The Howe Sound Sounders football team invited the Pemberton Grizzlies to Howe Sound field for a "scramble" rules exhibition contest on Saturday (June 1), but the real story was the emerging young talent on the field for Howe Sound.
Sporting a roster entirely made up of eligible players for next year, Sounders coach Jim Errington said he was impressed by the youth on the gridiron.
"We had three Grade 11's out there and there were quite a few Grade 9's and 10's," he said.
Errington noted that students are arriving to Howe Sound Secondary School (HSSS) from Don Ross Secondary School (DRSS) knowing the game of football and wanting to wear the blue and gold of the Sounders.
One major difference in the Sounders offence was the new face at quarterback - Scott Messier. The Grade 9 student had a strong debut in the pocket and Errington confirmed that he will be the Sounders' starting quarterback in the fall.
Messier moving to quarterback allowed last year's pivot Rolan Mendoza to play in the backfield on defence. Errington, who works primarily with the defence, said he's thrilled to have an athlete like Mendoza with whom to work.
The scramble rules of the game saw each team start with the ball on the 50-yard line and run 10 offensive plays before handing the ball over to the opposition for 10 plays the other way. There was no kicking involved and any touchdown or turnover meant the team in possession had to start over again at the 50 until the 10-play set was completed.
Howe Sound ended up scoring seven touchdowns to Pemberton's two, but Grizzlies head coach John Burleson said he liked what he saw from his squad.
"I thought we moved the ball through the air pretty well today," he said, noting it was the team's third gathering as a team. "We had a lot of new players out today and this was their first time on the field - it's nice to give them a chance to feel what it's like out there."
The Grizzlies are currently in a bit of limbo as they're hoping to enter the same Tier 2 conference that the Sounders play in. However, B.C. high school rules state that teams cannot draw players from two schools as the Grizzlies currently do. The squad picks up players from both Pemberton and Whistler secondary schools, but Burleson is hoping to change that, adding that several teams used players from multiple schools last season.
He said coming to 麻豆社国产to play the Sounders is always a good experience for his team.
"We wanted a game with the Sounders - Coach Jim is a tremendous guy and a game like this helps to build up the sport of football in our area," he said. "It's a great opportunity for me and my coaches to see where we're at."
Errington echoed Burleson's thoughts on the contest.
"The purpose of this game today was to promote the sport of football in the Sea to Sky Corridor," he said.
The Sounders are now off until July, when positional practices get underway. Official team practices kick off in August, with games getting underway closer to September.
For more information on HSSS athletics, visit www.sd48howesound.org/programs/athletics/
