Lions rout Stangs in semifinal
Crestwood, Fenelon Falls advance to senior final; Adam Scott, TASSS in junior final
The Adam Scott Lions couldn’t have completely locked down the basics at a better time.
A 44-0 rout of the visiting Crestwood Mustangs in the Kawartha high school football junior semifinal on Tuesday afternoon, to be exact.
The commanding victory was a result of efficient execution of football fundamentals – which is key to winning any big game, Adam Scott head coach Jeff Allen said.
“Things just clicked today. We’re peaking at the right time,” he said as the team, which will play at Thomas A. Stewart (TASSS) in the Kawartha final Friday afternoon, walked off field.
Quarterback and team captain Jack Moloney said the win was all about “getting it done in the trenches,” pointing out how the Lions offensive line provided stellar blocking, allowing the team to continuously move the ball up the middle of the field.
Crestwood struggled to get the ball out of its own end, frequently fumbling the ball and giving Adam Scott more opportunities to rack up the score.
Adam Scott opened the scoring with a safety, touchdown and twopoint conversion to lead 10-0 at halftime. The Lions ran in two more touchdowns in the third quarter, with 7:58 left and 1:51 left, to boost the lead to 22-0.
Nate Oatway’s touchdown with 10:21 left in the fourth quarter made it 28-0.
With 7:54 left on the clock, Jayden Merriam ran in a touchdown to make the score 34-0 before Isaac Clark caught a two point conversion to make it 36-0 – triggering mercy rules that included keeping the clock running and not adding to the Lions tally on the scoreboard.
With 2:52 left, Adam Chatten ran in a touchdown before also receiving a pass for another two-point conversion to make the score 44-0.
Crestwood head coach Blaine Meek said it is tough to end the season on a lopsided loss, but his message to his players was to keep their chins up after a successful season.
“Learn from it, and move on,” he said.
Biting winds lashed the football field Tuesday. Many of the dozens of spectators could be seen clutching blankets and sleeping bags as they tried to keep warm.
The cold weather impact the players, too. The football “felt like a rock,” Moloney said. “Every hit also stings a little bit more.”
The conditions worsened, but fortunately after the teams had left. Driving rain soaked the field less than 15 minutes after the game ended.
The Kawartha final which will be more about bragging rights because both Adam Scott and TASSS, being both AA and AAA, will move on, Allen said.
He emphasized how “super proud” the team’s coaches are of the “great young athletes” and gentlemen who make up the team, as well as the Lions football program itself.
Friday’s final against the TASSS Griffins is tentatively scheduled for 2 p.m.
SENIOR FOOTBALL
The senior football final will see the Crestwood Mustangs take on the Fenelon Falls Falcons.
The Mustangs beat the Adam Scott Lions 27-7 at Crestwood on Tuesday while the Falcons edged the Thomas A. Stewart Griffins 17-15 in Fenelon Falls.
It’s the first time in many years the final will not feature Crestwood against Adam Scott.
The Kawartha finals will be played Friday at Thomas A. Stewart Athletic Field.
Game times are to be confirmed.
JUNIOR FOOTBALL
Kawartha junior boys football Monday results: Thomas A. Stewart 49, Holy Cross 14