Trojans top Bears in semi

Trojan quarterback Spencer Brear sets up to throw in Saturdays semi-final. Photo by Matt Gordon

The rematch of last years final is set as the West Ferris Trojans advanced to the NDA Senior Football final with a convincing 23-0 victory over the St. Joseph-Scollard Hall Bears. The Trojans will now look to win their second consecutive title when they visit the Widdifield Wildcats next Saturday.

It was a wet and muddy afternoon at the Trojan Alumni Complex but it did not affect West Ferris quarterback Spencer Brear as he threw 3 touchdowns passes to lead the Trojans to the victory.

Brear got started early hooking up with two way player Cam Boake on a 30 yard touchdown pass in the opening minutes of the first quarter. Trojan kicker Trent Robinson added the convert. Robinson then pinned Bears return men twice in their own end-zone for singles to make the score 9-0 before the game hit the 5 minute mark.

The remainder of the first have became a field position game with both teams making efforts to establish their ground games. However both defences were up to the task forcing several 2 and outs, while keeping both talented backfields in check.

The standoff continued until the closing minutes of the half when Boake was stripped of the ball on his own 5 yard line on a punt return. After two failed runs, Scollard quarterback Greg Dunn tried to hit tight end Brett Daniels with a quick pass on a third down gamble. However, the Trojan defence was up to the task and the ball fell incomplete to force the turnover on downs.

“I think that was the turning point in the game … I think it gave us a lot of momentum” said Trojan head coach Larry Tougas of the defensive stop.

The Bears had another chance to score before the half but Tyler Geikie pushed a 25 yard field goal attempt wide which Boake promptly returned for a touchdown. However the play was called back on holding penalty forcing the end of the first half.

The third quarter brought more of the ground game and it appeared that neither side was going to ask much of their respective rookie quarterbacks with such poor field conditions.

In the fourth quarter the story was quite different as Brear, who looked calm in the pocket the entire day, was able to hook up with Boake on another long touchdown pass to put the Trojans in front by 15. Fullback Brad Piper added a 2 point convert to push the score to 17-0.

The West Ferris defence that has looked strong all year took over from that point not allowing any sustained drives from the Bears in the fourth quarter.

“We moved the ball sometimes but not consistent enough, our defence was on the field too much and that Ferris offence grinds the ball well,” was Bears head coach Andrew Dunn’s assessment of his team’s lack of offence.

“Our defence did what they did all year… and that’s a pretty good offensive team to hold to a goose egg,” said Tougas after the game.

The Trojans took advantage of a late turnover by the Bears and Brear threw his third touchdown of the day, this time to tight end Detlev Himmelman.

“Brear came up with a big game, he definitely brought his A-game,” said Boake of his quarterback’s performance on Saturday.

After two games in 4 days the Trojans will now have a week to prepare for the Wildcats in the final. The two teams will meet for the third time in four years, with the Trojans having won 2 of those championships.