Bulldogs take opener
Eric Neilson wasn’t going to let the flu stop him from taking the field Friday.
The 17-year-old Grade 12 student was seriously under the weather, but still managed to find a way to be one of the standout players for the Sir Winston Churchill Bulldogs.
Neilson ran for a pair of touchdowns and was also a key cog on defence from his middle linebacker position as the Bulldogs held off the Grimsby Eagles 14-10 in a Niagara Regional High School Athletics football game at Churchill.
It was the opening game of the season for both squads.
“I’m a little exhausted right now,” Neilson said. “I took some cold medicine, but I just can’t breathe so I’m gassed a little bit.”
On more than one occasion, Neilson dropped to a knee to take a few extra seconds of rest.
“It’s hard, but we have great coaching and we were able to switch off to get that extra rest. They allowed me to switch out and get a break,” he said. “We have so many guys we can rely on.”
Neilson wasn’t going to pack it in, no matter how lousy he felt.
“I love the sport. It’s something I grew up around and I’m so obsessed with it. I have so many supportive people that keep me going.”
Neilson, who also plays for the Niagara Spears, was gratified he was able to help the Bulldogs to a victory in Game 1.
“It was something we needed,” he said. “It’s a brand new team, so we want to build it up.”
Bulldogs coach Peter Perron said Neilson’s effort was contagious.
“It motivates the other guys to start to elevate their game,” he said. “Next week we have to step it up a notch and get better every week.”
Neilson wasn’t the only Bulldog to feel ill as five starters were forced to the sidelines.
“That flu bug hit us hard this week,” he said. “We had guys coming to practice who were sick. They were doing what they could, but they couldn’t finish practice.”
Grimsby head coach Zach Silverthorne was thrilled with his club’s effort in their first game in Tier 1 after winning it all in Tier 2 last season.
“We’re pleasantly surprised,” Silverthorne said. “We didn’t know if we were going to get outclassed. We had no idea, we have no experience against any of these coaches but we did alright.
“We had a couple of massive fumbles. We could have won the game so we’ll take it.”
Perron tipped his cap to the newcomers.
“They played a very good game,” he said. “They belong up here.”
Following a 21-yard field goal by Reece Baltus that put Grimsby on the board first, the Bulldogs went to work in the second quarter on two touchdowns by Neilson two minutes apart late in the half to give Churchill a 14-3 lead at intermission.
The Eagles scored the lone major of the second half with two minutes to play when Brady Beijes ran back an interception from about midfield.
Stats Pack
Mick and Angelo’s/Johnny Rocco’s Star of the Game: Churchill running back/linebaker Eric Neilson with two touchdowns.
For the Sir Winston Churchill Bulldogs: Neilson 2 touchdowns; Ronald Morley 2 converts, interception.
For the Grimsby Eagles: Brady Beijes interception for a touchdown; Reece Baltus 21-yard field goal, convert.
Through the air: Sir Winston quarterback Philip Samokhin 5-for-10 with one interception; Grimsby quarterback Justin Dawe-Meyers 4-14 with one interception.
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