The Howe Sound Sounders football team is still bidding for a playoff spot despite surrendering a home game against the Seaquam Seahawks 31-7 on Saturday (Oct. 27) at Don Ross Secondary School. If the high school team can continue with the mixture of intelligence and grit they showed in the second half, there's a good chance the Sounders will hear the sweet tune of victory for the first time this season against the Hugh Boyd Trojans on Saturday (Nov. 3).Coach Rex Reece said the team is improving on both sides of the ball. Meanwhile, most players are required to play both defence and offence because of low numbers.
"They've been really close now that we've got our defence straightened out," he said.
The players recognize that developing skills for two positions takes a lot of work, but they don't get discouraged by the heavy load."We haven't been winning but we play with a lot of heart," said centre/linebacker Craig Constantin.
A willful heart and a bit of strategy allowed Constantin to tally five sacks against the Seahawks' quarterback. In fact, the Sounders' defensive dominance was undeniable in the second half after Constantin, Josh Parra and Jack Billy registered three straight sacks on one Seaquam drive, pushing the Seahawks 20 yards from a first-and-goal position.
"In the second half, either me or Josh went to the left side or right side because in the first half we had both of our guys in the middle," said Constantin. "We made that adjustment in the second half and started making some sacks."
Despite a huge late effort, the Sounders couldn't come back after allowing 28 points in the first half. The offence turned over the ball four times with two interceptions and two fumbles.
After giving up a field goal early in the second half, the Sounders became a new team. The expected late game fatigue turned into a fire inside.Defensive tackle Kyle Moore jumped on a Seahawk fumble, setting up a solid 15-yard run by quarterback Rory Reece. On the same drive, Josh Parra caught a 30-yard touchdown pass.
Parra then successfully kicked the extra point; it hit the crossbar on the way down but tumbled though just the same. With seconds remaining in the game, the Sounders had possession inside their own five yard line on the fourth down. Instead of giving up, they went for the touchdown with a fake punt play. Parra threw a gorgeous pass to Patrick Lavigne, who almost ran the length of the field but was brought down 20 yards from the end zone.
And so goes Sounders football - alive until the last play. Despite losing the game, the team gave an impressive performance in winning the second half.
The bout against the Hugh Boyd Trojans begins at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday (Nov. 3) at Don Ross Secondary School. The Sounder formula for success is clear, said Reece.
"We just have to put two halves together."
