Thursday football: Myer, Thorold, Centennial, BT victorious
The A.N. Myer Marauders senior football team pushed its Niagara Region High School Athletic Association Tier 1 football record to 3-0 Thursday night with an impressive 45-14 road victory over the Sir Winston Churchill Bulldogs.
Leading the way for the defending NRHSAA champion Marauders were: Mitch Casucci who scored a TD and had a strong day running the ball behind a good effort from the team’s young offensive line; Evan Goforth with a 50-yard major; Graham Walters with a 26-yard TD and amazing interception; Tyler Goforth with a touchdown and a solid day at quarterback; Eugene Park with a pick six from 50 yards out; Aiden Hunt with field goals of 25 and 30 yards; Johnny Colcuc with an excellent kicking day, pinning Sir Winston Churchill back for two single points and a safety; and, Preston Murrell with a strong game on special teams.
“The defence shut down Sir Winston’s run game and limited a good passing game to 14 points,” Myer head coach Dave Buchanan said. “Fran della Valentina was a standout on D.”
For the Bulldogs, who were out-scored 27-0 in the second quarter, Brady Pupek scored a pair of touchdowns and Ryan Midany converted both.
“Myer played a perfectly-executed offence and defence. They were crisp and efficient,” Churchill head coach Peter Perron said. “We played a good first quarter and a great second half. Our second quarter was a big problem. We were missing four key starters and the inexperience demonstrated by the backups showed up until we could adjust at half time.”
Perron felt the game did have some positives.
“Although we lost, we learned from our mistakes helping to make us stronger as an overall team and upping our football IQ for the next games.”
Myer’s win sets up a showdown next Thursday at 7 p.m. at Greater Fort Erie Secondary School. The Gryphons also come into the game unbeaten and the winner will be in the driver’s seat to have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
GOLDEN EAGLES 34 SPARTANS 22
The Thorold Golden Eagles varsity football team remained unbeaten in NRHSAA Tier 2 play with a 34-22 victory over the Westlane Spartans (1-2).
“Westlane showed a lot of heart today and battled all game. We were able to march the ball well all game but struggled in the red zone,” Thorold head coach Duane Kemp said. “Westlane got us on a couple big plays outside for TDs. We are thrilled to be 2-0 but still have a lot work to do.”
Leading the way for Thorold were: quarterback Mark Suntz, 13-21 passing for 240 yards and three TDs; Lucas Friesen, TD catches of five and 20 yards; Braedon Genest, three-yard TD run; Tyrese Gibson, 45-yard TD run; Nathan Miller, 28-yard TD reception; Kyle Davidson, Tron Locke and Suntz with interceptions; and, pass deflections by Samuel Anuko and Elijah Williams.
For Westlane: quarterback Logan Kapitanchuk was 9-16 passing for 205 yards with two TD throws; Drake Antic had a 58-yard TD run and a two-point convert; Jacob Ranger grabbed an 80-yard TD reception and had 5.5 tackles; Anshu Patel had a 45-yard TD reception; Kyle Herrera had 10 tackles; Aiden Higgins recorded a tackle and a pick; and, Karim Alghazali had a sack.
“Our inexperience was on full display today,” Westlane coach Dean Mazzone said. “You have to minimize mistakes when playing against a well-coached team. It seemed like we took one step forward, then two steps back. Our message to the team after the game was to learn from your mistakes, correct them and move on.”
COUGARS 6 FLYERS 0
The Centennial Cougars improved to 1-2 in NRHSAA Tier 2 action Thursday night with a 6-0 victory over the Eden Flyers (0-3) under the lights at Governor Simcoe.
“The offence was carried by Mehkai McPhee with a 102-yard rushing performance. Arik Rae scored our only touchdown on a 10-yard run late in the game,” Centennial head coach Brad Barter said. “Solid quarterback play was provided by Brad McHoul and Noah Wellard. Our defensive line was dominant with strong play by Ty Dawn and Robbie Law, Ethan Krick, Luke Dawson and Owen Major. Alan Al-Yacoubi and Dylan Parker tackled well all game and Jesse Wagar made a key late-game interception to seal the victory for us.”
Eden failed to score.
“Centennial played well and were very well prepared,” Eden head coach Jeff Webster said. “They made plays when it mattered the most and we struggled again to sustain drives. We have a lot of work to do if we want to make any impact in the Tier 2 playoffs.”
NIAGARA CATHOLIC ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
THUNDER 41 RAIDERS 6
Blessed Trinity senior football quarterback Johnny Breen was 13-14 passing for 277 yards and had a 12-yard rushing major to lead his team to a 41-6 victory over the visiting Holy Cross Raiders Thursday afternoon.
Breen had TD passes to Aidan Sartor (75 yards), Will McDevitt (35 yards) and Carter Mantini (15 yards).
The Thunder improved to 3-0 in Niagara Catholic Athletic Association play while the Raiders fell to 1-2.
Jayden Gurzi-Mcdonald rushed for more than 100 yards and a TD for the Thunder and Romero Nicolazzo kicked two field goals and five converts.
Luca Johnson recorded the touchdown for Holy Cross.
“Holy Cross came out flat and we didn’t perform up to our abilities,” Raiders head coach Gerry DiSanto said. “Number seven from BT (Gurzi-Mcdonald) was the show case. He was their main weapon.”
