Rosalie Currier/Journal
Bronson head football coach Jeff Gallup and St. Thomas of Villanova College head coach Marcello Lio said the U.S./Canada football game was “a great experience.”
Bronson, Mich. —
This season, the Bronson High School football team had the opportunity to play a Canadian private high school, St. Thomas of Villanova College in Ontario.
St. Thomas head coach Marcello Lio said he looks for an exhibition game in Indiana, Ohio or Michigan for Thanksgiving weekend.
This year, Lio found Bronson on the Michigan High Schools website. The Vikings posted that they were looking for a game on Oct. 8.
Lio worked with Bronson athletic director Jean LaClair for nearly a year to set everything up.
“This was just a great opportunity,” said Bronson head coach Jeff Gallup. “The football players spent a lot of time together. There was good interaction between the coaches and the players.”
St. Thomas brought both its varsity and junior varsity teams. Bronson’s varsity team defeated the St. Thomas team of 36 players, but the Bronson JV team lost.
However, it was not a level playing field. The two countries have different rules. Some which include:
Field size
Canada: 110 yards long by 65 yards wide.
U. S.: 100 yards long by 53⅓ yards wide.
Number of players
Canada: 12 players
U.S.:11 players
Number of downs to move the ball 10 yards
Canada: 3 downs
U.S.: 4 downs
“I can’t imaging having to play by Canadian rules,” Gallup said.
To get the feel for the size of the field and different rules, the teams spent Friday afternoon on the football field. That evening the teams faced each other for Bronson’s homecoming game.
For the complete story, see the Journal’s weekend edition or visit
[url]http://www.sturgisjournal.com/community/bronson/x1385877858/Vikings-host-Canada-team-on-the-gridiron
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