The offensive game in girls flag football is being taught very young.

The defensive game?

Well, that might have to wait until the high-school ranks. Either way, local secondary schools are the benefactors as the third edition of the Tigrou Bowl assembled no less than 15 girls elementary flag football formations (including one from North Bay), up notably from the ten-team event of one year ago.

After a pair of semi-final shootouts, the championship tilt appeared headed towards a lower scoring affair as the St Charles College Cardinals and St Benedict Bears were deadlocked at 14-14 at the half of the predominantly grade 7/8 matchup.

But as had been the case for much of the day-long tournament on Wednesday, visions of the Wild West dominated the second half of play as St Charles edged St Benedict 42-35, with the Cardinals defense producing a pair of key stops late for the win.

It's no secret that it's been a tough four to six week stretch for all those who call St Charles College home, a time when their faith has been put to the test far more than should be the case.

That was just one of the reasons why SCC head coach Josh Gardiner was beaming with pride regarding the performances of both of his teams.

"The teams dealt with their stress and moments of doubt - yet both rose to the occasion with grade," said Gardiner. "Eighteen individuals coming together for one purpose and one common goal, with the backing of being a Cardinal."

St Charles College booked their ticket in the final after taking down the St Denis Tigers, first place finishers in round robin play, by a final score of 42-35 while the defending champs from St Ben's bested Ecole St Pierre in the remaining semi-final.

The gold medal winning Cardinal roster featured Khloe Rienguette, Ava Wicklander, Brooklyn Bertrand, Reese Doherty, Maelle Angus, Grace Demers, Alyssa Bryant, Brooklynn Mininni, Payton McCann, Ash'Li & Ay'Den Nixon, Quinn Houle, Kylie Moxam, Jayden Olivier, Mia Pren, Sierra Middleton, Lexia Slychuk, Kendyll Petahtegoose, Valentina Pastre, Sarah Smith, Isabella Moretta, student coaches Sophia Slychuk, Maliah Johnson and Aleah Bouillon and head coach Josh Gardiner.

The "B" Division side of the draw was equally as well contested with some new faces making their mark this year. After being denied a playoff presence in each of the past two years, the Macdonald-Cartier Panthères enjoyed a well-deserved breakthrough, capturing the title versus the newcomers that were the Jean-Paul II Comètes.

ESMC narrowly slipped past the first year entry Alliance St-Jospeh Lynx in a final four battle while Jean-Paul II got the better of former tournament champions, Félix-Ricard Jaguars.

The Macdonald-Cartier winning roster was comprised of Adele Gervais, Madison Houle, Desirée Malmiste, Callie Couillard, Sarah Allé, Mira Barette, Laetitia Raymond, Ellie Mae Claridge, Sophia Lafantaisie, Anais Dudet, Alexia Head, Kallee Clausen, Alice Robert, Mia Paquette and Rebecca Jutras.