Adam Prudhomme
Editor
A full autumn’s worth of weather was experienced in just four quarters as the NDSS Golden Hawks junior boys’ football team hosted the Regi Panthers on Oct. 19.
The Panthers were able to weather both the elements and a strong Golden Hawks defensive line, taking the game 20-3. Despite the final score, the Hawks were a single possession away from taking the lead until deep into the fourth quarter, trailing 7-3. The game was very much up in the air until the Panthers put the game away when they scored a touchdown with just eight minutes remaining. NDSS did manage to block the extra point attempt to keep the slim possibility of a comeback still alive. The Panthers locked down the victory however with another touchdown in the final minute of play.
NDSS Manny Dunn avoids a tackle. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
Weather was like a secondary opponent to both teams on the field as Mother Nature oscillated between steady rain that was quite heavy at times, to picture-perfect sunshine, to dark clouds with a bit of hail capped off with a full rainbow arching off in the distance in the final minutes of the game. About the only thing missing was a bit of snow, though fortunately the temperate hovered about six degrees above freezing to prevent that from happening.
Napanee’s defense was strong throughout the game, not allowing a Panthers touchdown until late in the fourth. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
NDSS started strong as quarterback Ben Fisher hit Connor Birney with a pass to gain critical yards, though ultimately came up short of the end zone on the series. NDSS’ defense was sharp early on, highlighted by a sack from Max Van Hoek and Kane Smith to shutdown the Panthers’ passing game early.
The game remained scoreless until the final play of the first quarter when Fisher’s pass was picked off by Regi’s defense, setting up a 30-yard dash to the end zone. The Panthers made good on the extra point to take a 7-0 lead.
Hawks quarterback Ben Fisher lines up at the scrimmage amid a steady downpour. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
The Hawks huddle in a rain storm. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
Continuous rain made for a slick ball, which made for some messy snaps at times. The Hawks seemed to be finding their groove in the second quarter when Fisher found Nate Gifkins with a short pass for a 20-yard gain. On the next play Fisher executed a shovel pass for another 10-yard gain. The momentum was lost however when a fumble ended the series. It wasn’t a complete loss though as NDSS’ defense was able to hold the ground and on the next series the Hawks got within field goal range and Josh McNamee delivered a kick through the uprights to get Napanee on the board, trailing 7-3.
Nasty as the weather was at times, the game did end under a rainbow. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
That score would hold until late in the final quarter when the Panthers were able to lock up the victory.
Napanee is now 1-4 on the season, their lone victory coming Oct. 4 when they shutout the Kingston Secondary School Bears 22-0 at home. McNamee scored two touchdowns while Manny Dunn and Lucas Asselstine each scored one.
Regi meanwhile improved to 3-2 with the win.
The Hawks will have a shot at clinching a playoff berth with a win in the final game of the regular season when they take on Bayridge next Thursday at Kingston’s Invista Centre. Kick-off is 1 p.m. The Blazers remain winless on the season.
NDSS’ varsity girls’ field hockey team will take on the Holy Cross Crusaders today at 3 p.m. in the quarter-final championships at the Invista Centre. The Hawks enter as the seventh seed, going 3-6 in the regular season. The Crusaders finished second in the regular season.
NDSS’ junior boys’ volleyball team improved to 4-4 on the season with a 3-0 win over La Salle on Oct. 18. The senior boys also shutout La Salle and are now 5-2 on the season, tied for third in the KASSAA standings.
On the basketball court the Golden Hawks’ junior girls held on for a 36-30 win over La Salle at home. Findlay Paul led the Hawks in scoring with 10 points. They are now 2-4 on the year and close out the regular season on Oct. 27 at Kingston SS. NDSS’ senior girls fell 36-14 to La Salle and are now 1-5 on the season.