Gryphons blank Spartans
Josh Pennacchio is the Secretary of Defence for the Greater Fort Erie Secondary School Gryphons. The 17-year-old halfback loves playing on the defensive side of the ball and it showed Thursday night.
Pennacchio had an interception as well as several tackles as the Gryphons blanked the Westlane Spartans 29-0 in a Niagara Region High School Athletic Association senior boys football game at Fort Erie.
“I love it, every play being able to go out there and lay big hits. I love that aspect of it and anything that contributes to the team, I’m ready and willing to do,” Pennacchio said. “I’ve always (played defence), ever since I started playing football in Grade 10 and I’ve loved it ever since.”
Pennacchio also plays for the school’s baseball team as well as suiting up for rep lacrosse and rep hockey in his hometown.
“I’ve always played defence in every sport I played so I thought I try it and it’s working,” he said. “We didn’t let in any points today so the boys are happy. Love to see it.”
Pennacchio said there are no shortcuts on defence.
“You have to show up to practice every day and show up for your team, just keep working and go 110 per cent every practice and that makes you better over time,” he said.
Gryphons coach Dave Sauer appreciates what Pennacchio brings to the field.
“It’s great (to have him). He filled in tonight. We had a middle linebacker who was sick all week and we had to shuffle guys in so he filled in at half spot and he was outstanding today. He’s been with the program a long time and with us in Fort Erie minor (football) as well.
“He’s a great kid to have around.”
The win improves Fort Erie’s record to 2-0 after a victory over the Centennial Cougars Monday in their season opener.
“We played tough. Monday’s game was great. It was back and forth and we won in the end and being on a short week it was important for us to play hard and that’s what we did,” Sauer said.
With the game out of reach, there were some needless penalties on both sides of the ball.
“We take the guys off and we tell them our expectation is not to play stupid. If they get aggressive penalties we live with it, but if we get dumb penalties, we can’t live with that. We got everyone through. We just wanted to grind the game out at the end and win classy,” Sauer said.
The Spartans dropped their opener to A.N. Myer 55-0 and have yet to score this season. Nevertheless, Westlane head coach Dean Mazzone isn’t discouraged.
“We’re happy. I know it’s a cliche, but there’s no quit in the team, that’s the one thing,” Mazzone said. “These guys, most of them have very minimal experience with any football so we start from ground zero and we’re also coaching both (junior and senior) teams. We’re trying to build a program. They’re working hard. It’s a lot of work.”
Mazzone and his staff are impressed with the attitude of the players, despite the tough start to the season.
“They come out to practice, they work hard, they just want to compete,” he said. “It’s something new for these kids and I really believe it’s the brotherhood of football. I’ve played all my life and there’s something different about the game. They’re buying into what we’re trying to do. They know it’s going to be a long process but most the kids in senior have never played senior before.”
STATS PACK
Gryphons 29 Spartans 0
Cat’s Caboose Player of the Game: Fort Erie’s Josh Pennacchio with an interception.
Greater Fort Erie Gryphons: Chad Phillips, Colin LaRoche, Brayden Stoddard, Seth Zimmerman TD’s; Bo Train field goal, two converts.
Westlane Spartans: No scoring.
Up next: The Gryphons are at West Niagara Thursday, Oct. 5. The Spartans host Sir Winston Thursday, Oct. 5.
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