The Village Foods Sooke Seahawks pre-atom football team had a defensive battle this past weekend with the top-ranked, high scoring Gordon Head Raiders.
This game featured Simon Herold with his first interception of the year, expertly reading the play and positioning himself to catch the ball. Herold received numerous hits and made many a tackle. Centre Jacob Lamontagne caused fumbles with recovery by defensive player of the game Spencer Logan – himself running, tackling and blocking with expertise of the Seahawk leader that he is. Logan was also singled out and flattened by their defence only to get up and ask to run the ball again. What team leadership from these young men.
Stupendous blocks came from Jared Steele, Quinn Macdonald, Louis Philipe-Gagnon and tough tackles from Caleb Carrier, Austin Cavin and Josh Danielson with a fumble recovery of his own.
Offensive star and mvp of the game Ben Power, ran, swept, tackled and blocked with everything in his body. He also displayed great team leadership and loyalty playing the whole game and never stopping his pursuit of his opponents. Final score Gordon Head – 18 (the fewest points they’ve scored this year) Sooke - 0. Their coach described what an honour it is to play Sooke. Their toughness and team grit really impressed him. Next game at Penninsula May 14.
–Andy Carrier
The Sooke Home Hardware peewee Seahawks celebrated Mother’s Day with their biggest battle of the season versus the Saanich Wolverines.
A 62-yard rushing touchdown by QB Jacob Arnaud fired up the Seahawks in the second half, but they couldn’t overcome the deficit and fell victim to the high-powered kicking game of the Wolverines by a score of 32-6.
Jacob Foster kicked off the game (literally) with a 40-yard boot to keep the Wolverines deep in their end.
In the first half, the Sooke defense shared the load - 11 different players tallied at least one tackle. Despite some great pressure by Sooke’s defensive line and linebackers, Saanich scored three times in the first half, one being a result of having recovered their own kickoff and regaining control of the ball.
On the Seahawk’s offensive side in the first half, the line of William McBride, Ben Holmes, Malachi Ince, Quinn Plant and Jared Purdy formed a solid pocket and Holden Bedford added another reception to now lead the Seahawks in catching this season.
Linebacker Garrett Tunkow led the Seahawk defense in the second half with seven tackles along with a forced fumble (which was recovered by Malachi Ince), and helped them hold the Wolverines passing attack offense to just eight points.
Jacob Arnaud averaged nearly 16 yards per carry (5 for 79) and came only a handful of yards shy of adding another Sooke touchdown in the waning moments of the game.
A proud achievement of the Seahawks as they continue to improve their competitiveness. The team will host the rival Westshore Warriors this Sunday, 11 a.m. at the Eagle Ridge Community fields.
–Tom Billings