For the second week in a row, the Sooke Pre-Atom Seahawks football game was decided in the game’s final plays. This time, though, the good guys came out victorious with a 20-19 win over the Gordon Head Raiders on April 13 at Windsor Park in Oak Bay, improving their record to 1-1.
Hunter Swift again dominated all aspects of the contest. His power running and pancake blocks opened up running lanes for his teammates. He also scored Sooke’s first touchdown, and then tied the game with a great 40 yard run with about a minute left to play. Swift put his Seahawks ahead for good on the following convert when he carried seemingly the entire Gordon Head team five yards for the winning point.
Swift’s game-saving tackle on the last play of the game sealed the win. This came one play after James Mullen hustled from his defensive tackle position to push the Raiders’ fastest player out of bounds after a long run into Seahawks territory. That play capped an outstanding game from Mullen in which he made numerous tackles-for-losses on defence, and displayed some power running and strong blocking on offence.
The offence was led by Christian Kaisinger, getting his first ever start at quarterback. Kaisinger did a good job getting the ball to his running backs, and scored his first ever touchdown on a quarterback sneak.
Brody Reinsch rounded out the Seahawks’ scoring, converting after a first-half touchdown. He also contributed a few long runs after serving up some wicked straight-arms that left would-be tacklers grasping for air. Will Daoust, Weston White, Gabe Nelson and Heath White also carried the ball for the balanced and effective Seahawk offence, while Tagish Page and Carson Campbell provided key blocking.
On defence, Dayton Planes, Logan Bainbridge and Michael Lundell were strong, making key tackles late to first set-up, then preserve, Sooke’s come-back win. Youngsters Trystan Schroeder and Mitchell Sutherland worked hard and played tough against a physical Gordon Head team.
The Seahawks have no game next week due to Easter, but play again in two weeks against their rivals from Langford, the Westshore Warriors. Kick-off is 11 a.m. Apr. 27 at Westhills Stadium.
Submitted by Nathan Lowther