The Orillia Secondary School (OSS) junior boys’ football team continued their strong 2021 campaign this week, earning a 35-13 win over the visiting Barrie North Vikings that improved their record to an unblemished 4-0.
The Nighthawks offence was clicking early, scoring on three possessions in a row
Running back Adam Trumble opened the scoring with a 20-plus yard rushing touchdown. On the next, possession fullback Caleb Sawyer punched in a 10-plus yard rushing touchdown to put OSS up by two scores.
Early in the second quarter, quarterback Mason Bard rolled out to his left for a seven-yard rushing touchdown. The Grade 9 student says scoring a touchdown in front of the hometown crowd is always special.
“It’s pretty fun, it’s a bit scary when I take off with the ball because I’m not sure if I’m actually going to get there, but our tailback made a really nice block and because of him I was able to score,” he said.
Bard, 14, says he isn’t surprised by the Nighthawks' undefeated record.
“At the start of the year I believed we could do it; we’ve shown that we can do it, and we've got the talent,” he said.
Bard says the Nighthawks have done a good job working together as a team, which is the squad's greatest strength.
“Even if we are having a rough day at practice or aren’t playing our best game, we just find ways to keep working together and we get better,” he said.
Running back Scott Ivancic closed out the first half with an explosive rushing touchdown that put the Nighthawks up by 28.
In the second half, the Nighthawks played shut-down defence. Linebacker Garret Decaire turned an interception into a touchdown. Shortly after, to put the game on ice, safety Seamus McGee got himself an interception as well.
McGee, a Grade 9 student, finished the game with four tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception. He is one of two players on the Nighthawks with football experience as he is a former Huronia Stallions player.
“Everyone is picking up the game really quick. We have a lot of big, fast, and athletic kids on this team,” McGee said.
McGee says it feels good to be back on the gridiron after missing out on playing with the Stallions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I love the game, I love the energy, the play style, and the scheming. It’s really good to be able to suit up again.”
Before the game, OSS head coach Nathan Box said the Vikings would be a big test for his his team, and he gives his players credit for passing the test with flying colours.
“Our team rose to the occasion, they were well prepared, the tackling was really good today, and guys just know their jobs,” Box said.
“This is a satisfying win because Barrie North is a school that has a lot of football tradition. We knew they would come out hard, and they have like 45 guys, which is ten more than us.”
Despite most OSS players having no experience playing football, Box says it’s an even playing field across the Simcoe County Athletic Association (SCAA) this year.
“Unless they played summer football, nobody has any experience playing; I think that’s a factor. The fact that we have five experienced coaches and are only running one team, I think that’s made a difference as well,” Box said.
“This is a good group of kids, they have really bought into the team mentality, they are playing hard every play, and the attendance at practice is excellent.”
Box says players and coaches alike aren’t taking anything for granted this season after being sidelined in 2020 due to the pandemic.
“We are taking it all in and we are enjoying it. We are thankful to have a season (as) last year was very odd,” he said.
Box believes this Nighthawks group could be the first junior squad in school history to win a SCAA championship, and the first to make it to the finals since 2017. However, he’s not getting ahead of himself.
“There is still work to be done, but if we can avoid injuries and play to our potential, anything is possible,” he said.
The Nighthawks will travel to Collingwood for their final game of the regular season on Friday, Oct. 29.
