The Howe Sound Sounders hardships continued as the team lost their second consecutive game at home, falling to the Moscrop Panthers 14-6 on Saturday (Oct. 23).
It's a disturbing trend for the team, which started off the year with so much promise but has only managed to score six points in each of the last two weeks.
"We're definitely struggling on the offensive side of the ball," admitted Sounders head coach Rob Ryan.
Ryan, who observed the first three quarters of the game from an elevated scaffold, did think his team played better than last week.
"We're pretty happy with the team's effort this week," he said. "A lot of kids stepped up and came to practice and I think Moscrop is just a more experienced team than us."
Early on, the game was a war of attrition. Neither team's offense could generate any significant drives in the first quarter. Moscrop's deepest first quarter drive was eventually stalled by Sounders free safety Rory Baldwin after picking off a pass.
"I went back into my zone, read the quarterback and noticed a receiver cutting in front of me," Baldwin said of his first quarter interception.
The ensuing drive was the Sounders best chance to score in the first half but they were forced to turn the ball over on downs after failing to move the chains on a fourth down. Howe Sound's Cory Constantin picked off another pass just before the end of the first half and returned it to Moscrop's 10-yard line but time expired for the half.
The second half saw Moscrop force the Sounders to punt away their first possession and a strong return saw them start off at Howe Sound's 30-yard line. A big fourth down conversion for Moscrop led to the first points of the day and put the Panthers up 6-0.
The Sounders answered back on the next drive with Constantin finding a hole and taking it all the way to the end zone. The long run tied the game up at 6.
The teams again played a game of field position for the rest of the third and most of the fourth quarter. A long drive by Moscrop ate up most of the fourth quarter and the Sounders couldn't prevent the Panthers from taking the lead on a fourth and goal situation late in the game. The defence was thinking run but Moscrop went pass and found an open receiver to take the lead. The Panthers made good on their two-point attempt and went up 14-6 with just over a minute to go.
The Sounders final drive ended quickly as quarterback Nolan Prevost threw an interception and the Panthers ran the clock out to secure the victory.
According to Baldwin, it was a tough loss to take.
"It's really disappointing," he said. "We could have played better and we really should have stepped up, especially on the last goal line stand."
Baldwin pointed out that it's often difficult to defend goal line situations and said there was some miscommunication between amongst the defence on the winning play of the game.
"It's tricky when they're that close to the goal line," he said. "You want to be far back enough to defend the pass but we thought they were going to run and we got burned."
Baldwin said the team needs to work more on having tighter coverage and be more effective at blocking for next week.
"I think they wanted it more," Ryan said to the troops at the end of the game, adding that the difference was a few mistakes. "But we're still in control of our own playoff destiny."
Ryan also said that he wants to use more bodies and give more different players reps instead of relying on Constantin, Prevost and Anthony Wuster to play so much on both sides of the ball.
The loss drops the Sounders to 2-2 on the season and they will next take on the Bateman Timberwolves on Saturday (Oct. 30). The game is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. and will emanate from Bateman Secondary School in Abbotsford.
For more information on B.C. high school football, visit www.bchighschoolfootball.com.
