July 9 Niagara Spears and minor football report
Niagara Spears bantam player Adrian D’Gyves rushes the ball during a playoff game versus the London Junior Mustangs. Photo by SCOTT WOODLAND.
And then there was one.
The Niagara Spears bantam team was the only local team to advance to the next round of Ontario Provincial Football League playoff action following play this past weekend.
Playing at home, the bantams defeated the London Junior Mustangs 17-0. Playing on the road, the Niagara Spears Varsity squad fell 34-15 to the London Junior Mustangs and the Tier 1 Junior Varsity squad dropped a 26-2 decision to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
SPEARS 17 JUNIOR MUSTANGS 0
Marshall McCray scored a touchdown and booted a field goal and two converts to lead the Niagara Spears bantams to a 17-0 blanking over the London Junior Mustangs at Kiwanis Field.
Eugene Park added a major for Spears.
Niagara held London to 22 passing yards and 44 rushing yards in the contest.
“The defence played amazingly, well getting a shutout,” head coach Bill Crawford said. “The offence struggled in the first half scoring only three points, but fought hard and put it together in the second.
“It was a great win.”
The bantams improved to 6-3 with the win and now play the Essex Ravens (7-2) on the road. On May 12 in regular season action, Niagara edged Essex 15-14 at Kiwanis Field.
JUNIOR MUSTANGS 34 SPEARS 15
The Niagara Spears Varsity football team (4-4) saw its season come to an end with a 34-15 loss to the unbeaten London Junior Mustangs (8-0).
“I think we had an outstanding game,” head coach Brian Duguay said. “Except for a couple of major miscues, allowing a kickoff return and another very long run, both of which resulted in (London) TDs, we were very competitive.”
Niagara was particularly strong on the defensive side of the ball.
“Our defence was outstanding for the most part, stalling two of their drives and limiting them to field goals instead of touchdowns.
“When considering a couple of weeks ago we were bounced 42-3 by them, I’m extremely proud of how hard our guys fought.”
Niagara has a young team and will lose less than 10 players to graduation.
Spears quarterback Travis Arp completed touchdowns tosses to Dallas Bone and Justin Succar and a two-point convert pass to Darcy MacIsaac. Cole Mackinnon added convert for Niagara.
TIGER-CATS 26 SPEARS 2
The Niagara Spears Tier 1 Junior Varsity football team saw its OPFL season come to an end with a 26-2 loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Ron Joyce Stadium at McMaster University
“We ultimately came up short of our goal, but collectively we came together and got better as individuals, teammates and people and I am proud of all of the kids for battling for four quarters in a valiant effort,” Spears head coach Arthur Martin said.
Niagara’s top performers in the game were Devon Schiller and John Serrano on offence and Riley Lions and Zach Bechard on defence.
The Niagara Spears Junior Varsity Tier 2 squad has two league games remaining on its schedule. The Spears are at the Toronto Jets on July 15 and at the Clarington Knights on July 21.
MINOR FOORBALL
Following are Niagara Regional Minor Football results:
ELITE JUNIOR VARSITY DIVISION
Sundevils 55 Tiger-Cats 8
Sundevils: William Shultz, two TDs and convert; Mason Arbic, TD and convert; Donovan Morgan, TD and convert; Cooper Tice, TD and two-point convert; Anthony Gomez, two TDs and convert; Gabe Loiselle, convert; Paton Roxborough, TD.
Tiger-Cats: Justin Dawe, TD; Josh Keizer, two-point convert.
ATOM DIVISION
Seahawks 33 Longhorns 26
St. Catharines Seahawks: Ezekiel Langendoen, two TDs and convert; Josh Savoie, two TDs; Dahari Williams. TD; Alex Piazza, two-point convert.
Fort Erie Longhorns scoring: Jordan Payne, TD and two converts; Chase Wentworth, two TDs; Gavin Vlasques, TD.
Lions 24 Steelers 12
Niagara Falls Lions: Marco Angelini two TDs; Lucas Panucci two TDs.
West Niagara Steelers: Emilio DiNardo, TD; Matthew McDevitt TD; Connor Proulx, fumble recovery; Lucas Armenti, fumble recovery; outstanding effort by Emilio DiNardo on offence and Connor Proulx and Case Haan on defence.
PEEWEE DIVISION
Tiger-Cats 40 Seahawks 14
Welland Tiger-Cats: Nick Jokic, two TDs; Ben Tsanoff, two TDs and convert; Matthew Gichard, TD; Sean Perry, TD; Dylan Dellemonache, convert; Thomas Alexander, two-point convert; Breton Peacey, interception; Dylan Dellemonache, interception; outstanding play by Seth Bourassa and Marcus Tsanoff on offence and Brandon Krutz and Arik Rae on defence
St. Catharines Seahawks: Elijah Jama, TD; Biancaniello Luca, TD; Genest Braiden, two-point convert.
Steelers 34 Argos 6
West Niagara Steelers: Jake Portolesi, TD; Nathan Owen, TD; Ryden Lapcevich, TD; Jayden Gurzi-MacDonald, TD; Lucas Hazelton, TD on interception return; Elijah Mercer, two converts and fumble recovery; Joey Dilse, fumble recovery; Gregory Marois, fumble recovery; outstanding effort on offence by Jake Portolesi and on defence by Jayden Gurzi-MacDonald
Niagara Falls Argos: Carson Gauthier, TD; Clayton Wilen, interception; Darius Cripps, fumble recovery; outstanding effort on offence by Carson Gauthier and on defence by Clayton Wilen.
BANTAM DIVISION
Tiger-Cats 31 Seahawks 0
Welland Tiger-Cats scoring: Deshawn Johnson, three TDs; Tate Donovan, TD; Daniel Thompson TD; Colton Kizlik, convert.
St.Catharines Seahawks: No scoring.
Falcons 9 Argos 6
West Niagara Falcons 9: Ethan Rutherford, TD; Nick Park, convert and two punt singles; Nolan Banga, two interceptions Jayce MacArthur, fumble recovery.
Outstanding effort on offence by Eljay Thompson and on defence by Banga and Evan Reece.
Niagara Falls Argos: Connor McKee, TD; outstanding effort on offence by McKee and on defence by Arden Martinez.
