SPARTANS PLAY TOUGH IN PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY VS. NANAIMO REDMEN

By Bob Dubicki

(ISN) — On one of the hottest days of the summer, the Victoria Spartans Bantam team played a “friendly” with Island rivals, the Nanaimo Redmen at Pioneer Park on Sunday August 15.

What was to be a continuation of an annual tradition of Island teams battling it out for Community Football bragging rights, the Nanaimo Invitational tourney unfortunately was pared to simply Victoria and Nanaimo after a scheduling conflict forced the Cowichan Bulldogs to back out at the last minute.

Temperatures hovering around 38 degrees did not all help the smaller squad Nanaimo team who needed “both ways” duty from several key players. The Spartans took advantage by consistently moving the ball on offence and being stingy on defence. The end-result was a 20-0 score.

Spartans scoring came first by way of a short bull-run up the middle by Sam Varao. Later, a bootleg around the corner from the 15 yard line by QB Lowell McDonald resulted in a 2nd TD. Late in the game, a beautiful 35-yard yard reception by Logan Maher led to another passing play, this time a 25-yard Lowell McDonald pass to Elyjah Halstad in the end-zone. Two converts were successful by kicking specialist Callum Duke.

On defence Alex Rutten, Brian Galbriath McTavish, Carson Scotney and Ben Sloat kept the other side to no nearer than the 25-yard line with 2QB sacks along the way.

As always, Nanaimo Football were great hosts. Next stop for the Spartans will be their VMFL season opener on Labour Day at Eagle Ridge/Bear Mountain Stadium.

BANTAM SPARTANS PREPARE FOR 2010 SEASON WITH HIGH HOPES

By Robert Dubicki

(ISN) — With a pre-season start less than two weeks away, the Bantam Spartans coaching staff is in diligent preparations towards building for a successful 2010 football season.

First order of the day is getting a monkey off their backs.

Rewind.

It’s late October 2009, on a cold, miserable and very rainy day in Coquitlam. The Spartans team, coming off some big wins against Cowichan, Langley, Cloverdale and Burnaby, faced an undefeated Coquitlam squad.

It turned out to be a tough battle which went down to the wire.

Coquitlam was able to score with about 40 seconds left of the clock — final score 7-6.

What a tough way to lose, not to mention a painful trip back home on BC Ferries due to some key injuries resulting from the game.

Football is a game of momentum.

Even though the team wound up in 7th place, it limped to the Quarter-Finals (losing to White Rock). The memory lingers. Coquitlam went on to become provincial champions.

Key players will be retuning this year including Lowell MacDonald at the QB slot and Ben Sloat at Middle Linebacker.

The challenge for the 2nd year vets and the coaching staff will be dealing with the emotional monkey which nagged the team in the latter half of the season last year.

First practice (and BBQ) to start the 2010 year takes place on Sunday, June 27 at Wishart School, 2 to 4 p.m.

Registrations will continue through to July, new recruits aged 14 and 15 are always welcome.

Visit the Spartans website www.spartansfootball.ca for more information.

The first test this year will come August 15 when the Spartans play in the Nanaimo Invitational tournament.

Given the ongoing rivalry between the Spartans and the Nanaimo Redmen over the years, this will be a good test for both sides.

The monkey will need to come off quick and early.

VICTORIA RENEGADES NEW ISLAND JR. BANTAM CHAMPS

 

 

 

 

By Mark Townsend

The Victoria Renegades are the new Vancouver Island Junior Bantam Football Champs.

They trampled over the Nanaimo Lions 51 to 0 on Sunday.

Marcus Davis, Justin Pearce, Ashton McKinnon, Hayden Crothers, Jesse Woollard and Keith Cathcart all had rushing touchdowns while Ashton McKinnon and Joe Clarke threw TD passes to Julian Luis and Isaiah Pheiffer.

The Renegades defence kept the Nanaimo squad in check throughout the contest.

Easton Garard had an impressive game with a huge interception and fumble recovery.  Not surprisingly, Easton Garard was a co-winner of the Defensive Player of the Game.

Morgan Pearse had his best game of the season and was also selected as a co-winner of the D award.

Aarmin Purewal and Kyle Schaap were selected as the Offensive Players of the Game for their terrific efforts.  Hayden Crothers and Marcus Davis each had big plays on the kick-off squad and were awarded the Special Teams’ Players of the Game.

The Renegades will take on the Coquitlam Vikings in the Vancouver Mainland Football League quarter-final playoff at 1 p.m. Sunday at Bear Mountain Stadium at City Centre Park in Langford.

The Renegades and Vikings have squared off against one another in each of the last two the Provincial Championship Games at BC Stadium.

Renegades supporters, let’s see if we can have a “RED OUT” at Bear Mountain…wear RED clothing, bring a RED towel, bring a noise maker and let’s cheer on the Renegade team to victory…huge thanks.

Earlier this month the Renegades wrapped up their regular season play with a 49 to 14 victory over the Victoria Spartans, concluding a perfect 9 and 0 record for the Renegades.

Players of the Game were Marcus Davis, Brock Morrison, Isaiah Pheiffer and Jesse Woollard.

VICTORIA RENEGARDES STOMP OVER SPARTANS 45-6

By Mark Townsend

The Victoria Renegades recorded their 6th straight victory of the 2009 season with a 45 to 6 win over the Victoria Spartans.

