The Victoria Spartans midget football team did what no team has done this season and beat the White Rock South Surrey Titans 14-0 on Sunday (Oct. 28.), in White Rock.
Quarterback Lowell McDonald hit slotback Taylor Young with a 30-yard pass and touchdown to put the Spartans up 7-0. Mike Peverelle kicked the extra point. The next scoring play didn’t happen until the fourth quarter, when special teams Johnny Zewde returned a punt 65-yards for a touchdown. Peverelle converted once again.
“Our defence played solid and was able to stifle the Titans offence,” coach Paul Mulholland said.
Defensive end Mitch Ottosen and middle linebacker Nik Larsen led the way.
Defensive coordinator Ryan Henderson predicted it would be the special teams that made the difference in the game, which was confirmed by Zewde’s punt return.
“We had a good week of practice and everyone was ready for the game,” Mulholland said.
The standings remain the same, however, as the Spartans (7-2) remain in a three-way-tie for second place.
Sunday is the Spartans’ final regular season game at home against the North Surrey Bears (5-4), 3 p.m. at Westhills Stadium.
“Playoffs loom, and every game this weekend means something as teams are trying to better their position,” Mulholland said. “It’s possible we could end up in a four-way tie for first place at 8-2.”
The top 12 of the 14 Vancouver Mainland Football League teams make the midget playoffs. The top four earn a first round bye.
Spartans de-claw Bears
On Oct. 20 the Spartans went into Langley and defeated the North Langley Bears 35-3.
Quarterback McDonald was exception, with a hand in 27 of the 35 points. McDonald threw two touchdowns – one to Alex Rutten and one to Johnny Zewde – and ran two in himself, one of them a 34-yard rush.
“Our defense put in another solid performance allowing only a single field goal,” McDonald said.
McDonald also took on the kicking duties for regular kicker Mike Peverelle, though Peverelle’s job remained safe. McDonald missed three of the five in touchdown conversions, and missed his only field goal attempt, but did get the single point.
Fullback Brent Bain scored the other touchdown on a rush.
The Spartans also risked, and executed a two-point conversion. Ball holder Quinn Takhar faked the placing for the kick conversion after a touchdown, scrambled, and found Alex Rutten with a pass for the two-points conversion.
