Mates back in winner's circle, snap four-year Vikings title run with 19-12 victory in WKMFFL Final
By The Nelson Daily Sports
Dam Inn receiver Mike Lucas caught to touchdown passes, the second snapping a 12-12 tie, to power the Mates to a hard-fought 19-12 victory over Castlegar Vikings in the final of the West Kootenay Men’s Flag Football League Sunday in the snow at the Mount Sentinel Field.
The Dam Inn win, the first in the championship in years, snapped a four-year domination by the Vikings, who has held the title since 2007.
The second major score by Lucas came midway through the fourth quarter after Castlegar had tied the game at 12-12.
Aided by a 20-yard penalty to the Vikes for rough play, the Mates drove the ball to the Castlegar 10-yard line.
From there Dam Inn quarterback Kelly Voykin connected with Lucas near the Castlegar end zone. Lucas then avoided the Viking defender before rushing into the corner of the end zone.
Castlegar opened the scoring when quarterback Steve Mota found Karl Perepolkin to give the defending champs a 6-0 lead.
Dam Inn stormed back with Dylan Appleby scoring the major to tie the game.
The Mates took the lead in the third period when Dam Inn alternate quarterback Vic Hoodicoff found Lucas in the end zone for his first major.
However, Castlegar roared down the field with Mota finding Jason Trower in the corner of the end zone.
Trower just got his feet in to make the catch before being run over by two Mates defenders.
The game was a rematch of last year’s final, won 26-12 by the Vikings.
Dam Inn, finishing second in league play, advanced to the final by outlasting Steamshovel Brewers.
Meanwhile, Castlegar posted an upset of regular season champ Nelson Our Glass Ogs.
Expansion Trail Thundercats missed the playoffs.
sports@thenelsondaily.com
