This time nobody was getting in the way of the Richmond Broncos.
After two years of close calls, the U14 squad capped a dominating season by taking top honours at the recent B.C. Flag Football Championships in Kelowna. The Broncos capped a perfect run with a 23-14 victory over the South Delta Rams.
Richmond built up a 23-0 lead at the half and was in cruise control the rest of the way.
The locals road to the title also included wins over Chilliwack (54-0), Prince Geroge (36-0), Kelowna (42-0), North Delta (20-0), North Surrey (44-16), New West (40-0) and Coquitlam (44-0).
In the Broncos inaugural appearance at the provincials in 2010, they lost in the quarter-finals. Last year, they reached the championship game before bowing out. There would be no stopping them in 2012 as they dominated the five-week regular season jamboree style schedule - going 25-0 - making them heavy favourites in Kelowna.
The team had a distinct B.C. Lions flavour with former offensive lineman and Richmond native Bobby Singh serving as head coach. His eight player roster featured his two sons Bobby Jr. and Kameron Singh, along with Jalen and Tyson Philpot - twin boys of former Lion Cory Philpot.
The rest of the line-up included Drey Blair, Reign Cruz, Devin Patterson and Jack Cruz-Dumont. Greg Cruz served as an assistant coach.
"Our team was about speed and agility," said Singh. "We probably threw the ball 80 to 85 percent of the time. Our defence really set the tone. It's been a great season and (the win in) Kelowna is icing on the cake."
Flag football has grown in leaps in bounds since becoming a spring sports option.The U14 division alone has grown from 14 to 29 teams in three years. In total, there were over 1,000 players participating at the provincials from the U10 division and up.
It is a five-on-five game with the offence featuring a quarterback, running back, centre and two receivers. There is no blocking on pass plays with quarterbacks having seven seconds to throw the ball.
"It's a very fast paced games and that's what I think the kids like about it the most," said Singh. "Even the bigger boys (from regular tackle football) are getting a chance to do more running and they're enjoying it."
