It took the Sudbury U18 Jr Spartans a little time to get going offensively Saturday in their season opener versus the Oshawa Hawkeyes.

Honestly, given the way the defense was playing, it really didn't matter.

Thanks to a conceded safety touch and a pick six from Sudbury defensive back James Alabi, the homeside had established an 8-0 lead after the first quarter of play and were off and running, recording a 40-0 whitewashing of the visitors who competed in the OSFL (Ontario Summer Football League) "AAA" Division play last summer.

"Keeping that zero on the board was great," noted defensive end Brendan Spec, who also pointed out that the Sudbury football entries had only surrendered a grand total of two points against after three complete games of action Saturday at the James Jerome Sports Complex.

"The way we have gelled since we started training camp is awesome."

A 38 yard touchdown pass from Noah Parsons to Koen Palmquist allowed the Jr Spartans to increase their lead to 17-0 at the half as the team tacked on three more TDs (Cameron Quesnel - 23 yard pass from Evan DeMarchi; Evan Doyle - 2 yard run; Nicholas Shakes - 5 yard run), a 27 yard field goal from Palmquist (+ 3 PATs) and one more safety.

Now in his second year with the team, Spec is one of several key defensive veterans and one who knows exactly how to disrupt the timing of opposing quarterbacks. "I love pass rushing," said the senior lineman with the Lively Hawks.

"Pinning my ears back and getting to the quarterback is what I love."

Even when he did not make it all the way through, Spec was a menace, knocking down a couple of passes in the backfield. "Pre-game, we noticed their quarterback is a bit of a side-armer," he said."

"We knew that we did not have to get our hands up high, just more to the sides. As soon as I get an open gap and I can see the quarterback is starting to wind up, I felt I was going to get one."

Like their younger Jr Spartan compatriots, the U18 lads also are set to face the Scarborough Thunder on the road this weekend, the latter coming off a 23-11 win over the York Lions.

"Our defense needs to keep playing at that elite level that we are," said Spec. "And I love how our offense gelled today. If they continue to do that, we can be a championship caliber team."