Junior varsity Spears ground Ravens
The Niagara Spears junior varsity team improved to 2-3 in Ontario Summer Football League action last Saturday with a 13-6 victory over the Essex Ravens at Kiwanis Field.
Niagara’s touchdown was scored by quarterback Austin MacRae on a five-yard rushing major. Niagara’s defence added two safeties and the Spears’ special teams also contributed a safety.
“The defence played fantastic today (Saturday). They were lights out,” Niagara head coach Brad Martin said. “We schemed our opponent well, they are really trusting the system and we are having a lot of fun out there.
“Beating Essex was huge for the program.”
The offence moved the ball but didn’t score much.
“We had an interception in the end zone to stop a drive and the penalties hurt us on offence. We would get going a bit and the next thing you know we would be behind the chains, punting and trusting our defence.”
Martin likes how his squad is looking.
“We are improving in all facets of our game. I would still like to keep the penalties down a bit more but they are jelling as a team.”
Playing well for Niagara on offence were MacRae, Joe Martinelli and Henry Black. Leading the way on defence were Joe Moore, Aidan Van Mil and Sean Northcott.
Niagara is at London Saturday at 3 p.m.
ESSEX 28 BANTAM SPEARS 6
The Niagara Spears bantam football team fell to 1-3 in OSFL play Saturday following a 28-6 loss to the Essex Ravens Saturday at Kiwanis Field.
Niagara trailed 14-6 at the half as it chalked up 25 yards of total offence, including 85 on the ground.
“This was another week where the bantam Spears squad kept the score close up until halftime and then fell apart,” Niagara head coach Austin Huh said. “Essex scored two more touchdowns in the second half as the bantam squad ran out of steam. Special teams haunted the bantam Spears again, giving up one punt return touchdown before the half and giving up another large return in the second half to setup Essex’s third touchdown.”
Niagara’s defence recorded two fumbles and five tackles for losses while the offence struggled to get its passing game going.
“Heat played a factor on our undermanned roster as injuries mounted as the game progressed,” he said. “We will regroup for the London Junior Mustangs.”
Niagara only touchdown was set up by a 47-yard run by Hudson Grant and completed on a 13-yard pass from Andrew Hurrle to Grant.
Leading the way on defence for Niagara were: Gabrielle Diaz with two solo tackles, two assisted tackles and a forced fumble; Spencer MacRae with two tackles for losses and two solo tackles; Raph Robinson with a forced fumble; and, Will Taylor with two solo tackles, two assisted tackles and a tackle for a loss.
