The midget Victoria Spartans beat the Vancouver Trojans 19-11 at Goudy Field in Langford on Sunday, just up the hill from Westhills Stadium.
It marks a return to the win column for the Spartans, who fell last week 21-6 to the Meadow Ridge Knights in Maple Ridge.
The Spartans, aged 16 to 18, currently sit wedged in the log jam that is the Vancouver Mainland Football League standings. Three other teams share a 5-2 record with the Spartans, tied for second behind the White Rock-South Surrey Titans, while four more are one win behind, with 4-3 records.
“It’s the most competitive year I have ever seen,” said Paul Mulholland, who’s been coaching with the Spartans for over a decade. “It’s (truly) ‘any given Sunday’ this year, every week there is an unexpected win by one or two teams.”
This Saturday the Spartans visit Langley to play the North Langley Bears (2-5). The match is slotted for 1:30 p.m. at McLeod Park, just prior to the Westshore Rebels and Langley Rams meeting in the B.C. Football Conference semifinal playoff game at 4 p.m.
Sunday’s triumph over the Trojans nearly collapsed late in the game. With possession and a 19-11 lead, quarterback Lowell McDonald was sacked during a blitz, and lost the ball. A Trojan picked it up and was headed for a touchdown, but was caught by offensive lineman Adam Dubicki at the 30 yard line.
Had they scored on the play, the Trojans would have been a two point conversion away from tying the game.
Aside from the scare, the Spartans executed a strong running game, scoring touchdowns on the ground from Derek Morgan and QB McDonald.
The team also enjoyed a surprise moment from Brent Bain.
“Due to several injuries we converted defensive lineman Bain to fullback,” Mulholland said. “On his first ever rush in a game, he managed to run for approximately 30 yards.”
Lowell hit wide receiver Mike Peverelle with a pass for the other touchdown.
