It took 8 long years - and a couple of key recruits - but the Golden Beavers are back on top of the AFFL thanks to a hard fought 14-5 win over the defending champion Big Dogs.
The Beavers entered the season with a solid core that had been bolstered by Chris Graham in 2013, but had a serious question mark at quarterback with the retirement of Tony Smith. Enter the dynamic duo of Duane Kennedy, who moved over from the Shock, and Jessie Carbone who joined the squad after the Eagles folded. Both provided solid qbing for the Beavers, moving the offense steadily and consistently. Their performance, coupled with a record setting defence, propelled the Beavers to the title.
"The loss of Tony was a concern", says veteran Mark Whelan, "but the additions (of Kennedy and Carbone) suited us well."
"In the final, we played a sold defensive game with minimal errors and an overall smart positional game. Everyone came to play."
Chris Graham, who won his 6th AFFL title in 7 years, but first with his brother Jay, echoed Whelan's sentiments. "Our success was the reflection of everyone on the team playing as a team, staying positive and having fun."
The win gave the Beavers their 3rd AFFL title and was especially sweet for veteran Larry Cote, who became the oldest player to win a championship. It also marked the first title for Jessie Carbone, another long time AFFL player. The squad is already looking forward to the 2014 season.
"I can't wait for next year to start," says Graham. "There are so many great things about the AFFL - every Sunday you get to go to the field and play football with great people, and everyone is respectful and just enjoys being there. It's going to be very hard to repeat because every team gets stronger each year and anything can happen once the game starts."
Whelan agrees. "The great camraderie we have with the other teams is what makes the AFFL great," says Whelan. "If we come together like this year, we could be the team to beat - but on any given Sunday any team can win."
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