The G.P. Vanier Towhees proved themselves to be true road warriors on a long Saturday, Nov. 3.
Six a.m. came early as the coach departed G.P. Vanier to hit Departure Bay for the trip to far away Squamish. With a group of 29 finely honed athletes, the Towhees set sail to take on Howe Sound Sounders in a B.C. High School Football Tier II Varsity tilt.
"The weather on the Sea to Sky was a prelude of what was to come as we arrived to a nice lake disguised as a field. This was to be a slippery game in the muck," a Towhees' spokesperson said.
League-rushing leader Cody Fletcher (#32) slipped through the defence's hands 15 times for an astounding 228 yards and three touchdowns. Fletcher seemed to defy the odds by making multiple cuts to make progress through the sea of goo. Big Mike Roller (#34) splashed through six carries for 42 yards and one TD.
QB Liam Pidsosny (#12) aided by a strong O line providing great blocks was able to pick up 32 yards via four carries, two of which added another two TDs for the soaked birds. "This was truly a smash-mouth football game with few attempts in the air due to the rain and wind," the Towhees' spokesperson noted.
Defensively, team tackling leaders Clayton Guille (#66) and Jimmy Brazier (#28) each had seven tackles to their credit. Roller and Joey Osadiuk (#10) each had six take downs followed by Callum Passingham (#71) and Jackson Smith (#68) with three apiece.
The Sounders fumbled the ball multiple times allowing for recoveries by Kevin Share (#89), Tyler Handlen-Simpson (#58), Passingham and Fletcher. Sacking the QB was Brandon Balon (#80). Overall the Towhees puddle jumped their way to a 38-22 victory.
"Clearly this was a game of field position. Coach Steve Klein had given the team a firestorm of a speech prior to the game with the mantra of 'whoever holds the line will win this game.' In the end the athletes answered his challenge and held that line, but not in the traditional sand," said the Towhees' spokesperson.
QUICK KICKS The Towhees (4-1-0) remain in second place in their division and are scheduled to play EJ Milne at Bear Mountain stadium on Friday, Nov. 9 at noon in Langford ... the following week will see the Towhees in their first playoff game of the season in a location yet to be decided ...
– Vanier Towhees