In any sport, there is nothing better than winning the season opener. It’s always a great feeling for the players to be able to celebrate at home with fans cheering. And let’s not forget about the coaching staff. To win the first game is a huge success. It paves the way for team moral leading in to the next game.
On Saturday, May 26, 2012, the varsity Limestone District Grenadiers hit the field against the Ottawa Myers Riders on home field at Loyalist Collegiate and Vocational Institute in Kingston.
Before heading in to the first game there is always pressure on the players and coaching staff. Especially when you are matched up against one of the best defensive teams in the league you need to stay focused and play strong.
“Myers Riders is an outstanding organization that recruits well, is very well coached and is the team that sets the mark in our conference year after year,” said Bob Mullen the defensive coordinator for the varsity Limestone District Grenadiers. “Over the past few years, we have played them tough, but they have always managed to edge us out in the end.”
During the first three quarters of the matchup, offensively not a lot of action had taken place, having kept a score of 6-5 in favor of the Grenadiers. Both teams played a solid defensive game with very little error.
“We anticipated another close game,” said Mullen. “The game pretty much followed the script of our previous encounters with Myers with both defenses dominating the play.”
It wasn’t until the fourth quarter when things started to change. Both the Grenadiers and Riders knew that something had to be done offensively to attempt for the victory.
“The question was who would turn the big plays in the crucial last minutes,” said Mullen.
Limestone District Grenadiers quarterback Tyler Filson throws for a pass during their season opener against Ottawa Myers Riders on home field at Loyalist Collegiate & Vocational Institute.
Filson threw for 120 yards and ran for one touchdown. (Photo By: Eric Healey)
The Riders took the first step in taking the lead but in the end the credit goes to the Grenadiers. On offense quarterback Tyler Filson’s picture perfect throw to Travis Pascoal just inches from the edge of the end zone.
As it got closer to the end of the game, and the Riders trailing by one, they were forced to make more sudden moves to get the ball downfield. On the defensive side for the Grenadiers, Matt Pendergast had not one but two victory sealing interceptions. “It was the end of the game and they were forced to throw,” said Pendergast. “I just got lucky with a couple interceptions.”
Limestone District Grenadiers receiver Travis Pascoal dives
for a pass deep in the end zone.
(Photo By: Eric Healey)
In the final minutes of play it was Hayden Peters’ clutch field goal that sealed the win and led the Grenadiers to a sweet 16-12 victory. At that point all the Grenadiers had to do was keep the Riders offense to a halt and keep the clock running.
It’s plays like that that “speak volumes to the character of our team,” said Mullen.
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