Defense takes center stage as Centennial sweeps Moira

Chargers quarterback Josh Decker (#7) gets run down by Trojans defensive back M. Miller (#36). Centennial beat Moira 9-0 in the second game of Friday Night Lights.

By Andrew Mendler

Mother Nature wreaked havoc Friday night when the Moira Trojans faced the Centennial Chargers in the second annual Friday Night Lights football doubleheader.

Unfavourable conditions effectively shut down both teams’ passing games as they only combined for two rushing touchdowns and a total of 16 points.

The Chargers swept the twinbill with the juniors winning the evening game 7-0 and the seniors taking the nightcap 9-0.

Although the conditions were bad, Centennial coach Scott Symons felt both teams defense deserved some credit.

“It’s just two real tough teams with good defenses,” said Symons.  “Moira is a great team and I expect to see them in the playoffs this year.”

“The team that we played scored 75 points in two games and they got zero points against us so I think that speaks for itself,” said Symons.

Defense was on display for most of the senior game as the first 30 minutes of the game were scoreless. It wasn’t until 4:38 of the third quarter before the Chargers broke through with a short field goal by kicker Brandon Culp.

That score stood until the 1:09 mark of the fourth quarter when tailback Dylan Stavely-Watson ran in a short touchdown to tack on six points. Moira successfully blocked the extra point making the final score 9-0 Chargers.

“Offense always takes a little longer to kind of get into gear in a season, its got to be repetitious,” said Symons.  “We have only been at it for about four weeks and I know that sounds like a long time but it’s not. We are talking about 12 to 15 guys getting in the sync of things.”

The lights may have been a factor in the lack of offense as they were considerably lower than most floodlit fields.

“Absolutely they had an effect, said Symons. “As you probably could tell, we didn’t throw the ball too much tonight.”

A couple of Belleville city councillors made an appearance at the game to announce that the city will be installing new lights at the field which should be in place by next year.

“The permanent lights are supposed to be about twice as high as this, so I would imagine that’s about 60 feet,” said Symons.  “There is not a better turf field, once these permanent lights are up and the clubhouse is in, this is going to be a world class facility for the community.”