The difference between good and great teams is slim.
In local flag football, the Bulldogs have walked a fine line between the two for some time. This year, with sponsorship from Club House, the squad is among the frontrunners in the Digicel Summer League, put on by the Cayman Islands Flag Football Association.
For team captain Todd Hazlewood, this season is poised for a breakthrough.
“This team is as capable as any team we’ve had,” Hazlewood said. “I like the chemistry, we’re good playing together and we’re poised to excel. Once we can play our game, we can beat anyone. We showed that against West Bay.
“We want that trophy and that’s all we care about.”
Club House made their biggest statement of the season with a 6-0 victory over the dms West Bay Hellcats last Saturday at the Ed Bush field. The victory puts the Bulldogs in a tie for first place with Rob Bouliane and the Hellcats as both sport identical 8-3 records.
It should be noted that the league recently ruled the match between the Hellcats and Cayman Power Sports and Marine Hurricanes on 25 August as abandoned. Initially, the ruling was that the Hellcats took the victory via forfeit as two Hurricane players were ejected.
Beating the Hellcats is a milestone for the Bulldogs, a club constantly overshadowed by the six-time champions. In recent memory, Club House has cemented its place among the sport’s best sides, with two finals appearances in the last five years.
Hazlewood states 2012 could be the year that reaps a championship.
“We have a hump to get over, based on our history. But we win three more games and it’s over. We have to put in the work before the game and reap the benefits after the game. It’s good to have our guys on the same page.”
A quick look at the statistics sheet shows the Bulldogs have the potential to be great. Club House have won five consecutive matches, equalling the league’s longest winning streak this year. Behind Dave Velez and Chris Smith, the Bulldogs have scored the third-most points (169). The defensive line of Dillon Claassens, Kevin Zimmer and Chip Whitney have caused the Bulldogs to allow the fewest points (57) this season.
Claassens states those numbers are not by accident.
“Lots of preparation and hard work equals results,” Claassens said. “That worked for us the last five games on our streak. The offensive line for West Bay had a tough time giving Jacob ‘Frecko’ Ebanks protection.
“We pressured Frecko all day and he was not going to have a good day. The whole team played well. Once we make tackles and execute well, we’ll play well. It was a very physical game and we contained them.”
The regular season finale is slated for this Saturday, 18 September, at Ed Bush in West Bay. Club House battle the Maples Packers at 4pm with the Cox Colts facing the Burger King Panthers at 2.45pm and the Hurricanes facing the PWC Renegades at 1pm. With the playoff participants already decided, a pair of teams could derail a Bulldogs-Hellcats final on 29 September.
If the standings stay true, Club House would face the 7-4 Packers again next Saturday, 22 September, while the Hellcats would battle the 7-4 Panthers. Maples beat Club House 20-18 back in July thanks to Rookie of the Year favourite Barrett Edri at quarterback. The Packers are a dynamic side that can be electric on both sides behind the likes of wide-out Christopher Bennett and lineman Davanni James.
Burger King meanwhile split their regular season series with the Hellcats, losing 19-14 in mid-July before famously beating West Bay 9-6 earlier this month. The Panthers are a gritty team steadied by veteran talents like Taj Haye, David Taylor and Jonathan Carter.
Hazlewood states the Bulldogs can overcome whoever awaits them this postseason.
“The playoffs is a different atmosphere. The regular season is what it is. You come in with more intensity in the playoffs, it’s do or die. At the same time, you have to maintain composure and execute the game-plan one game at a time.”
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