NCAFA Peewee Football
Hardluck Bengals topple Giants for first win of the season
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Onlin

Mews Orleans Bengals running back Rashari Sommerville-Henry picks up a long gain in the Bengals' 35-7 win over the North Gloucester Giants on Wednesday. Fred Sherwin/Photo

It's been a long and frustrating season for the Mews Orleans Bengals peewee football team. Plagued by injuries, the Bengals have had a rough ride through the first three quarters of the season, losing six straight games before finally getting into the win column against the North Gloucester Giants Wednesday night.

Two of their losses were by less than a touchdown, including their season opener against the Gloucester South Raiders which they lost on the last play of the game.

Aside from a 24-point blowout against the Cumberland Panthers in Week 3, they've been in every game they've played thanks, for the most part, to their defence which came up big again against.the Giants, allowing just seven points.

The difference in the game, however, was the emergence of the Bengals offence and in particular first year running back Rashari Sommerville-Henry who had a huge game with three touchdowns, including a 14-yard run up the middle in the third quarter in which he broke three or four tackles.

Sommerville-Henry got the Bengals on the scoreboard late in the first quarter with a three year effort to cap a long drive. Quinn Soares added a two point conversion to give Orleans the early 8-0 lead.

The Bengals took to the air for their second touchdown which came on a 35-yard pass and run play from Micheal O'Connor to Justin Ryan. Ryan then made the extra point to put Orleans up 15-0.

Ryan scored again in the second quarter on an eight yard run and added the extra point to make the score 22-0 at the half.

The Giants eventually got on the scoreboard in the third quarter thanks to a Bengals miscue. After Orleans failed to pick up a first down on their opening drive in the second half, they elected to punt the ball from their 40 yard line.

Unfortunately, they were called for an illegal man downfield on their first attempt and had to punt the ball over again from their 30. On the second attempt, the snap went past the punter resulting in a turnover.

After taking over possession on the Bengals' 24-yard line, the Giants needed just three plays to get into the end zone. Ross Bitchoka did the honours on a 17-yard sweep to the left.

North Gloucester then returned the favour to the Bengals when they muffed the ensuing kick-off, giving Orleans excellent field position inside the 45-yard line. Sommerville-Henry scored four plays later on a two yard run up the middle.

The rookie running back's fourth major was set up by a 46-yard pass from O'Connor to Ryan near the end of the third quarter.

Following the big win, Bengals head coach Dennis Prouse was overjoyed that his team had finally gotten the monkey off their back.

"We've come through some tough times. We've come through some adversity, but now we're getting better," said Prouse. "And we're going to keep getting better. We've had eight key players out including five of our second year guys. The positive part is that it's given a lot of our first year guys a chance to play and contribute. Paul Hastings had an outstanding game on defence. I'm not sure how things are going to shake out the rest of the way in terms of the playoffs. We just have to keep winning."

The Bengals will hope to do just that when they take on the East Ottawa Generals this Sunday at Garneau High School.

(Posted 10:30 p.m., Oct. 2)

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