Donavan Scott avoids the tackle late in the fourth quarter in what turned out to be a wet and low scoring affair at Omischl field Saturday. The Wild end up losing their home opener 9-6. PHOTO by: Travis Tiernay
Despite holding the Sudbury Gladiators to just one touchdown in its home opener, the Nipissing Wild found themselves on the losing end of a back and forth affair against the Sudbury Gladiators.
The Wild had several opportunities in the first half to kick start their offense, but missed a field goal attempt from just outside the twenty yard line and failed to grab two interceptions that just slipped through the fingers of the defense.
“We had some opportunities to make some big plays where the ball was bouncing the wrong way or maybe a gust a wind a little bit too much on a missed field goal, because it wasn’t missed by much. I was a very winnable but unfortunately the ball doesn’t always bounce your way,” said head coach Brian Samson.
Sudbury’s Konnor Gillies broke the drought early in the third quarter with a 50 yard interception return. The offense would respond soon after as quarterback Kain Strom ran the ball for eight yards to cut the lead to one. The woes continued for the Wild as the extra point attempt was easily blocked allowing Sudbury to maintain the lead. It would later grab a safety in the fourth quarter, on route to a 9-6 victory.
“Holding a team to one touchdown is always great, unfortunately we were shooting ourselves in the foot lots today, penalties and found ourselves with first, second and twenties, not too many plays in the play sheet for that, but again you learn more in a lose than you do with a win,” added Samson.
Other important notes
-The Wild say they are continuing with active tryouts between quarterbacks Riley Gravelle and Kain Strom to see who their starter will be going forward. Each has been alternating between quarters for the past two games.
-All Nipissing Wild games will be played at Omischl field this summer and head coach Brian Samson is very happy with the conditions and benefits of playing on artificial turf.
“This turf is awesome; if we were to do this on a grass field today the conditions would be horrible. With the amount of rain the last 24 hours I don’t even know if we would be able to have a game because the city could have closed the field.”
-Saturday’s home opener was named “Pink Game” in support of breast cancer awareness.
-Despite the rain, over a hundred fans braved the weather for the home opener.
