"Be the hammer, not the nail" is the team mantra for the Sea to Sky Pee Wee Broncos but after their last game, perhaps they should upgrade to a large mallet.
It was a dominating defensive performance for the Broncos, who didn't allow the Raiders to pick up a first down until the fourth quarter and won the game 12-6.
According to Broncos head coach Ralph Forsyth, it was a satisfying win for the team.
"I thought it was a really good team win for us," he said. "I thought we spread the ball around pretty good on offence but our defence was great. Our linebackers helped fill the gaps and our defensive line created a lot of pressure."
The Raiders opening drive of the game started off what was an emerging trend for the team, as they ran four plays and then turned over the ball on downs. The Broncos defence was stifling, forcing the Raiders to turn the ball over or punt on their first six possessions.
Offensively, the Broncos were solid but didn't get on the board until the middle of the second quarter when Nolan Welsh pounded the ball in to put the Broncos up 6-0. The Broncos had an effective game on the ground with quarterback Jack Forsyth, Welsh and Jackson Leppard all racking up significant yardage. However, coach Forsyth admitted that the passing game needs work.
"I wish we could have connected on a few passes today," he said. "It's always good to mix it up but the passing is something we need to work on."
The defence stepped up again late in the second quarter when Marco Pascuzzi snagged an interception and the first half concluded with the Broncos up 6-0.
Welsh added his second touchdown of the afternoon after a long run on the Broncos first drive of the second half to put the team up 12-0. The Raiders finally broke through the Broncos defensive wall in the fourth quarter, picking up a first down and eventually scoring on what was their final drive of the game. The Broncos recovered an onside kick attempt and took two knees to secure the 12-6 victory.
The win moves the Broncos to four wins and four losses on the season and puts them in a tie for third place in the Gordon Sturtridge Football League's Pee Wee division. With two games left in the season, coach Forsyth said he thinks the team can close out the season strong.
"I'm confident we can finish off the year at 6-4," he said, noting that the team's practices have gotten much better. "We've had (former CFL players) Tommy Europe and Chris Burns out to help us this year and it's been great for the kids."
The team will take on the Colts on Sunday (Nov. 7) at Norgate Park in Vancouver and then finish the regular season with a home game when they host the Vikings at Don Ross Secondary field on Nov. 14.
For more information on the team, visit www.gslfootball.ca.
