Gridiron Blue Bomber juniors, seniors headed back to TVRA semis

Junior Blue Bombers (centre, then moving right) Owen Stead, Dean Bayer (who took the brunt of the ball’s impact), Kingston Davis and Noah Youkhanna combine to block a Glendale point after try by Cohen Hall, with Lucas Gullage on the hold. (Jeff Tribe Photo)

Jeff Tribe, Echo Correspondent

Both ‘goalies’ played exceptionally well.

Which is another way of stating the obvious: the Ingersoll DCI Blue Bombers 3-1 TVRA AA senior football quarter-final victory over the St. Thomas St. Joe’s Rams Oct. 30 in St. Thomas was dominated by defence.

“Defence played amazing, amazing,” emphasized Bombers head coach Markus Lakatos.

The Rams were admittedly missing their starting quarterback, however Lakatos also gave full marks to IDCI’s defensive coordinator for exhaustive pre-game prep.

“Our defence came in and was prepared.”

St. Joe’s did pick up a few first downs Lakatos conceded. “And then we’d stop them.”

The Blue Bombers had averaged over 30 points a game prior to meeting the Rams, whose defence also had a stellar outing.

“It didn’t feel good, not going to lie,” admitted Lakatos, of a 1-0 lead established on a rouge and extended via a two-point safety. St. Joe’s answered with a fourth-quarter rouge to round the unusual final score.

“Three points - the hard way,” said Lakatos, able to laugh in arrears of a victory which advances IDCI to TVRA AA semi-finals against London South. The game kicks off Nov. 6 at St. Thomas’ 1Password Park.

“The team is very excited,” said the coach, as well as fully aware South will be a formidable opponent which played at the TVRA Tier I level this season. On the plus side, Lakatos reports the Blue Bombers are healthy as they approach an opportunity to extend a season, which this year includes a path to an Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) tournament.

“That’s the goal, that’s the plan - now, we just have to execute.”

The junior Blue Bombers also advanced to TVRA semis, via a comparatively comfortable 35-14 win over the Aylmer East Elgin Eagles.

Coach Ben Griffiths pre-game speech was quick, focussing on intensity, work ethic and leaving their game on the field. Its impact, however, was only emphasized by the team’s returning Grade 10 members’ memories of the previous season’s regular season and TVRA Southeast championship losses to East Elgin counterparts. Not to mention, the desire to return to another TVRA championship final.

“The guys were very motivated,” said Griffiths.

IDCI was coming off a regular season-closing 34-6 win over the visiting Glendale Gemini Oct. 22 at Ingersoll. The Blue Bombers Deacon Janess made varied contributions to the offence. He kicked four point after tries, received one passing touchdown from quarterback Aidan Thomson and threw for another to Peter Salverda on a trick play, answering the age-old question whether it is more rewarding to give, or receive?

“Honestly, give,” Janess said with scant hesitation. “So, you can help your teammates get better.”

Mason Morris had two rushing touchdowns and Salverda two via the air for IDCI. Gemini running back Vincent Vanhooydonk scored the lone Glendale TD on the game’s final drive.

‘Intensity, work ethic and leaving one’s game on the field’ are consistent messages from the coaching staff said IDCI defensive and offensive lineman Connor Beemer.

“Keep the intensity up,” he said. “Strong every series, never let up on the gas.”

The approach worked through what was at the time of the Glendale game, a 4-1 regular season.

“That was the easy part,” said Thomson, looking forward to playoffs. “Now comes the hard part.”

“We’re already at a high,” added Salverda. “Might as well go higher.”

Having taken a successful first post-season step, the junior Blue Bombers looked forward to a TVRA AA semi-final matchup Nov. 5 against St. Thomas Parkside Stampeders, kicking off at 2:15 p.m. at 1Password Park. Griffiths is certainly not underestimating a quality group of athletic opponents, extremely well-coached, who competed at the Tier I level this season.

But in the sense his underlying goal is building players, program and representing the school well, the fact Griffiths is taking a comparatively young roster, split roughly between Grade 9 and 10 athletes, into a bowl semi-final represents a victory unto itself.

“Can’t lose,” he agreed with a laugh. “But definitely it’s always more fun to win, for sure.”