The Nipissing Wild got off to a slow start and it was costly as they dropped their season opener on Saturday.
The first week for the Wilds 2015 campaign saw the boys from Nipissing traveling south to North Halton to take on the Crimson Tide in hopes of avenging a 2 point loss from week two of last season.
The Tide got on the board early in the 1st taking advantage of a height miss match on the outside in the passing game. Donovan Scott didn't let that bother him as he picked off Halton's QB and returned the ball 65+ yards to pay dirt out running would be tacklers. The Tide again gained the lead utilizing their deep passing game To go up 14-7 at the end of the first quarter.
In their opening drive of the boys from the Bay drove the ball inside enemy territory but stalled with the ball inside the 30.
Riley Gravelle was called upon to kick a 34 yard FG. With a stiff tail wind the attempt sail wide right by inches but Gravelle put enough leg on it to put the ball through the back of the end zone of a single point.
This was the closest the Wild got to the end zone for the rest of the half.
The second half started with a score of 34-8 as the Tide continued to go to the well throwing the ball deep down field. The opening kick return saw the Wild getting a sudden boost as Matt Chateline delivered a crushing ear hole block to an unsuspecting defender. Nipissing started to drive the ball but were stopped short of the first down marker forcing the North Bay team to punt the ball away.
Injected with life the Wild moved the chains on the back of Mitch Loxton who was able to find seams in the Tides run defence.
However the time was clicking off the clock and Nipissing could not reach the end zone until the final frame as Loxton crossed the goal line from 4 yards out. The Crimson Tide scored 2 more times to make the final score 48-14.
North Bay's next game time action and home opener is next Saturday, May 30th with kickoff slated for 2:00 p.m. at the Steve Omischl complex.
