BY SCOTT
HADDOW
The Sudbury Spartans know how to answer the door when a
challenge is knocking.
Last week, in a tight battle against Quinte Limestone, the
defence answered the challenge resoundingly by playing hard
until the final buzzer. The result: a hard-fought 18-14 win,
and more importantly, a winning record.
The Spartans are 2-1 and put that record on the line
Saturday when they travel to Oshawa to square off against the
Hawkeyes. Oshawa is no pushover and have steamrolled the
competition so far, going 2-0.
Spartans head coach Chris Bartolucci isn't expecting a nice
picnic in Oshawa. The Hawkeyes have only allowed 28 points
against, while piling up 77 points for.
"I am expecting a tough game against Oshawa...They're
undefeated for a reason," said the bench boss. "Our defence
need to have another big game and we will have to put together
a great offensive game too."
The 18-14 win breathed even more life into the Spartans.
"The defence finally came up with a big game and
offensively, we did a good job as well," said Bartolucci.
"On the whole, I was impressed with the defence. The two
wins have boosted the confidence. We're a double threat on
offence. We can pass and we can run. Opposing teams have to
prepare two different ways to stop our offence, and that's
good. We're versatile and our defence will only get stronger."
Part of the resurgence on Sudbury's defence was Mika Kinos,
who stepped up and pounded opposing players with relentless
enthusiasm.
"He was just awesome last week," said Bartolucci. "He
brought a whole new level of maturity and aggression to the
defence. He freed up our other linebackers, so they could be
more mobile. We're shoring up our defence nicely."
The play of the defence has inspired the whole squad.
"With less than two minutes to go, Quinte was near the
10-yard line and our defence stopped them seven or eight
times," said receiver Brandon Dougan.
"It was nice to see. It gives us all a lot more confidence.
It shows they can stop opposing teams and can play with any
team."
The Spartans are more than just targeting a playoff spot.
They want a home playoff game.
"If we win a couple more games, we would be in the hunt for
a home playoff game," said Dougan. "I don't know when the last
time we had a home playoff game...sometime in the mid 1990s."
Even though the Spartans have put together two straight wins,
no one is going to coast.
"We're being modest," said kicker and half back Richard
Eldridge. "We don't take anyone lightly. We have shown we can
play together as a unit. We beat Quinte because it was a total
team effort, and that's what it will take to keep winning."
The Spartans have to get used to the bus over the next few
weeks, as the next three games, including the Oshawa game, are
on the road.
"It will be tough," said Bartolucci. "If we can get by this Oshawa game, there's enough positive energy on the team, it could carry us through a tough time. I would love to go 2-1 on the road. If we can do that, it will put us in the driver's seat heading into the playoffs. It's not going to be easy."
