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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1984-11-07, Page 19Belch on SIGNAL -STAR FRECREAT 136 YEAR, --45 GODERICH, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7,1984 Dave Almasi, of the GDCI Senior Vikings, sifts through the bodies —iti fhe aftermath of a play during Thursday's Huron -Perth Con- ference Football semi-final, played Thursday, in Goderich. The Vikes, as expected, won the game convincingly, beating Stratford Northwestern Huskies, 27-1. The Vikes now advance to next Satur- day's conference final, to be played Listowel Lords. The undefeated Vik.,tngs the upstart Lords for their eighth co Patrick Raftis ) Griderich, against the e heavily favored to beat ecutive title. (photo by' f mals as Vikes beat St atfordOntothe � to Dave Almasi early in the second quarter Joe Melady kickkd a 48 yard field goal in the for Goderich's first touchdown. Thompson fourth quarter, Ito go,,along with his three rolled to his right and threw out of a crowd successful convert attempts. to the big end. Coach Ray Donnelly called that one "a pleasure to watch", adding, "Not many highschool quarterbacks are going to com- plete that pass or even know enough to try and throw it." The touchdown put the Vikings into the lead, erasing a 1-0 Stratford edge on a single on a missed field goal in the first quarter. The Vikings got a two' point safety -touch when Dave Smith tackled the Huskies' quarterback in the end zone. Ed Craig added a touchdown, on a five- The Vikings now advance to the Huron - yard run and John Thompson kicked a Perth finals to be played here on Saturday, single on the ensuing kickoff, to give the Vik- November 10, at 1:30 p.m. Their opposition ings their half-time lead of 17-1. will be the Listowel Lords, who were upset Shawn Rahbek's three -yard run in the 15-8 winners over the Exeter South Huron third gave Goderich their final touchdown. Panthers, in the other semi-final game. BY TD The GDCI Vikings did what everyone ex- pected them to here Thursday, when they disposed of the. Stratford Northwestern Huskies 27-1, in the semi-finals of the Huron - Perth Conference Senior football playoffs. Despite less than ideal weather condi- tions, the Viking offense accumulated over 400 yards, in their one-sided victory over the Huskies. The score could have been higher except for some key penalties and a slippery ball. Despite the continual downpour in the first hall, two Vikings were able to pass the ball effectively, getting over 100 of their yards gained by the air. Quarterback John Thompson, who has matured into a fine field general for the Vik- ings, had an excellent game. He started things off by throwing a little five -yard pass . Northwestern mada valiant attempt to stop the V' gs, introducing some new defences, but he Goderich offensive line was too strong, o be denied. Running ba k John McGraw also had an excellent gam, rushing for over 200 yards. The Viking defence was again able to hold their team in the game until the offence got rolling. Nogqtthwestern had only four firstdowns' the entire -game, two of them on their opening offensive drive, Vikes make quick exit Huskies unbeaten string broken 1 The Senior Vikings girls basketball team won their most important game this season in Huron -Perth play last Thursday, as they defeated the previously undefeated Strat- ford Northwestern Huskies 61-42. The Vik- ings have now all but clenched first place with an 8-0 record and two games left to play. The girls from Stratford played well against the Vikings but they could not mat- ch Goderich's speed and team play. The Vikings established the lead in the first quarter 19-9, on the hot shooting and fine passing of guard Kim Fritzley. The Vikings relaxed in the second quarter, allowing the Huskies to close the score to 27-20 at the half. The Goderich girls got back on track in, the third quartet, with Christine Stapleton converting five Fritzley inside passes into five baskets. Fritzley led the Vikings with 23 points, while Stapleton added 18. Anne Allan, who played well, added eight points and some timely rebounds. Cathie Gallow added four points and did an excellent job when she played point guard. Allison Graham also scored four points, but more important, she triggered the Vikings fast break attack. Mary Alexander with four points and Jen- nifer Peters with a basket, rounded out the Goderich Scorers. Joan Stock scored 15 for Stratford. On Tuesday, the Vikings overwhelmed the St. Mary's Salubis 90-26 in another league game. The Vikings decided the contest early, as they crushed St. Mary's 28-6 in the first quarter, paced by Kim Fritzley's seven baskets. The Vikings had four players in double figures. Kim Fritzley with 26, Christine Stapleton with 18, Cathie Gallow with 15 and Anne Allan with 11, led the Goderich scorers, Mary Alexander with eight, Allison Graham with four and Sarah Alexander, Joanne Campbell, Lisa Englestat, and Jenn Peters each with a basket, completed the scoring. Last Friday night the Vikings opened the Sarnia