HAMILTON – On Saturday night, Team East faced off against Team Halton-Peel in the final varsity game of the Ontario Prospect Challenge. The game remained close until the bitter end with Team East coming on top with a final score of 12-0. By the end of the game, it was Shamond Carlisle of Team East, Nick Mardner of Team Halton-Peel and Patrick Madore of Team East who had impressed the coaches enough to be named the gameβs MVPs.
Carlisle, a running back who was #28 in white, felt that all his hard work had paid off when he was named Game MVP.
βI feel great man. I have been training every single week. Iβve been training Monday to Sunday every single day, hitting the hills with my friends, hitting the gym. It feels great,β he said.
βI wouldnβt have been able to do it without my team. Theyβre everything to me. Everybody did a highlight of the game and I love my team,β he added.
βThe running back from the East team [Shamond Carlisle] had a good, tough game,β said Tony Mandalfino, the head coach of Team Halton-Peel. βHe took a lot of shots and it was a big part of their game.β
Blaine Scatcherd, head coach of Team East, praised Carlisle, but he said the overall MVP selection could have gone in another direction.
βShamond Carlisle had a good game. But I donβt think he was a lock to win it,β he said. βI think Jamal Mavinga [#21, REC for Team East] could have won it as well for his two big catches.β
Mardner, Team Halton-Peelβs #10, was awarded the offensive performer of the game for his play as a receiver.
βIt feels good. We were grinding hard last weekend and Iβve been practicing every week, every day of the week. It feels good,β he said when he won the title.
When asked about his highlight of the game, the young player was stumped.
βI donβt know. I would say most of my catches were highlights because whenever I get the ball in my hand, I feel good about myself,β he said.
For Mandalfino, there was no doubt in his mind about who should have won the Offensive Player of the Game Award.
βNick Mardner being chosen, absolutely. Nick is a young player whose career is just breaking out and he is exciting and he is fun,β he said. βIβve had the privilege of coaching him on my summer team. So weβve been working with him, every practice is something new. He has a great future.β
Linebacker Madore, who sported #11, was named as the Defensive Player of the Game.
βIβm very happy about it. Itβs a good success for me and I worked hard for it, so Iβm really happy about it,β he said.
βOn the kickoff, I ran down the field and made a play on the opposite side of my field. So yeah, thatβs my highlight for today,β he added.
While choosing the gameβs MVPs is a difficult task, Scatcherd said, βI think Pat Madore was an easier choice because he had a big, big game on defense.β
At the end of the game, Mandalfino said, βI think it [overall MVP selection] was accurate.β
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