The Sooke Seahawks Atom division football team took on the Saanich Wolverines Sunday with first place on the line.
Both teams were undefeated going into the contest with both teams defeating all other teams in the Greater Victoria Minor Football Association. Both teams offenses have scored well over 100 points so far while Saanich defense had only allowed one touchdown all season to our Seahawks only giving up two.
The game started as expected with both defenses not allowing either offense any room to roam and the first quarter ended 0-0. In the second quarter running back Gabe Nelson broke a big run open taking all the way to the end zone for a 60-yard touchdown. The Seahawks scored on the conversion to take a 7-0 lead.
Back came Saanich with a huge touchdown run but Sooke’s defense stopped the extra point maintaining a slim 7-6 halftime lead. In the second half, Saanich drove the ball all the way to the Seahawks one yard line, only to stopped by the mighty Seahawks defense on the one.
Nearing the end of the third quarter running back Malaki Allen took advantage of some great blocks by his team mates and scored a 60-yard touchdown of his own. With Saanich stopping the conversion the Seahawks went into the fourth quarter leading 13-6.With less than 2 minutes left Saanich marched the ball down the field and with 45 seconds left in the game they fought their way into the end zone.
Saanich was just able to cross the goal line on the conversion to tie the game 13-13. Sooke’s offense wasn’t able to score on the last two plays of the game and it ended with the top two teams battling to a 13-13 tie.
On the defensive side of the ball it was a total team effort to stop the Saanich Wolverines. Gabe Nelson again led the way along with Malaki Allen. Dayton Planes, Angelo Avila, Austin Perry, and Mikey Lundell with solid tackles.
Skylar Rossiter played big for Sooke with sacks and tackles disrupting Saanich’s backfield all game. Trysten Schroeder, Michael Widner and Brody Berfolo also rose to the occasion for mighty Hawks defense.
On the offensive side of the ball, besides Nelson and Allen quarterback Christian Kaisinger had some outstanding runs.
Running Dayton Planes ran the ball strong in the second half but made huge blocks the entire game for his team as did running back Travis Robertson.
Offensive line player Mitchell Rose played his best game blocking hard all game against some strong Wolverine players.
Other outstanding offensive line play was from Xzander Adams, Rossiter, Lundell and Center Brynn Phillips who all came up huge.
Head Coach Darryl Pollock had this to say after the game, in my 17 years of coaching I can’t remember coaching a team with this much heart and determination.
“This was one of the best football games played in my career by two strong teams battling hard for the entire game.
“At the beginning of the season with only six returning players, 10 rookies, and being a small team it is remarkable what these kids do game in and game out.
“I’ve been here since the start of football in Sooke many years ago and with only two games left this might be only the second Sooke team to ever go undefeated.
“The coaches, parents and community should be so proud of how well these young players are working together.
“It’s very difficult to compete against teams like Saanich and others with over 24 players on their roster, but they do.
To my players, ice cream on me Thursday”