ranked Halifax SeaHawks led 21-0 after one quarter of play and cruised to a 40-9 win over the Valley-Windsor squad.

Wet and blustery weather at Huskies Stadium were a factor in the game - for both teams, but Halifax seemed to do a better job of coping with the weather conditions.

The SeaHawks, who lost the 2008 NSJVFL final to the Metro Mustangs, seemed determined not to let it get away from them this time. DeShawn Beals ran 11 times for 77 yards and two touchdowns, the second giving his team a 28-2 lead at halftime. Kicker Jeremy Ford contributed five converts, a field goal, a safety off a punt, and a touchdown when he recovered a fumbled punt in the end zone.

Iain MacMillan, who scored Valley’s only touchdown on a two-yard run in the third quarter, finished with a game-high 82 yards on 14 carries.

Adam Melanson was the WarDogs’ game MVP, finishing the game with six solo and eight assisted tackles and recording two sacks on defense.

The WarDogs, who improved as the season went on, had a 2-2 regular season record, winning their last two games after starting the season 0-2.

Valley had advanced to the final with a 33-14 win over the defending league champion Mustangs. Halifax received a bye into the final after finishing the regular season with a 4-0 record.