Gators get into the win column
The Lakeshore Catholic Gators gave Gaven Clark a richly deserved reward Wednesday.
Playing their final home game of the regular season, the Gators coaching staff gave the big defensive tackle a chance to handle the ball and the 17-year-old, Grade 12 student passed with flying colours.
Clark punched it in from the one-yard line for a touchdown as the Gators topped the Denis Morris Reds 19-0 in a Niagara Catholic Athletic Association senior boys football game.
The win was the first of the season for the Gators after three losses.
The Reds remain winless at 0-4.
“It feels really great coming out with a touchdown and everything,” Clark said. “First actual win of the season so it’s nice — really nice.”
Clark, who also plays on the offensive line, was hoping he would get a chance to handle the ball.
“It felt really good. As soon as I heard “Super Tubs” I just lined up. I was excited and got my second chancre at it so it was exciting,” he said.
Lakeshore head coach Bernie Tessier felt it important to single out Clark.
“He was leading the charge,” Tessier said. “We set up a play for him this week to play running back and he scored himself a touchdown. He’s out here every day in practice. He works really hard, he loves this game and loves the team and we’re happy he was able to get that today.”
Clark, who also plays for the Niagara Spears U18 squad, admits it’s not always easy playing for the Gators, who dressed only 23 players Wednesday.
“We push all the boys together,” he said. “We’re a small town and we just keep pushing each other to do it and force each other.”
He has played every down on both sides of the ball this season and wouldn’t have it any other way.
“It’s pretty hard. It’s tiring and times when I want to sit but I just push through it but it’s not easy,” he said.
Tessier was thrilled to see his charges rewarded with a victory.
“We talked about what this game meant for these guys in their last home game of the season,” he said. “It’s been a rough season and what it would mean to them and the guys came together and really did a good job.
“It was all about the players today and as a coaching staff, we’re really proud of them.”
With so few players dressed, Tessier said preparation was crucial.
“We come out here and practice tough and talked with the guys about proper nutrition and just being ready for the game and they did a good job of preparation and obviously that showed today.”
Tessier has high hopes for the program going forward.
“The vibe is good here, despite the losses this year,” he said. “People are loving football here. We get great support from our administration.Our infrastructure is good, our coaching staff is excellent and we’re going to get more numbers. We have a junior team this year which we haven’t had in a number of years so that’s building.
“It’s happening. We’ve been working hard and it’s finally happening.”
DM coach Steve Roach lamented his team’s difficultly on offence.
“The physicality is a problem for us. We still have to get the running game going sometimes we had to resort to too much passing than we would like to do,” he said.
Roach, too, has aspirations for his program.
“We’re trying to get this program in a spot where we can beat all the other teams in this league. We’ve started towards that this season and we’d like to finish strong against Saint Francis but we know there is a lot of work to do in the off-season to get to that next level.”
STATS PACK
Gators 19 Reds 0
Cat’s Caboose Player of the Game: Lakeshore’s Gaven Clark who played on both sides of the ball and scored a touchdown.
Lakeshore Catholic Gators: Clark TD; Hayden Frizzelle TD; Gael Wilsonne INT, TD; Devon Dulmage INT; Austin Cracknell PAT.
Denis Morris Reds: Kaden Serre INT.
Up next: The Reds host the St. Francis Phoenix Oct. 25 at 1 p.m. The Gators take on the Blessed Trinity Thunder Oct.26 at Kiwanis Field at 3 p.m.
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