Marcus Davis and Jesse Woollard led the Renegades scoring with two touchdowns each.  Kieran Davenport had a rushing major and Braddock Hunter caught a TD pass from the arm of Ashton McKinnon.

Alex Brennan and Isaiah Pheiffer each had two convert kicks while Ryan McNeil made a spectacular reception for another Renegades convert to round out the scoring.

The Renegades passing game was outstanding in the contest with the

Renegades completing eight of 10 passes.

Braddock Hunter and Julian Luis each had two receptions in the game.

The Renegades defence was rock solid once again allowing the Spartans only score on the last play of the game.

Hayden Crothers, Dante Morandin, Marcus Davis, Christian Krause and Stephan Lechinsky all had standout games for the Renegades on the defensive side of the ball.

Special Teams was highlighted by the excellent play from Justin Pearce and Josh Ward.

The Offensive Players of the Game were awarded to receivers Braddock Hunter and Julian Luis who played brilliantly in the Renegades passing game and came up with some terrific catches.

Dante Morandin had his best game as a Renegades and was a monster on the defensive side of the ball, and for his efforts was selected as the Defensive Player of the Game.

Josh Ward was great on Specials Teams highlighted by his great catch of a difficult punt and return.

Next game is Sunday, Oct. 18, against Nanaimo at Pioneer Park at 1 p.m. in Nanaimo.

VICTORIA SPARTANS TAME NANAIMO LIONS 40-18

By Mike Lenz

The Victoria Spartans tamed the Nanaimo Lions 40-18 Saturday in Nanaimo.

The Spartan JBs, who met a much improved club, brought a strong ground game and received strong contributions from all their ball carriers.

Ryan Yeske led the way with over 100 yards gained both running and receiving. Kelsey McCowan gets special mention at the QB  spot where he played well despite a problematic foot injury.

The defense was strong for the Spartans except for a few long gains where the clever play design of the Nanaimo Lions sprung fleet footed runners for scores.

In the trenches the Spartans enjoyed strong performances from Mackenzie Weir who dominated the middle and hurried the quarterback on several occasions as well as Tristan Forish who after being burned once totally dominated from his defensive end spot with several tackles, hurries and a sack for a 15 yard loss.

Spartan next see action on Sunday against the unbeaten Reneagades.

LOTS OF GRIT HELPS VICTORIA MIDGET SPARTANS TIE NORTH SURREY BEARS

By Doug Henderson

The Victoria Midget Spartans traveled to Bear Creek Park in North Surrey for what has traditionally been a close contest between two long standing rivals.

On their opening possession, the Bears moved the ball into Victoria territory before their drive stalled at the 35-yard line.

On the first play from scrimmage, Spartans quarterback Micheal Dumesnil completed an eight-yard pass to Eric Eggleston, who eluded a couple of Bears defenders and sprinted 65 yards for Victoria’s first major score of the game.

The extra point was kicked by Matt Cownden, supported by a great snap and hold by Greg Pauqette and Eric Eggleston, putting Victoria up 7 – 0.

Starting at their 10-yard line, the Bears moved the ball up the field on the strength of a grinding running game, scoring after eight plays and evening the score at seven apiece.

Following a Cownden field goal, the Bears controlled the second quarter, scoring two more touchdowns and leading at the half 21 – 10.

Victoria started the second half undaunted with solid blocking from the offensive line and strong defence.

Another field goal from Cownden brought the score to 21 – 13.

A tremendous 65-yard sideline run from Niles Gougen pushed the Spartans to the Bears five-yard line.

Two plays later, Gougen carried the ball in, bringing Victoria to within two points of the Bears.

A two-point conversion on a run from Gougen tied  it late in the forth quarter.

The Bears answered quickly and the score was 28 – 21 for North Surrey leading in to the final minutes of the game.

The Spartans showed their determination and Dumesnil connected with Gougen for a 20-yard pass and run, bringing the score to 28 – 27.

Cownden connected again for the point after on the last play of the game, leading to 28 – 28.

Asked about the teams’ performance on the second regular season outing, Head Coach Dave Shortt said the guys “showed a lot of grit battling back through the whole game where others may have given up.

“Rob Mar, Tanner Rodinsky and Tyler Greener fired up our defence with some big plays,” Shortt said.

“We need to get smarter and avoid the penalties, which cost us over 50 yards today.  We made some mistakes, did some things right and are looking forward to next Sunday’s tilt against the Raiders in Richmond.”

SPARTANS SLAY BULLDOGS 20-12

By Mike Lenz

The Spartan Junior Bantam squad took on the Cowichan Bulldogs in a very well matched contest on Monday in the second game of the Spartan Football opening day celebration.

The Spartans managed to come out on top of a 20 – 12 score.

It was a great game with crazy weather!

Offensive player of the game was Jordan Worth with more than  100 yards rushing. He also ran for a touchdown and threw for a touchdown to Carson Scotney.

Tre Engerdahl earned the defensive player of the game award with two interceptions and a key tackle to stop a Cowichan drive in the third quarter.

The Spartan defensive unit gets a special shout out for an impressive goal line stand early in the fourth quarter when Cowichan had the ball 1st and goal from the five-yard line.