If Sunday鈥檚 final score for the Howe Sound Hitmen, 4-0, sounded more like a hockey score than football, it should not come as a complete surprise.
Coach Troy Wilton takes pride in his team鈥檚 defence and sees that its group tackling has made particular strides so far this season. However, in its latest game, the squad ended up on the wrong side of the score against the Panthers from North Vancouver.
The difference was a safety the Hitmen gave up late in each half, although the second score was the subject of controversy.
Late in the game, the Hitmen were pinned deep in their own end when a high snap left them scrambling to get the ball out of their end zone and avoid conceding the safety.聽
With some good coverage, running back Jackson Gordon broke through the defence and sprinted his way down the field for the major, or so it appeared.
Not only was Squamish鈥檚 touchdown called back, but a lineman ruled on the play that the team had gone out of bounds while still in the end zone, leading to the extra points for the visitors.
The coach admitted he was confused by the turn of events, which had seemed like they were turning in the Hitmen鈥檚 favour for a brief minute.鈥淭hey let Jackson run the whole way down,鈥� Wilton said. 鈥淲e were getting ready to go for a two-point conversion.鈥�
While the team did come up with the occasional big run out of the backfield, often by Gordon or quarterback Reniel Belandres, for the most part, the offence couldn鈥檛 get going on Sunday. The sloppy weather obviously played a role, as both teams had trouble hanging onto the ball during rushes or snaps.聽
The Hitmen have lost some players and took the field with an extremely short bench against the visiting Panthers, but that offers no excuse, in the coach鈥檚 eyes.鈥淲e should鈥檝e beaten them today,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e beat ourselves.鈥�
When they joined the North Shore GSL Football League this season, the Hitmen began with only one player over the minimum required for the 12- and 13-year-old division but then increased their ranks. On Sunday, though, they were again down to one substitute for the game.
Still, the defence has been a strong point for the young team this season, and Wilton knows that other coaches do not want to face his Hitmen when they line up on defence.鈥淚 happen to think our defence is the best in the league when we鈥檙e on,鈥� he said. 鈥淥ur players are proving that they have the hardest-hitting team in the league.鈥�
The loss this week followed a strong win against the North Shore Vikings the previous weekend. There, the Hitmen came out on top in a one-sided game, 34-13.
The Hitmen hit the road to North Vancouver this weekend to take on the contending Westside Warriors before hosting the Trojans at home the following weekend to close out the regular season.
With three wins and four losses, they are currently tied with the Panthers for third in the league.聽
