Senior Boys Football
Sir Wil wins playoff opener, advances to semi-finals
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online

Sir Wilfird Laurier's Scott Newby tries to sprint past St. Matthew Tiger defender James Ryan during second half action on Friday. Fred Sherwin/Photo

The Sir Wilfrid Laurier Lancers have extended their season by at least another game after they defeated the St. Matthew Tigers 28-0 in the first round of the playoffs on Friday.

The 28 points is just six points shy of the Lancers entire offensive output during the regular season, and they did it in a steady downpour.

Quarterback Dustin McMahon was especially effective in the rain, making several key passes at critical times.

But the biggest difference in the game was turnovers. The Tigers turned the ball over at least five times and the Lancers made them pay for it.

After a rough beginning to the game during which they took several undisciplined penalties, the Lancers got their act together in the second quarter putting up 22 unanswered points.

Harry Short had several long runs on the Lancers' first scoring drive, including a seven yard run for the team's opening touchdown. Hafiz Hamidi scored the Lancers second touchdown when he picked off an errant pass by Tigers quarterback Mcauley Banning and ran it 40 yards into the end zone. A two point convert by Jeremy Seal would give the Lancers a15-0 lead.

Sir Wil scored their third touchdown of the quarter on a long drive that included three receptions to three different receivers all for first downs. The final blow was a 12 yard touchdown toss from McMahon to Alex Hepworth.

The only scoring in the second half came after the Tigers fumbled the ball away on their 35 yard line. Five plays later, McMahon handed the ball off to Hepworth who rumbled three years up the middle for the major.

The Tigers started the game without one of their top offensive weapons in J.P. Hamelin who suffered a back injury while working out in the weight room.

The Tigers also had a number of defections, while several players were left off the roster for disciplinary reasons. By game time only 19 players were suited up and ready to play for St. Matt's compared to 23 players for Sir Wil who have been shorthanded all season.

The shutout win should help bolster the confidence of the Lancers who must face the St. Peter Knights in next week's semifinals The Lancers are the only team to hold a half-time lead on the defending champions this season. They were up 7-2 against the Knights on Oct. 2 before St. Pete's scored 24 unanswered points in the second half to win 26-7.

"We're going in there next week as the underdogs and everyone expects them to win, which is fine by us, but we have some good players too, and hopefully they'll have a good game," says Lancers head coach Eric Kukkonen.

Three-fifths of the Knights' coaching staff were at the game on Friday scouting the Lancers defence.

(Posted 7:30 p.m., Oct. 29)

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