The Sooke Pre-Atom Seahawks played two games in three days, winning both convincingly.
The pre-Atom Seahawks’ first game came about because a miscommunication caused confusion on whether the Week 3 contest against the Westshore Warriors would be nine-man or 12-man. The League deemed a rematch appropriate, so the two teams re-faced each other May 22 at Westhills Stadium. Sooke sent a message, winning 26-6.
Hunter Swift got Sooke off to a fast start with two long runs on the first two plays of the game, the second for a touchdown. Later in the first half, Maliki Allen broke free for his first ever score. Quarterback Connor Keys found the end zone twice in the fourth quarter, and rounded out the scoring with a completion to Wesley Cornwall-Johnsen for a two-point conversion.
Defensively, the Seahawks bullied the Warriors offence, not giving Westshore any easy yards. Tagish Page, Xzander Adams and James Mullen won the war of the trenches, while Brody Reinsch, Dayton Planes and Gabe Nelson chased down any outside running attempts. William Daoust and Weston White both had their strongest efforts of the seaon, and Logan Bainbridge broke up a pass to end Westshore’s final comeback try.
Two days later, Sooke continued to roll against an inexperienced Peninsula team. The Wildcats had just 10 players, but they fought valiantly to the final whistle.
Four Seahawks, Mullen, Page, Michael Lundell and Heath White all scored their first ever touchdowns. Three others, Austin Warren, Trystyn Schroeder and Khiran Rheault had the first rushing attempts of their careers. Maliki Allen and Christian Kaisinger also crossed the goalline, and Keys found Swift with a pass for a two-point conversion.
Swift and Keys also showed exemplary sportsmanship when they passed up sure touchdowns to give their teammates opportunities. With one game left to play, 18 of 20 Seahawks have had at least one carry, and nine have found the end zone for either a touchdown or a convert.
Sooke is now 4-2 on the season and play their final regular season game June 1 against Westshore in Langford. Two weeks later the play-offs start, with the Seahawks eyeing up the Gold Cup.
Submitted by Nathan Lowther