The fall high-school football season cannot come soon enough for members of the Sudbury U16 Jr Spartans.
That's not because the team is coming off a terribly rough summer of football. The Jr Spartans actually rode a 6-1 record and second place finish into their quarter-final encounter with the Toronto Jr Argos Saturday at the James Jerome Sports Complex.
Sudbury edged Toronto 26-25 back on June 20th when the teams met in regular season play in the GTA and the rematch was every bit as much a punch / counter-punch affair. The fact that their 28-21 playoff loss will be looked back upon as a contest that certainly was winnable is what makes this perhaps a tougher pill to swallow.
There was certainly no lack of opinions to be heard as to why this game slipped away, with ill-timed penalties at the top of that list. While some were more on the contentious side, at least in the minds of Sudbury faithful, it would be folly to suggest that none or even very few of the infractions were deserved.
In the end, both the Jr Spartans and Jr Argos were tagged for five unnecessary roughness / unsportsmanlike conduct penalties apiece, though total penalty yardage in not recorded in the OSFL.
Regardless, the locals appeared to be in pretty decent shape after Emmanuel Obiodun hauled in a 66 yard touchdown pass from Sudbury quarterback Michael Bisschops - even if a failed two-point conversion had the Spartans clinging to a 21-20 advantage and the clock displaying just 5:35 to play in the tilt.
That lead lasted all of 16 seconds as Jack Davies returned the ensuing kickoff 105 yards, allowing Toronto to leapfrog their way back out front, 27-21.
In a contest filled with some wild momentum swings, the Jr Spartans had a 60+ yard pass and run completion to Moshood Adeleye called back on a blindside hit as starting QB Kade Campbell scrambled to find a receiver along the Sudbury sideline.
This encounter started well enough for coach Dan Yoisten and company, marching the field on their first drive, taking advantage of a pair of U.R. penalties to the Argos and rewarded with a Michael Bisschops one yard run with 6:25 showing on the clock.
The Toronto running game proved challenging early as Davies, who finished with 138 yards on 20 carries, helped the visitors gain the red zone, settling for a 26 yard field goal from Davis Klein.
The Jr Agor went up 10-7 when Ethan Philosophe hauled in a pass at the Sudbury 25 yard line and took it to the house, with the see-saw continuing later in quarter two as Sudbury pivot Kade Campbell danced his way in from the three, with Bisschops making good on the two-point conversion.
A 25 yard Klein field goal made it 15-13 for Sudbury at the half, giving way to a scoreless third quarter and the frenzy that was the final eight minutes of play or so.
Kade Campbell proved to be most effective in moving the ball for the Spartans, carrying for 79 yards with Levi Blouin adding 41 of his own.
From a defensive standpoint, Byron Marshall let the tackle parade for the homeside with six, followed by Mason Hofford (4) and Bodhi Villeneuve (3), with Caleb Middaugh, Dexter Mailloux and Ostin Parro all making their presence felt in the Argos backfield.
Jr Spartans' fans were also treated to a highlight-reel interception from defensive back Folabori Alabi as the U16 lads end a summer season with a roster that are sure to produce many of the most impactful playmakers to be scene in SDSSAA ranks come September.
