The Sudbury Spartans U16 Girls tackle football team have rejigged things a little since opening the season with a 56-54 loss in Ottawa to the Cumberland Panthers back on May 17th.
Some of those adjustments paid off in a very big way this past weekend in Sudbury in the rematch as the Spartans pounced on the Panthers by a final score of 68-40 in another offensively-filled affair.
After beginning the season on defense, first year Spartan Lilianne Jodouin has made the move to quarterback. On Saturday, the grade nine student at E.S.C. Champlain ran for three majors (28 - 1 - 17 yards) and threw for another (15 yard pass to Laila Lalonde), helping guide her team to victory in just her second start as pivot.
"The last game was kind of rough because it was my first time and I didn't really know the plays - but this time, it was more solid," said Jodouin. "I learn quick."
The Sudbury side also tapped into a few different ball carrying options on the attack, led by Laila Lalonde (5 TDs - 15/6/49/53/51 yds), Kloe Cousineau (17 yard TD run in 1st quarter to tie the game at 6-6) as well as Leah Johnston.
While Jodouin did not throw often, a 3/5 line for 26 yards was enough to at least keep the Cumberland defense honest - especially given the dual-threat the naturally aggressive young athlete presented.
"I really like both passing and running plays," said Jodouin. "There are times when something happens, like a girl (receiver) falls and then I just run it. Most of the time, it works."
While she has played quarterback both for the Spartans' girls team as well as the Lo-Ellen Park Knights junior boys team last fall, Gia Rocca was moved across the line to defensive end where she made life difficult for the Panthers throughout the entire affair, finishing the afternoon with three solo tackles and three tackles for loss.
Martine Gaucher recorded a key interception for the Spartans, Kloe Cousineau accounted for four tackles and Elizabeth MacDonald and Madison Sargent had three each as the team improved to 2-3 as they prepare to welcome the winless Bel-Air Lions to town this Saturday.
On Sunday, the Sudbury U19 Spartans extended their winning streak to five games, blasting the Hamilton Jr TiCats 48-13 at Ron Joyce Stadium.
