JUNIOR WARRIORS REGISTER ANOTHER VICTORY OVER THEIR OTTAWA RIVALS
By Sam Laskaris
It was a less-than-ideal start for the Huron Heights Warriors junior football squad on Saturday.
After waking up in the wee hours of the morning – 3 a.m. for some – the Warriors found themselves on a bus by 4:30 headed to the nation’s capital.
The Huron Heights squad travelled to Ottawa for their second meeting this season against St. Paul High School.
The Warriors, who downed St. Paul in their initial matchup this year, also emerged with a 34-12 triumph on Saturday.
With that W the Huron Heights team boosted its record this season to 6-1.
“We were a little lackluster at the start and we got torched because of it,” said Warriors’ running back Caleb St. Clair, who scored three rushing touchdowns in the match.
The St. Paul club returned the opening kickoff to the Warriors’ five-yard line. The hosts then scored a major on the next play to take a 6-0 lead.
St. Paul, however, failed to convert its point after attempt.
And their lead was short-lived as the Warriors marched down the field on their first drive, scored a TD and successfully booted the convert to take a 7-6 advantage.
St. Clair said he wasn’t worried the Warriors’ early deficit would end up costing his side.
“We knew we had the better offence and that our defence would make some stops,” he said.
St. Clair has been on a tear lately. He has now scored seven touchdowns in the Warriors’ last two games.
He scored four majors a week earlier in Huron Heights’ 54-17 win against the host Brantford Mustangs.
“I was just trying to do my job,” St. Clair said of his latest performance.
The Grade 10 student added he feels he’s being rewarded for some greater dedication lately.
“I definitely feel I’ve been working a little bit harder in practice,” he said. “And it’s paying off.”
Ky-mani James and Luke Mercuri scored the other Warriors’ touchdowns on Saturday, which also came via running plays.
Marco Liegghio rounded out the Huron Heights scoring by connecting on four of his five point after attempts.
Warriors’ coach Paul Stathopulos said his charges were rather subdued and for the most part most of them caught up on some sleep during the ride to Ottawa.
“It was very quiet,” he said. “Not what you usually expect when there are about 40 guys on a bus. Everybody got some rest.”
The Warriors’ next contest is scheduled for this Friday at home against Markham’s Bill Crothers Colts.
Huron Heights will be looking to avenge its lone loss of the season thus far in that outing. The Colts eked out a 9-7 victory over the Warriors a few weeks ago.
For the junior Warriors, the contest against the Colts is their final scheduled one of the season. The Huron Heights squad is also hoping to be invited and participate in this year’s Junior Metro Bowl, a tournament which features some of the top junior programs in the province