WARRIORS BLANK GRIZZLIES TO ADVANCE TO JUNIOR METRO BOWL SEMI-FINALS
By Sam Laskaris
The Huron Heights Warriors junior football squad managed to take another step forward towards achieving its ultimate goal this season.
The Warriors blanked the host David Suzuki Grizzlies of Brampton 29-0 on Wednesday in their Junior Metro Bowl quarter-final matchup.
The contest, played on a snow-covered field, was an historic one for the Warriors.
“Our team is very excited because our coaches told us we are the first Huron Heights team to play in the Junior Metro Bowl (playdowns),” said Warriors’ quarterback Lukas Mihelic.
Although Huron Heights managed to score four touchdowns in the contest, it wasn’t until the second half that the Warriors took control.
Huron Heights led 9-0 at halftime.
“In the first half our offence wasn’t doing too well,” Mihelic said.
The Warriors’ QB believes the chilly conditions played a role in that. “It was a little bit of a factor,” he said of the snowy field, which in turn resulted in a slippery game ball.
Mihelic said that would help explain the uncharacteristic four turnovers Huron Heights had throughout the game while snapping the ball.
The wet playing conditions also meant the Warriors had to make some adjustments while on offence.
“During the game our coaches told us not to be trying for jukes,” Mihelic said. “We had to focus on ball control and just running straight up the field.”
The Warriors started taking charge in the second half of Wednesday’s outing when Mihelic scored a TD via a one-yard run.
Huron Heights’ star running back Caleb St. Clair added a pair of majors later on.
Owen Mackey had scored the Warriors’ first TD after he returned a blocked punt into the Grizzlies’ end zone.
Also, Daniel Nesbitt was credited with a pair of points after making a tackle for a safety. The David Suzuki squad also conceded another safety after its punter took a knee in the end zone.
And Warriors’ kicker Marco Leigghio earned a point with a successful point after convert.
Two other Junior Metro Bowl quarter-final games were also held on Wednesday.
The host St. Michael’s Kerry Blues of Toronto downed the Holy Trinity Titans of Courtice 21-12 in their tilt.
And Burlington’s Nelson Lords downed Mississauga’s Lorne Park Spartans 41-13 in their contest.
Meanwhile, the other quarter-final, featuring the Niagara Region public school champs versus the Niagara Region Catholic school winners, is scheduled for Friday.
The Warriors have a keen interest in that outcome as they are scheduled to play the winner of that battle in a Junior Metro Bowl semi-final this coming Tuesday @ 1:00 pm at St. Michael’s College in Toronto.
NOTE: Niagara’s AN Myer won their Quarter-Final over St. Francis to advance to the semi-finals versus the Warriors.
St. Michael’s is set to face Nelson in the other semi.
The Junior Metro Bowl championship final is set for next Friday (Nov. 25).
Mihelic and his teammates are hoping they do get the opportunity to play next week.
“We’ve been training had since the summer,” he said. “Our team is confident we can win.”