It will be very interesting to see if the Sudbury U19 Spartans girls' team will be able to build on the momentum they established towards the tail-end of their very first season in the Ontario Women's Football League.

The Spartans officially closed the 2025 campaign on a four game winning streak, taking the Tier 2 championship in Kingston last weekend with a 48-8 win over the Etobicoke Eagles - and this after requiring the athletes to rise and shine around 2:00 a.m. for the six hour bus ride to eastern Ontario.

Throw in the fact that a much closer win over Etobicoke (48-32) actually started their winning streak a month ago or so and it's easy to point to some very rapid development in the Sudbury ranks.

"We've improved from the first time we played them, even though it was only three to four weeks ago," said game MVP Tiia Peuro. The 17 year-old defensive halfback from Lockerby Composite picked off three passes, returning one for a major, as well as making six tackles, including a pair in the Etobicoke backfield.

Having never played tackle football before, Peura could be the poster child for the steep learning curve the Spartans embraced and absorbed.

"The only time I watched football was for the Super Bowl - and that's it," said Peura, reflecting on her awareness of the game before she ventured off to take a stab at flag football in grade nine with the Lockerby Vikings.

"Flag is definitely a good way to start in football," Peura admitted. "I'm glad I had the flag experience before I started tackle, that's for sure."

It was only a matter of a game or two when the "not tiny, but not big" defender found a home on the field in flag. "As a (defensive) halfback, I am right at the line and I can see the plays very clearly," said Peura.

"I just find it easy for me to read the plays and know what's going on."

From there, it was simply a matter of understanding tackling technique - and few in the city could teach it better than head coach and long-time Sudbury Spartan Gord Goddard.

"You have to wrap around their thighs," explained Peura. "I liked to tackle high, like a whole bunch of us, but Gord always said: "eyes to the thighs". If you wrap low and throw yourself to the ground with them, I think that's the trick to get them down."

As for her talents as a ball-hawk, running slightly contrary to the norm apparently has helped.

"I just stay on my girl and I will know if the quarterback is throwing to her," said Peura. "I know you're supposed to stay behind them, but I try and get in front of them and get the ball."

"Once the ball is coming, then I go for the ball."

Joining Peura on the scoresheet for Sudbury on Saturday were Maddie Veevers (three TDs), Ella O'Shaughnessy (two TDs) and Chloe Rinaldi (TD).