With a full season that's done in less than two months, a quick start is critical for all 26 teams taking part in SDSSAA (Sudbury District Secondary Schools' Athletic Association) play this fall.
Last Tuesday, the Lockerby Vikings juniors and Horizon Aigles seniors were among the squads that got their seasons kicked off on a winning note as the James Jerome Sports Complex played host to the second of three straight days of quadruple-hitter action.
In the 3:00 p.m. game, Kayleigh Crew scored a pair of first half touchdowns and teammate Kylan Batchelor added another, accounting for the only scoring of the second half as Lockerby blanked the Lively Hawks 18-0 in a Jr Division "A" battle.
"I felt that the team effort was really good," said Crew, a 14 year-old grade 10 student who, like so many others of the girls now playing, first dipped her toes in the sport while in grade seven or eight.
"It was our first game and it felt like we had a couple of games together," crew added. "It just felt good."
With at least some of their roster back for a second year of junior flag football, the Vikings have been able to hit the ground running with a few more advanced concepts, notably while on the attack, that side of the ball that Kayleigh Crew knows best.
"My preference is offense; it's more intriguing to see all of the plays that run well. The double fake and toss to the other receiver - I liked that one," Crew added, crediting the scheme as the brainchild of coach Julie Prevost.
A highly entertaining Senior Division A game would feature a 14-12 win for the Horizon Aigles over the Champlain Requins, with several in-game highlights providing for ample excitement for a good-sized crowd taking advantage of some glorious late September weather.
Aviahna Cocchiola showed the way for the Aigles, her stat-line displaying a touchdown and two converts, with Jillian Martin responsible for the remaining TD and Evie Drozkowsky picking off a pass to help the Horizon defensive effort.
Champlain countered with one touchdown in each of the two 25-minute halves as Andrée Lefebvre and Malika Grenon did the honours.
Coming off an impressive season at the junior ranks, many of the standouts on hand for the Lo-Ellen Park Knights' seniors were back doing their thing as the Purple and Black bounced the Lasalle Lancers 20-0.
Lia Gallo (TD; FG; 3 PATs), Rya D'Amour (TD) and Annabelle Richardson (TD) helped lift Lo-Ellen to victory as the defense held tight for head coach Kathy Cleaver and her staff.
In a Senior Division B showdown, the St Benedict Bears grounded the Lively Hawks 20-7 behind a two-touchdown effort for Sudbury Spartans tackle football star Olaterere Awosika.
Edna Fofana also made it to the house for the winners while Reece Fortier tacked on a pair of extra points, providing the Bears with more than enough scoring to offset a touchdown from Leah Salo, with Kamryn Maloney sailing her PAT successfully through the uprights.