Referee's Classic with a 63-25 domination of Windsor Assumption. Kim Fritzley with 19 and Mary Alexander with 10 led the Goderich scorers. Other scores were Christine Stapleton, eight; Anne Allan, seven; Allison Graham. seven; Cathie Gallow, six; Jenifer Peters, five; Mary Margaret Murpny, two; Joanne uampbell. In the semi-final, the Vikings were plagued by cold shooting and frustrating play, as they lost to Kingsville 50-35. The Vikings stayed close throughout the game, but missed easy chances caused them t slip further behind as the game ended. Kim Fritzley again led the Vikin corers with 13 points. Christine Stapleton, who was chosen to the tournament All Star team, ad- ded nine points. Allison Graham with four, Cathie Gallow with three, Mary Margaret Murphy, Joanne Campbell, and Mary Alex- ander with two each rounded out the Viking scoring. The Vikings are in action again, at Central Huron, on Tuesday and host Listowel on Thursday as they round out the Huron -Perth schedule. BY TD The GDCI Junior Vikings were eliminated in the Huron -Perth Conference football semi-finals last Thursday, when they lost to the still undefeated Wingham Madill Mustangs, 15-6. The game, played in a driving rain storm, got off to a bad start for the Vikings when the opening kick-off went for a single point for the Mustangs. A fumble recovery at the Viking 30 -yard line paved the way for a Wingham touchdown minutes later. Sandy Mac- Donald took the ball in for the score on an end sweep. There was no further scoring until the third quarter, when the Viking defence forced a fumble by Wingham beside their own 10 -yard line. Bill Trebish went over on a blast play, to pull the Vikings within one, 7-6. That was as close as they were to come however, as Sandy MacDonald's fourth quarter 80 -yard ramble down the sidelines gave the Mustangs a 13-6 lead. A two-noint conversion made -the final score 15-6. The Viking defence came up strong, allowing only a few long gainers. Offen- sively, the Vikings had the ball inside the Wingham 10 -yard line on three occasions when they got no points. They moved the ball well considering the conditions; but could not put the points on the board. The Vikings finished fourth with a 3-3 record in the regular schedule, and their quick exit from the playoffs represents one of their poorest showings in several seasons. However, coaches Bruce Baker and Bill Garrow felt both rookies and veterans on the team gave their all. The Vikings were crippled by a disheartening array of in- juries and seemed to be a hard -luck gang all season. Two of their regular season losses were by just one point. The Vikings will have many returning players next season and already the coaching staff is planning their return to their accustomed spot on top of the heap. Atoms shortended 7-4 Goderich Atoms came out on the short end of a 7-4 decision in a Shamrock League home game., played on Saturday. Jason Jeffrey scored two of the Goderich goals, while Jeff Beange and Jason Cook each added a goal and two assists. Todd Papple had two assists and Donny Rivers had one assist. HOUSELEAGUE In Goderich Atom houseleague play this week, the Blue team squeezed by the White team, winning by the one -goal margin of 4-3. White led 3-1 early in the second period, but three unanswered goals from the Blues gave them the win. ring for White were: Ryan Farrish, tan Lamb and Jason Lajeunese. Assisting were: Scott Creamer, two and David Boyce, one. Blue scorers were: David Edwards, two; Ryan McClinchey and Drew MacAulay, one each. Earning one assist each were: James McDade and Scott Mathieson. Junior s undefeated BY TD , The GDCI Junior girls' basketball team took over undisputed possession of first place in the Huron -Perth Conference stan- dings, with an exciting 31-26 come -from - behind victory over Stratford Northwestern, here Thursday. The victory was the eighth consecutive in eight league starts for the Vikings, who have two games remaining in their regular schedule. Stratford came into the game with a chance to gain a share of first place, but are now 6-2 on the season. Northwestern played an aggressive, disciplined and skilled brand of basketball and made the Vikings play their best to win. Katharine Murphy had 11 points, Carol The Vikings led 15-11 at half-time, but were MacEwan had 10, Susan Murphy had nine down by six f Dints, after three quarters. points and Mary Katharine Stapleton had They had to outscore Stratford 17-5 in the eight. oals fire 11 Juveniles hallo Port Stanley whallop quarter, to win by five. Mary Katharine Stapleton hooped 12 points for the Vikings. Robin Engelstad had six points, Katharine Murphy and Jenny Allen had five apiece and Carol MacEwan hit for four points. Sheila Riehl, with 11, was Northwestern's best. Coach Lynn Meyer's Vikings played yesterday in Clinton and play here (Thursday) against Listowel in their final game of the regular schedule. Last Tuesday here, the Vikings humbled St. Marys 53-10. Goderich Signal Star Juveniles split two completely types of games this week, coming out of the Shamrock