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The Sudbury U18 Jr Spartans' offense knew exactly how they wanted to attack the Quinte Skyhawks' defense - and they wasted little time doing exactly that Saturday at the James Jerome Sports Complex.
Quarterback Steven Sola connected with running back turned wideout Liam Conlin for a 41 yard pass and run major on the team's first possession and Sola followed up with an 80 yard bomb to Jaeden Dulaney on possession number two.
A Liam Hobson interception early in the second quarter - Hobson was absolutely everywhere defensively for the homeside - set up yet another TD throw, this one covering 25 yards as Sola and Conlin renewed acquaintances.
And with the Sudbury defense doing their thing to perfection, the Jr Spartans improved to 3-1 with a 26-8 victory over the Skyhawks.
"We did a lot of reading their playbook from the film," noted wide receiver Jacob Dillabough, one of what seemed like at least ten different Sudbury players to get their hands on the end of a Steven Sola throw in this contest.
"We thought they were lacking a little on deep coverage and we tried to take advantage of that."
Where the likes of Conlin and Dulaney both enjoy the advantage of spending time with their QB during the fall high-school season, teammates at times with the Lo-Ellen Park Knights, Dillabough (grade 11 at St Benedict) must work on his chemistry during a more restricted summer schedule.
"It comes down to practice; coming to practice and getting to know your quarterback," he said. "Learning how he throws it and where he wants to throw. Steven has taught me how to adapt to his ball. He's a good teacher."
The Jr Spartans relied on the aerial attack in the first half in particular, with Sola finding the likes of Jordan Guerrette, Carter Sagle, Owen MacDonald and Dillabough on a variety of different patterns.
"He (Sola) has a cannon and really good accuracy," said Dillabough. "That ball that I caught, he put it exactly where he had to throw it."
Place kicker Trent Laferriere chipped in with three converts and a 25 yard field goal, Anthony Perris was credited with a safety touch as Quinte took a knee in the end zone and defensive lineman Scott Coles even recorded a rare interception for the big guys as the Spartans defense pretty much nullified the Skyhawks' offense from start to finish.
"We knew they had a really good O Line," said Dillabough. "I feel like our defense did well in keeping them to short yardage. They got a few squeakers but I thought our D Line really stepped up this game because we knew their run game was much better than their passing game."
The U18 Jr Spartans will now enjoy a weekend off before both of the local OSFL (Ontario Summer Football League) entries prepare for a huge doubleheader at home on July 8th, battling the powerhouse that is the Huronia Stallions.
In the early game on Saturday, the Sudbury U16 Jr Spartans took advantage of exceptional special teams play, scoring in somewhat unorthodox fashions (Paolo Grossi returning a missed field goal 120 yards for a TD; Nathan Nadeau - lining up onside on a Sudbury punt and recovering the ball and sprinting 53 yards to the end zone) in beating Quinte 30-2.
More on this game in the coming days