Spears open playoffs with 1-2 record
Shutout win sends bantams into Round 2; senior and junior varsity both eliminated on the road
Three Niagara Spears teams kicked off the Ontario Provincial Football League playoffs, but only one remains in contention for a championship.
A defence that performed “amazingly well” carried the bantams to 17-0 victory over the visiting London Jr. Mustangs, setting the stage for a secondround game Saturday against the Essex Ravens, also at home.
Niagara’s senor and junior varsity squads suffered road losses on the weekend and were both eliminated from post-season play. The seniors dropped a 34-15 decision to London and the juniors lost 26-2 to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Niagara’s other team, the Tier 2 junior Spears, have two games remaining in their regular-season schedule.
Marshall McCray, with a touchdown, field goal, two, onepoint conversions; and Eugene Park, touchdown; put points on the scoreboard for Niagara in the bantam game.
“The defence played a amazingly well getting a shutout,” head coach Bill Crawford said. “The offence struggled in the first half scoring only three points, but fought hard and put it together in the second.
“A great win.”
Senior varsity quarterback Travis Arp threw touchdowns to Dallas Bone and Justin Succar and a two-point conversion to Darcy MacIsaac.
Despite allowing touchdowns on a kickoff return and on a long run, both the result of “major miscues,” head coach Brian Duguay thought the Spears played an “outstanding game.”
“We were very competitive,” he said. “Our defence was outstanding for the most part stalling two
of their drives limiting them to field goals instead of touchdowns.
“Considering a couple of weeks ago we were bounced 42-3 by them, I’m extremely proud of how hard our guys fought.”
Cole MacKinnon kicked a onepoint convert to round out the scoring for Niagara.
Devon Schiller and John Serrano, on offence; and Zach Bechard and Riley Lions, defence; were standouts for the junior varsity Spears in their loss to the host Ticats at Ron Joyce Stadium.
“We ultimately came up short of our goal, but collectively we came together and got better as individuals, teammates and people,” head coach Arthur Martin said. “I am proud of all the kids for battling four quarters in a valiant effort.”