Seasons like the one that the Sudbury Spartans are currently enjoying don't come around very often. In that sense, it would have been a shame to see it end prematurely.
Regular season champions of the Ontario Power Five Football League for the very first time this summer, the Spartans avoided that fate by the narrowest of margins, hanging on for a 21-19 semi-final win over the Tri-City Outlaws Saturday evening at the James Jerome Sports Complex.
I suppose one could spin this one of two ways: either the Spartans should be commended for putting themselves in a position to benefit from no less than four field goals from Braedan Beggs (from 48, 19, 28, 20 yards) or they need to be concerned with their inability to punch it into the end zone as they prepare to host the Burlington Longhorns in the league final on August 8th.
The Spartans jumped out to a 10-0 first quarter lead thanks to the first three-pointer from Beggs followed by a 15 yard Adam Rocha to Zack Primeau connection later in the frame.
The Outlaws clawed their way back before the half, up 13-12 thanks to majors from Anthony Powless (33 yard TD pass from Alex Baseggio) and Brandon Gray (29 yard TD pass from Baseggio), with Sudbury able to counter only with a safety touch as linebacker Andrew Kilby was credited with the two-point effort.
Where the running of Braedan Beggs has led the Spartans to victory on a few occasions this year, it was his foot that did the trick this time around, his three second half field goals putting just enough points on the board to offset the second touchdown of the game from Powless.
Throw in a impressive four-interception effort from Spartans' rookie Steven Sola and you have the makings of just enough big plays to vault the locals to the championship encounter.
"Anyone that has played any sport understands how difficult it is to beat a team three times in a row, no matter how good or bad that team is," said fullback / defensive end Jesse Shoults.
A 30 year-old full-time resident of North Bay, Shoults has joined the Spartans for the first time this summer after years of doing double duty both for his high-school team (St Joseph Scollard Hall Bears) as well as for the North Bay Bulldogs in the NFC (Northern Football Conference).
On Saturday, Shoults would spell primary running threat Breadan Beggs from time to time, racking up 47 yards on seven carries. That said, the father of three who has also coached extensively in North Bay does not mind in the least taking a backseat to the Confederation Chargers product.
"Watching him (Beggs) carry the ball that first game, I was like: you guys have to keep this kid in," said Shoults. "He has a lot of potential."
Because of that, Shoults actually lined up at defensive end to start the first few games of the summer - and has seen time at defensive halfback - and would jump in at linebacker ("my native position") if need be.
That kind of flexibility has served the Spartans well as they welcomed a key addition that almost did not come to be. "This year, I was really contemplating about whether I would continue to play football," said Shoults.
"I was honestly looking at trying a new sport (beach volleyball), but I knew a couple of the guys on the Sudbury team and they were talking about possibly needing a running back."
With several years of summer football under his belt, Shoults suggested that this feels different.
"It's the coaching staff," he said. "It's like nothing i have experienced before. There is coaching for every group - and people aren't afraid to call each other out. I feel that's very important."
"There is a certain way to go about it - but everyone is holding each other accountable and that's really nice."
In addition to the four interceptions from Steven Sola, top defensive producers included Erik Conrad and Andrew Kilby with four tackles each while Sudbury QB Adam Rocha finished the contest 12/23 for 190 yards, his passes spread out to five different receiving targets.
