MacLeod leads Lions to victory
Posted By Dale Clifford Examiner Staff Writer
Updated 2 months ago
The Adam Scott Lions didn't look like their old selves in the first half on Friday. Based on scores from recent outings, they were more back to normal at the end.
The unbeaten Lions shut out the Orillia Park Street Trojans 45-0 in National Capital Bowl senior AA football semifinal action at Trent University.
They struggled to put points on the board in the first half but the final 24 minutes were all theirs.
The Lions, two-time defending Bowl champs, advanced to the final against the winners of Smiths Falls-Brockville back at Trent on Saturday, Nov. 28.
The Lions' defence was steady throughout, limiting the Trojans to few scoring opportunities and forcing five turnovers.
The Lions didn't move the ball much in the first half, scoring only 15 points, but two came on runs by Cody MacLeod, including one on a 28-yard sweep. They did however cough up the ball a couple of times themselves to a Trojan defence that didn't roll over and die.
Scott didn't change up things so much in the second half on offence, only this time things worked, they didn't make mistakes and a short-handed Trojans unit arguably tired. MacLeod crossed the goal line three more times in a 23-point third quarter, including another scamper of about 28 yards.
Kevin Blunk scored on a short run to complete the major scoring in the final period. Quarterback Rob Tersigni converted all six touchdowns and kicked singles off a missed field goal attempt, punt and kickoff.
Tersigni said they weren't into it offensively in the first half.
"I think we were thinking ahead too much," he said. "We didn't execute well. We picked it up in the second half and played more as a team. We're looking forward to next week but not thinking that we have won it the last two years."
MacLeod echoed his teammate's comments and added: "We had a little pep talk at half time and it helped. The blocking on the line was good and the defence played great."
Vik Kulla, Lions' coach with Ed Dillon and Darrell Wright, said his squad played a much stronger second half and wore down the opposition.
"We were sluggish at the start," he said. "We got away from doing the things we do well. We were focused in the second half. The defence played well. I was relieved when it was over."
Defensive coordinator Dillon added: "We played good team defence. We had good reads and adjusted well."
Trojans coach Nathan Bax said he had short-handed team because of injury and illness and wore down. He also gave Scott a lot of credit.
"We had a lot of missed tackles and they exploited our weaknesses on the line," he said. "We couldn't get going on offence. We were a small team and we did well representing a small school. We came together as a team as the season went along and I was proud of them and that they went this far."
NOTES: Adam Scott teacher Clayte Wade had a lot fun as the public address announcer. He said it was an exciting time for the fans to witness a special occasion, three single points scored three different ways, off a missed field goal, on a punt and a kickoff…. Brockville coaches were rumoured to be in attendance scouting the game.
dclifford@peterboroughexaminer.com
