OVFL Recap: Markham raids VR Limestone District Grenadiers of a win

[KINGSTON, ON.]

It was almost as if the Raiders knew exactly what the Grenadiers were going to do and when they were going to do it.

The senior varsity Limestone District Grenadiers have lost their chance of a perfect season after a suffering a heart breaking loss to the Markham Raiders on home field. On Saturday, June 9, 2012 the Grenadiers hosted the Raiders during week three for Ontario Varsity Football action at Loyalist Collegiate & Vocational Institute.

The Grenadiers frontline weren’t able to get anything going for them in terms of points on the scoreboard. From incomplete passes to rushing yards being pushed back behind the line of scrimmage. Quarterback Tyler Filson threw 11 of 32 for 131-yards and on the ground the Grenadiers were only able to push ahead 17-yards.

Limestone District Grenadiers quarterback #18 Tyler Filson carries the ball and
tackled by a defensive lineman for the Markham Raiders. (Eric Healey)

On the other end of the ball, the Grenadiers defence didn’t have much success either. Although there wasn’t a huge margin in the final score, the Grenadiers were picked apart. For a majority of the game the Grenadiers were able to keep the Raiders to a halt when it came to passing the ball but it was the ground game that hurt. Raiders wide receiver Kenny Fuentes was able to break the center almost every hand off for a gain of a few yards every time.

“He (Fuentes) wasn’t the game breaker for us,” said defensive coach Bob Mullen. “The problem was controlling the run. (Fuentes) is a great kid, but he wasn’t the problem, our ground game was.

At half time the Grenadiers were down by 14-5 but still staying strong and fighting to keep their prefect record in line. During the third quarter it seemed as though the Grenadiers had a chance to get back in to the game with an interception by Tyler Ling but had failed on a couple 4[SUP]th[/SUP] down conversions. The Markham Raiders went on to win the game with a final score of 21-7.

Limestone District Grenadiers defensive back #47 Carson Halliwell
carries the ball up the field (Eric Healey)

“That’s what it feels like to lose boys,” said team captain Josh Hill. “They (Markham Raiders) didn’t beat us, we beat ourselves.”

Hill remains optimistic that the team can regain focus throughout the course of the week at practices and will go in to the next game leaving their loss behind them.
“If we’re not on our game for sixty minutes this is what happens and it’s tough,” said Mullen.

The varsity Limestone District Grenadiers now hold a 2-1 record and are currently tied for second place in the league.

Next week the junior and varsity Grenadiers travel to Newmarket and go head to head with the Buc’s at Ray Twinney Recreation Complex. Game times are 2pm and 5pm respectively on Saturday, June 16, 2012.

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