Sept. 20 Niagara Generals report
Niagara Generals player Spencer Macrae rushes the ball with Lox Raducanu as the lead blocker. Photo by LINDA BOVER.
The Niagara Generals peewee (under-12) football team opened play in the Ontario Fall Football League with a 38-0 victory over the Durham Dolphins.
Niagara’s defence made a statement on the Dolphins’ first possession of the game recording a safety. The offence responded with four majors in the first half, a two-point convert on a kick and another two-point convert on a reception. The offensive line had a strong game, pushing back the defenders play after play, which allowed for extended offensive drives.
In the third quarter, the Generals kept things moving with an additional touchdown and a two-point conversion on a kick. In the final quarter, the Dolphins rallied with a fumble recovery and an extended offensive drive but the Generals defence took a bend but not break stance and was able to hold its ground until the end of the game and record the shutout.
Lox Raducanu scored a pair of majors for Niagara and single touchdowns were recorded by Dyami Maphar, Spencer Macrae and Layken Crawford. Converts were scored were John Lonschek-McGillen (two kicks) and Dyami Maphar (reception).
The defence registered a two-point safety on a tackle by Issac Hiebert. Also playing well for the Generals on defence were Macrae with a forced fumble, Abraham Hiebert with a fumble recovery and Isaiah Benjamin with an interception.
The Generals look to keep the momentum in Tier 3 play going in their home opener Saturday at noon at Kiwanis Field against York.
UNDER-14 GENERALS
The Niagara Generals under-14 team dropped a 28-7 decision to the Hamilton Junior Ticats.
“The first half was a very tight game. Our defence was getting into their backfield making necessary disruptions,” head coach Bruce Macrae said. “Their defence made some crushing stops on us while in scoring position.”
Cameron Macrae scored Niagara’s lone major on a quarterback neak and the Generals’ defence recorded a safety.
“We as coaches have identified what we need to work on and just need our athletes to apply it,” Bruce Macrae said. “Our athletes have the ability and the drive. We just need to put it all together.”
The under-14 team is at Cambridge Saturday.
UNDER-10 GENERALS
The under-10 Generals team didn’t play this past weekend and is at Cambridge this Saturday.
The under-10 squad beat Waterloo 32-6 in its opener.
