Northants Knights under-19s win first national championship

Credit: DKNG Photography

Northants Knights under-19s marked a historic day for American Football in Northamptonshire, being crowned national champions at the British American Football Association playoffs.

The young Knights finished the regular season with a 100 per cent record, going 6-0-0, to top the Midlands Division 2 and secure the regional title for the second time in as many years.

With their perfect record, the Knights entered the day as the No.1 seed and faced North East Academy Giants in the semi-final, before a final showdown against either Chester Romans or Ipswich Cardinals.

Going into the semi-final, the Knights received the news that starting quarterback Luke Brotherton has tore his oblique in the week leading up to the game.

As this would be his final match at U19 level, he decided to brave out a performance and lead his team in to battle.

Knights started the game hot and linebacker James Wareing jumped on a stray pass to intercept it and run it back for a touchdown for an early score.

A strong run game by the Knights extended the lead before Giants pulled it back to just one point with only a few minutes remaining.

With time starting to run out Oli Thomas ripped off a 45-yard rush touchdown and defensive end Will Heath intercepted another Giants pass for a touchdown to make the final score Knights 28-14 Giants. A game in the final against the number two ranked Chester Romans awaited.

The final was a tense affair with nerves getting the better of both young teams, but once again it was Knights who scored first.

The Romans answered every time, though, and with Knights leading by eight and only 30 seconds left it was Chester who scored, and then got a two-point conversion to take the game in to over time.

Chester hit first with a touchdown in over time but crucially failed to score the extra point, it was then finals MVP Oli Thomas who scored the touchdown to tie the game and now the Knights had one more chance to score the extra point and take all the glory.

In front of the raucous crowd the ball was placed back in to young Oli Thomas' hands at the two-yard line where he found a gap up the middle and ran it in for the game winning score to finish Knights 27-26 Romans and take home the National Championship.

JOIN THE KNIGHTS ACADEMY

We’re always on the look-out for new players to start their American Football journey with us by joining the Knights Academy.

If you’re aged 13 or older and want to try a fun, new sport then get in touch with us.

We’re a friendly, welcoming team and no experience of the sport is needed - just a good attitude and a gum shield!

Training takes place on Sundays at Wellingborough Old Grammarians, from 10:30am until 13:00pm.