The Mount Douglas Rams senior football team lost its first game of the season, 45-19, to the New Westminster Hyacks on Friday.
It was a strong first half, with the Rams up 13-9. But New West dominated in the third quarter to run up the score.
The Rams also lost starting quarterback Gideone Kremler. The Grade 10, who plays for both the senior and junior team, left the junior game earlier in the day. The Rams did prevail, 40-26 over New West, but are now without Kremler, an offensive star in the B.C. High School Football League.
“At this time it’s unknown when he’ll return,” said coach Mark Townsend, who wouldn’t comment on the injury.
The Rams started another Grade 10 quarterback, Dante Carbone, in Kremler’s place. And Carbone proved he is up to the task, throwing for 188 yards and two touchdowns passes to Josh Lucas. In total, Lucas hauled in 10 receptions for 144 yards, and made an outstanding 97-yard kickoff return in the third quarter.
On the defensive side of the ball, Jake Ounsted and Isaiah Cardilicchia led the Rams in tackles with seven each, while Quinn Jenish, Tyrese Hogue, Spencer Meldrum and Soren Hallschmid made six each.
The senior Rams will host a tough South Delta Sun Devils team on Saturday, 1:30 p.m. at Mount Douglas. The Sun Devils are coming of a one-point loss to the Vancouver College Fighting Irish.
Thunder offence silenced
Injuries are hurting the Spectrum Thunder senior football team, which took a thin roster to the mainland and suffered a 35-0 loss to the Pitt Meadows Marauders on Friday.
“We couldn’t muster much offence,” said head coach Darren Vaux. “We had fumbles, bad bounces, and [Pitt Meadows] is a pretty good team, beating everyone right now.”
The Tier II level Thunder are looking to turn things around with an exhibition game against AAA Earl Marriott from Surrey this Friday at 2:30 p.m.
The Thunder are hoping to get Chris Starck and Oliver Adam back. Starck left Friday’s game after the first half with an injured right shoulder.
Powerful running back Adam is still out with a lower body injury. Other players also missed the game, making it a frustrating trip, Vaux said.
One bright spot from Pitt Meadows was Josh Burley’s excellent play on defence, but overall “it was not at all the result” Vaux expected, he added.