League hockey contests with a split. The Juveniles walloped Lucan, in a wide-open home game on Sunday, by a convincing 11-2 count and lost 4-2, in game played much closer to the vest, in Port Stanley earlier in the week. Goderich struck three times on Sunday, before Lucan retaliated at 5:09 of the second period. Goderich went right back to pumping the puck past beleaguered Lucan netminder Joe Mcllhargey and were up 10- 1, before Lucan hit the twine again, late in the third period. Chris Sideris, with a hat trick and a pair of assists, led the Goderich bombardment. John Graham scored twice and assisted on two goals; Matt Wilkinson and Brent Williamson each netted a pair of markers, Williamson assisting on one and Jeff LeBeau and Darren Doak each hit the twine . once, with LeBeau adding two assists. Todd Jeffrey assisted on two goals and Todd Graham and Lee Frisby each drew one assist. Goderch got off to a slow start in the Port Stanley game. They were down by three before they got on the scoreboard early in the third frame and were unable to make a comeback. John Graham and Brent Williamson scored for Goderich. John Cartwright, Chris Sideris and Lee Frisby were each credited with an assist. Kim Fritzley, scoring leader of the GDCI Viking Senior girls, drives past a taller Stratford Northwestern Huskies opponent for a shot at the basket, during a Huron -Perth Conference basketball game in Goderich, Thursday. The Vikes beat the previously undefeated Huskies 61-42, to maintain their lead in the conference. (photo by Patrick Raftis) Vikings scored more If the entire six -game Huron -Perth Conference schedule of the the GDCI Senior Vikings, were condensed into just one game, the score would have been a lopsided 222-10 massacre. If you added in their one exhibition game, a 35-0 blanking of the St. Clair Colts, plus last week's 27-1 drubbing of the Stratford Northwestern Huskies, in the a conference semi-final, the final' score is Vikings 284, Victims 11. These figures make a strong case for betting on the Vikings to win their eighth consecutive Huron -Perth Title on Saturday, when they face the Listowel Lords for the title. There can be little doubt in the minds of anyone watching a few of this year's games involving Coach Ray Donnelly's raiders, that they will take the championship with little trouble. After all, the closest anyone came to the Vikes this year, was the Listowel Lords, who were only outclassed by 29 points, losing 34- 6. The Lords were also the only team to manage a touchdown against the Viking defensive corp., led by veteran linebacker's like Lee Frisby, Dave Weaver and Dave Almasi. The entire defense was so solid, you would almost think they didn't enjoy playing the game and wanted to stop the opposition attack just to get off the field and let the offence take over. Watching a Viking game this year, it didn't take long for an observer to catch on to the pattern. Once in possesion of the ball, the Vikes would invariably drive deep into the other team's end, almost always scoring a touchdown. They were then obligated to. turn the ball briefly over to their opponents by means of a kickoff, after which the hapless squad would take their standard two unsuccessful downs, before being forced to return the ball to the Vikings, via the punt route. Although the above senerio is exactly how games looked most of the time, that is not to indicate that the Vikings did not have to work fortheir victories. Obviously, if they had let up once they were ahead, the other teams would have managed to score far more often. BY PATRICK RAFTIS As far as scoring goes, the Vikes do it a lot, but they still don't make a great team to watch. Part of the problem is The inevitablity of the upcoming touchdowns and part of it is the way they get the majority of them - on the ground. It's not that Viking Quarterback John Thompson is not capable of passing with regularity. In some games he has shown a remarkable penchant for aerial advancement of the football. For example, against Listowel, Thompson completed eight of nine pass attempts. The thing .is, why pass and. risk an interception - when you can gain all the ground,you need with the safer, though often less exciting ground plays. I'm not expecting anything unusual from Saturday's playoff final. The Vikings will win. They will do it by a big score and they will do it with a mix of grinding -through -the - middle low -yardage plays and end -sweeping medium -length ga4ners. You might see a few passes, just to keep the Lords' secondary honest, but they won't play a major part in the attack. Whatever the result of Saturday's game, it has (as usual) been one heck of a season for the GDCI Senior Vikings. It is unfortunate the Junior Vikes lost last week's semi-final to Wingham Madill Mustangs. However, sing no sad songs, the season was a respectable one for the Junior Vikes, who also had their shining moments. All the players no doubt gained valuable experience, which will be put to use in future years, when they come under Donnelly's guidance in Senior football. •