THUNDER BAY – The Westgate Tigers had about as many fumbles as they did points on Thursday night.
That doesn’t usually yield great results.
Plagued by slippery weather and slick footballs, the junior Tigers struggled to make the most of their opportunities against the front-running Hammarskjold Vikings, who scored three first-half touchdowns en route to a 27-7 win.
The triumph improved the Vikings record to 3-1 and helped them keep pace with the St. Patrick Saints who earlier in the day downed six-time defending champion St. Ignatius 21-7 to share top spot in the Superior Secondary Schools Athletic Association standings.
Dawson Roy was the offensive star for Hammarskjold, scoring twice on the ground. His first major came on a one-yard run late in the first that put the Vikings up 14-0, the second an 18-yard sweep that capped the scoring in the fourth.
“I’ve got really good lead blockers helping me through to get the touchdowns,” Roy said.
“We did a sweep where you go back and the QB pitches it to you and I went straight in. We feel great, always hyped and ready for the playoffs.”
It was all Hammarskjold in the opening half, the Tigers struggling to move the ball with any consistency, limited to a couple of first downs.
Fellow running back Dylan Halls opened the scoring three-and-a-half minutes into the first quarter, diving to the goal-line pylon to cap an eight-yard run, the two backs chewing up the Fort William Stadium turf for much of the opening 24 minutes.
That suits Vikings coach Matt Steele just fine.
“Absolutely, on the offensive side of the ball we saw some great blocks from both the line and our backs and (Roy) ran the ball well, as did (Halls). We’re really proud of the way they’re attacking open space,” Steele said.
The second half was more about who could hang onto the football the longest than anything else.
At one point the two teams fumbled five straight plays, Hammarskjold emerging with the ball. But two players later they coughed it up again, giving the Tigers the ball on their 18-yard line.
Three plays later Braydon Valley took it home from 10 yards out, cutting the Hammarskjold lead to 20-7 on the final play of the third quarter.
Vikings effort Dawson Giertuga said it was a great defensive effort.
“We practiced really hard all week to try to do the best we can. We have a really great defense and we can do a lot of stuff this season,” said Giertuga, who intercepted Westgate quarterback Logan Kelly in the first.
Hammarskjold takes on St. Patrick for top spot in the early game next Thursday, while the winless Tigers (0-4) hook up with St. Ignatius (2-2) in the late game.
