NRHSAA football: Redcoats, Golden Eagles and Spartans win
Danny Lewis did everything but drive the team bus Friday afternoon for the Governor Simcoe Redcoats football team.
The Grade 10 student caught a touchdown pass, ran for a pair of rushing majors, recorded an interception and a fumble recovery, and handled the bulk of the kicking duties for his team in a 31-0 road victory over the St. Catharines Collegiate Saints in Niagara Region High School Athletic Association Tier 2 football action.
“I played in Grade 9, but didn’t have any games like that,” the 15-year-old said.
The 5-foot-10 155-pounder had made significant strides in his game since his Grade 9 season.
“I play a lot of different sports and my main focus is soccer, but I feel like I have learned the game and I have watched more football,” he said. “My high school coach tells me a lot of things, but he always tells me just to go home and watch football.
“I feel like I have done that a lot and the senior players have helped me a lot.”
That learning continued on Friday.
“Even when I caught that pick (interception), it was third down and they told me I could have just knocked it down, but you learn as you play.”
He is also physically stronger this season.
“I am just bigger and you get more chances,” he said. “A lot of times, I hit the hole and the linebacker would hit me and I would get free and then the second guy would get me,” he said. “Last year, I was still fast, but I wouldn’t get through the first guy.”
Redcoats head coach Jamie Brophy has seen Lewis get through a lot of guys this season.
“He is a great athlete and, once again, he is in Grade 10,” he said. “He has really improved over the last year, he wants the ball and he will step up and play anywhere on the field.”
“It showed today that when you give him an opportunity, he will embrace it.”
Lewis also possesses plenty of poise for a young player.
“He plays rep soccer as a goalie and a lot of the things he does is just because he is such a great athlete,” Brophy said.
The Redcoats were efficient in improving to 3-1 on the season.
“It was great to get a lot of players in the game and they executed well,” Brophy said. “There were lot of things we worked on in practice and the kids did well executing them.”
Brophy likes the direction his team is heading.
“We have a lot of Grade 11s and this is their first opportunity to play and they have been really progressing well throughout the year,” he said. “It bodes well.”
The Saints fell to 0-4 with the loss.
“Our execution was off today, but the good news is that it’s an easy fix. We can work the bugs out with a commitment to practice,” Collegiate coach Nathan Greene said. “We have all the puzzle pieces and we just need to put everything together.”
STATS PACK
Redcoats 31 Saints 0
Mick and Angelo’s/Johnny Rocco’s Player of the Game: Simcoe’s Danny Lewis with three touchdowns, a fumble recovery and an interception.
For the Governor Simcoe Redcoats: Lewis, one- and six-yard TD runs and a 14-yard TD catch from Andrew Scott, interception and fumble recovery; seven-yard TD pass from Scott to Mason MacEachern; fumble recoveries by Joe Fusek and Owen Guite; two converts by Maddie Roberts.
For the St. Catharines Collegiate Saints: 50-yard interception return by Devon Jones.
GOLDEN EAGLES 30 FLYERS 0
Tyler Broderick scored on a 102-yard punt return and a 27-yard TD pass from Yvan Canlas to lead the Thorold Golden Eagles (4-0) to a 30-0 victory over the Eden Flyers (1-3) in NRHSAA Tier 2 football action.
Also contributing to the win for Thorold were: Callum McNamara, 88-yard kickoff return for a major; Julian Race, 127 yards rushing and a TD; Canlas, 6-9 passing for 137 yards; Andrew Daley, two catches for 75 yards; Victor Garcia, 37-yard field goal and three converts; Kevin Henderson, interception; Jacob Brooman, fumble recovery and three tackles; Bryce Kaal, forced fumble; Jason Stewart, sack and forced fumble; and, Evense Denave, four tackles and two passes knocked down.
“Our offence struggled early to find its rhythm and the defence stepped up and made several key stops throughout the first half until a punt return for a TD opened the scoring,” Thorold head coach Duane Kemp said. “We opened the second half with a kickoff return for a TD that allowed the O (offence) to take a deep breath and get going.”
Kemp gave full credit to the Thorold defence for its bend but don’t break approach and the offensive line for dictating the pace in the second half.
“We will enjoy the win for the weekend, but Monday we have to refocus and prepare for a tough Governor Simcoe team on their turf,” Kemp said. “There’s lots of room for improvement, but I’m thrilled with the team W.”
SPARTANS 41 COUGARS 1
Chase Bowden scored on a 14-yard run, caught an 18-yard TD pass from Mike Osborne and threw a 48-yard TD pass to D’Arcy McIsaac to power the Westlane Spartans to a 41-1 victory over the Centennial Cougars Thursday in NRHSAA Tier 1 senior football action.
Also scoring for the Spartans (3-1) were: Nick Maselek on a 25-yard pass from Osborne; Osborne on a 55-yard quarterback sneak; and, Josh Bigelow with a TD on a four-yard fullback dive.
“We actually started the game well and had a punt return touchdown called back for a block outside of the play,” Centennial coach Dom Nero said. “We had to settle for a rouge and led 1-0 after a quarter.”
Michael Thornton was Centennial’s top player in the game.
“He was dangerous all game, taking back punts and kicks,” Nero said.
The Cougars fell to 0-4 with the loss.
