The peewee Cowichan Bulldogs won their second straight game to open the spring football season, beating the Nanaimo Seahawks (White) 16-0 at McAdam Park last Saturday.
It was another strong outing for the Cowichan defence, led by safety Mica Kendrick and cornerback Kalen Thomas, who shut down the Seahawks’ outside running game. Linebacker Aylin Canning returned from injury, providing leadership in addition to tackles and big plays. Nose tackle Hunter Phillips also had an outstanding game.
On offence, Canning and Adam Troy shared duties at fullback, picking up big yards and key first downs, while also providing blocks out of the backfield. Quarterback Dominic Reeves connected with tight end Atlas Ryder, who ran the ball 50 yards to Nanaimo’s two-yard line, where Troy punched it in for his first touchdown of the season.
“It was a great game for our team, and we are happy with our early season success,” coach Trystan Ryder said. “But there is always work to do, and parts of our game to improve upon.”
The peewee Bulldogs will travel to Nanaimo this weekend to visit Seahawks (Blue).
The atom Bulldogs improved on their first game of the season, losing 25-14 to Seahawks (White) last Saturday after opening the spring with a 41-19 loss a week earlier.
After a slow start to the game, the Cowichan atoms appeared to get their first touchdown of the day when Zach Dzhevelekyan scooped up a Nanaimo fumble and ran it 55 yards, but it was called back on an offside penalty, and the Bulldogs went into halftime down 14-0.
Coming out stronger in the second half, the Bulldogs started moving the ball when quarterback Gus Steeves connected with Deven Randhawa, followed by big runs by Steeves, Vaughn Williams and Harrison Plaxton, and a reverse to Ethan Lust. Cowichan had possession for the entire third quarter, then hit paydirt in the fourth when Williams took it over the line, with a two-point conversion from Pearse Molleken. After Nanaimo scored off an interception, and the Bulldogs were able to add one more touchdown on a 50-yard run by Williams on the final play of the game.
The Cowichan defence struggled, but did get key tackles from Williams, Emmitt Ryder and Finn Bellis.
The peewee Bulldogs will visit Seahawks (Blue) this weekend.
“We are looking to address our struggles this week with defence and hoping to see some big stops by the D,” Cowichan coach Opie Williams said.
The junior bantam Bulldogs had to call a forfeit at halftime last Saturday. They will visit the Saanich Wolverines this weekend.