BLOCKED FIELD GOAL ATTEMPT ENABLES WARRIORS TO DEFEAT HOST COLTS

By Sam Laskaris

For the second straight week Andrew Lowry managed to block a field goal.

But Lowry’s latest block, in the final minute of Saturday’s road contest, proved to be much more significant for the veteran member of the Huron Heights Warriors’ senior football squad.

That’s because Lowry, a towering 6-foot-8, 285-pounder who plays both offensive guard and defensive tackle, played a key role as the Warriors eked out a 14-13 victory over the host Korah Colts in Sault Ste. Marie.

It appeared the Colts just might pull off an upset in the final moments of Saturday’s tilt. Trailing 14-12 the Korah squad lined up for what it hoped would be a game-winning 25-yard field goal.

“Obviously a lot was on the line and I was pretty concerned,” Lowry admitted. “In my head all I was thinking was to try and block the kick.”

And that’s exactly what he did.

“It hit off my right hand,” Lowry added of the Colts’ field goal attempt from kicker Ty Koski. “It was enough to tip it off.”

In the ensuing scramble the ball ended up in the Warriors’ end zone. Huron Heights’ member Alex Figan was the one who jumped on the ball, resulting in a single point for the Colts and preserving the victory for the Warriors with about 25 seconds remaining on the game clock.

“Good teams find a way to win,” said Huron Heights’ head coach Heath Weir.

Weir added his charges on the field knew exactly what their roles were during the final pivotal point of the match.

“We practice blocking field goals every week,” Weir said.

With the victory, the Warriors officially boosted their 2022 record to 3-0. Huron Heights also registered a ‘win’ in a scrimmage earlier this season.

The Huron Heights side hit the field to square off against the Colts following an eight-hour bus ride earlier in the day.

“Going up wasn’t too bad,” Lowry said. “It was actually pretty fun. We were watching movies.”

Lowry added the Warriors arrived about two hours prior to kickoff, ample time for team members to get a walk in as well as a proper warmup beforehand.

Weir was pleased his club was able to continue its winning ways. And even more so considering the Warriors were forced to play the contest without three key regulars, who were nursing injuries.

Team captain Brandon Quigley, who stars at the running back and linebacker positions, has been unavailable for duty since being injured in the team’s season opener earlier this month. He is close to returning to action.

The Warriors also played Saturday’s outing without left tackle Lucas Holden and Griffin Pozzebon, the team’s starting cornerback who also plays offensively as a running back.

Weir was obviously thrilled his troops entered the win column again despite missing key individuals.

“Korah was firing on all cylinders and as far as I could tell they had all their top players,” he said. “When our kids are pulling out these wins with the guys we’re missing you say ‘Wow’”.

The Warriors are scheduled to return to Sault Ste. Marie next Saturday for their next match, an afternoon contest against the St. Mary’s College Knights.

Meanwhile, the Warriors’ junior team will be looking to improve upon its 3-0 start this coming Saturday. It will host St. Paul High School from Ottawa in a 2 p.m. game.

BOTH HURON HEIGHTS SQUADS ENJOYING EARLY GRIDIRON SUCCESSES

By Sam Laskaris

Members of the Huron Heights Warriors’ football program are hoping to continue their early-season successes.

Both the Huron Heights’ junior and senior squads have earned some impressive victories during the first couple of weeks of their 2022 campaigns.

The senior Warriors continued their winning ways this past Saturday by pulling out a hard-fought, 22-20 comeback victory against the host Notre Dame College School Fighting Irish of Welland.

Huron Heights’ quarterback Ethan Schwarz provided the winning major via a one-yard scamper with a mere 17 seconds remaining in the contest.

The Warriors were able to drive for the winning TD in the dying moments of the match after Notre Dame managed to take a 20-15 lead with under two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

“I think they’re better than people believe,” Warriors’ head coach Heath Weir said of the Fighting Irish squad.

The Notre Dame team is led by quarterback Marshall McCray, unquestionably the heart and soul of the club.

“We managed to contain him even though he rushed for 200 yards and probably threw for another 150 yards,” Weir said.

Meanwhile, the Warriors’ bench boss continues to be impressed with Schwarz, a Grade 12 student who is in his first year of being the team’s starting quarterback.

“He’s coming along,” Weir said. “He’s started two football games in his high school life. But the O-line is providing him some time to develop.”

The victory over Notre Dame allowed the Warriors to improve their official season mark to 2-0.

Huron Heights had downed the St. Mary’s Lancers, a squad based in Lancaster, N.Y. in their season opener.

The Warriors had also picked up a ‘win’ in their battle against St. Matthew High School, an Ottawa-based club, in their encounter, which was dubbed a scrimmage earlier this month.

Besides being impressed with his team’s offence, Weir also has praise for his revamped defence.

“Defence is playing well,” he said. “But we only have five returning starters on defence.”

And the Warriors have been counting on plenty of new faces who have become regulars to lead the squad in 2022.

“Basically all of our statistical leaders (from last year) have graduated,” he said.

The Warriors are now hoping to continue their winning ways on Saturday. The Huron Heights squad will have a lengthy bus ride up to Sault Ste. Marie to square off against Korah Colts, one of northern Ontario’s premier clubs.

The opening kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.

As for the junior Warriors, they earned an impressive 33-6 triumph over the host Paul Dwyer Saints from Oshawa this past weekend.

With that W, the Huron Heights side boosted its mark on the season to 2-0. The junior Warriors were then credited with a 1-0 victory when Toronto’s Chaminade College forfeited a game that was scheduled for today (Sept. 23).

“Our juniors again have had a great start to the season,” Weir said. “It’s a team-over-me concept here. Our juniors are learning that.”