The Sounders silenced the critics and started their season off right on home Howe Sound Secondary field Saturday (Sept. 25), upsetting the highly touted Robert Bateman Timberwolves 25-14.
Bateman was favoured by as much as 34 points by one local pundit, but the Sounders brushed off any doubt with a strong team victory.
"I'm proud of what our team did today," said running back Cory Constantin, who scored a receiving and a rushing touchdown in the game. "It's a good first game for us but it's a long season."
Constantin opened the scoring in the first quarter running in a short pass from quarterback Nolan Prevost, but the Timberwolves quickly tied the game up leaving the score knotted at six.
The second quarter saw the Sounders put together a nine-play drive, eventually scoring on a quarterback sneak from Prevost. The drive saw the Sounders utilize Constantin and also cause Bateman to bite on a number of offsides.
"They're a pretty aggressive team defensively and we hoped to catch them on a few offsides," said Sounders head coach Rob Ryan.
"We noticed they were a little careless and we took advantage of that."
The aforementioned drive ate up a lot of time and the first half ended shortly after the Prevost score, with the Sounders up 12-6.
Howe Sound received the ball to start off the second half and began another long drive but eventually turned the ball over on downs at the Bateman 35.
However, the tide of the game quickly changed when Anthony Wuster picked off the Timberwolves pass to get the ball right back for the Sounders.
Constantin gobbled up the majority of the next 20 yards, picking up his second touchdown of the game to put the Sounders up 18-6.
Bateman answered back in the fourth, utilizing a hurry-up offense that seemed to pressure the Sounders defence. They put together an impressive drive, capping it off with a rushing touchdown and a successful two-point attempt to close the gap to 18-14.
On the ensuing kick-off, Wuster again was a game-changer, returning the ball back the entire way to put the Sounders back up 25-14 and that's the way the game would finish.
According to Constantin, Wuster's kick return was the turning point in the game.
"Anthony on the kick return really won the game for us," he said with a grin. "And his interception was huge too."
Coach Ryan agreed, saying it was a "big play," especially considering that it seemed like Bateman was building momentum after their touchdown.
"I really can't complain about the result," Ryan added. "Our offensive line is new but they played pretty good today and our defense bent but didn't break. Time was on our side today but it was a team effort."
Next up for the Sounders will be a trip to Burnaby on Friday (Oct. 1) when they take on Moscrop Secondary.
Kick-off is scheduled for 3:45 p.m.
