Spears improve to 2-1

Travis Arp throws four touchdowns as Niagara returns to OPFL victory column with road win

Travis Arp threw three touchdowns to Keaton Bruggeling and one to Justin Succar to help the visiting Niagara Spears to a 40-32 victory in Ontario Provincial Football League varsity action.

Placekicker Hayden Riley, with four converts, 12- and 25-yard field goals and two singles; also put points on the scoreboard for the Spears, who benefited from two safeties to improve to 2-1.

Niagara, hoping to rebound from a 30-29 loss to the Essex Ravens the week before, jumped out to a 20-6 lead against the hosts, but the road back to the plus side of the ledger was not without some speed bumps for the Spears.

After Niagara followed up a long Guelph pass for a touchdown with a field goal, the Gryphons scored 14 points in less than a minute to go up 26-23 early in the second half. Guelph found the end zone on another long TD pass and forced a fumble on the ensuing kickoff.

Head coach Brian Duguay said the Spears were flat coming out of the halftime break.

“They caught us in a broken coverage, and then we fumble on the return giving up 16 points within 16 seconds,” he said. “We continue to make things hard for ourselves.”

For Niagara, the reversal in fortune was as short-lived as it was sudden. The Spears drove down the field on their next possession with Arp and Succar connecting on a 24-yard scoring strike and Riley’s successful convert putting Niagara up 30-26.

A safety increased that lead to 32-26, which also was short-lived. The Gryphons returned a punt for a touchdown to tie the game but missed the point after and were unable to take the lead.

Riley’s single put the Spears up by one following a 25-minute delay after the lights went out, and Bruggeling, on a 28-yard pass from Arp; rounded out the scoring as Niagara held on for the win.

Special teams weren’t all that special for the Spears last Saturday in Guelph.

“We made too many mistakes in our special teams department that gave up two touchdowns,” Duguay said.

Undisciplined play also was a factor in the game.

“On our interception for a touchdown we had a penalty that had the touchdown called back.”

The Spears head coach nonetheless was proud of the team.

“We never put our heads down,” he said. “We just went out and fought harder.”

Arp completed 33 of 52 attempts for 394 passing yards, and Josh Ferguson led the team in rushing with 192 yards on 26 carries.

Daniel Serravalle, 14 catches for 119 yards; and Bruggeling, nine catches for 155 cards; were top receivers for the Spears.

Standouts on defence were Teddy Mansell, nine assisted tackles, four solo tackes, one sack and one batted ball; Daylan Morales, five assisted tackles, one solo tackle; and Carmine Spedaliere, three assisted tackles, one interception for eight yards.

Niagara is home to the 0-3 Burlington Stampeders in an 8 p.m. kickoff Saturday at Kiwanis Field in St. Catharines.