The struggles continue for the Howe Sound Sounders football club, who remain winless in 2014 following a 28-12 loss to the Burnaby Central Secondary Wildcats in Burnaby on Friday, Oct. 3.
But it didn鈥檛 start off so poorly for Howe Sound, who led 12-6 at the half on the strength of an Andrew Pelletier rushing touchdown and a Rolan Mendoza punt return score.
Burnaby scored late in the first half, but Sounders coach Jim Errington said he was happy with the way team in the opening half.
鈥淒efensively we played a great first half,鈥� he said in an email. 鈥淜eeping the ball in the middle of the field and we came up short twice on a 4th and 1 situation deep in their end.鈥�
The second half was a different story, as Errington explained that Burnaby gave up pass coverage defensively and relentlessly blitzed the Sounders offense. The Wildcats scored a safety and the Sounders then threw an interception that resulted in touchdown for Burnaby.
Burnaby scored again after recovering a Sounders fumble in the end zone and added a rushing touchdown to seal the win. Errington said a big factor in the game was four Sounders sustaining injuries. Mendoza, Pelletier, Brandon Nguyen and Josh Edmunds all had to leave the game for various reasons.
Errington praised the fourth quarter interception by Sounders defender Nolan Nault and said he likes the way his defense is growing.
鈥淒efensively we are starting to come together and we came up big when we needed it,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e are definitely improving on that side of the ball.鈥�
But he said the offense still needs some work.
鈥淥ffensively, although we did move the ball in the first half, our line isn't able to stop the blitz, which was a direct cause of three turnovers,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou can't turn the ball over half a dozen times and expect to succeed.鈥�
The loss drops the Sounders to no wins and two losses in BC High School Football Tier 2 division play and the team hasn鈥檛 won in six games played in 2014.
Howe Sound gets a chance to pick up a win at the third annual Black Tusk Bowl in Pemberton on Saturday (Oct. 11). The Sounders will battle the Pemberton Grizzlies for Sea to Sky Corridor pigskin bragging rights. Kick-off is set for 1:30 in the Spud Valley.
For more details on Tier II Varsity football, visit www.bchighschoolfootball.com.
