Stampeders gallop over Saints twice

     Parkside wins both senior and junior games, as the school celebrates 50 years

     Friday, October 6, 2017

     ST. THOMAS - The Parkside Stampeder football teams kicked-off their school's 50th anniversary celebration, by winning both of their games on home field, at Parkside Collegiate Institute.

Five different players found the end zone, as the senior Stampeders dumped the Strathroy Saints, 45-12, improving to 2-0, in Thames Valley Regional Athletics.

The junior 'Stangs used touchdowns, sacks and interceptions, to take care of the Strathroy Saints, 35-7, to even their record at 1-1.

Parkside wasted no time grabbing the momentum in the senior tilt, scoring two touchdowns in the first minute of the game.

Brad Grignard ignited the home crowd, returning the opening kick-off for a touchdown. Fans of the blue and white were still celebrating a first score, when Mitch Pallister recovered the ensuring kick-off for Parkside. Seconds later, Stampeders’ quarterback Drew Foster hit Rowan Jones for a second major.

Parkside led 14-0, with the two PAT's, before the fans were able to crack a cold one in the beer tent.

The school is celebrating its 50th anniversary this weekend and football was the opening event, with hundreds in attendance. The Stampeders fed off the buzz from the moment they ran on to the field.

"The energy of the crowd, the environment, really helped the kids focus in and play with energy," Parkside head coach Jason Congdon said. "It's a big night for us. We started fast. There'll be up and downs, but if we can get into a positive play early, for us, it's really important. It's nice to have momentum early."

Parkside kept coming at the Saints, building a 31-0 lead by half-time, with two majors sandwiching a Luke Gregor field goal. Foster connected with Connor Holburn, on a 12-yard pass play, before Ash O’Connor stepped into the end zone, after ripping off a 33-yard gain to set up the score.

Austin Day had TD runs of 15 and 13 yards, in the second half for Parkside.

Strathroy found the scoreboard in the fourth quarter, with touchdowns by Mitchell Van de Hoef and Connick Hurley.

"We're not a run heavy team or a pass heavy team," said Congdon. "Our skill guys are really good and we have good depth at those positions. We don't rely on one guy and our offensive coaches do a good job of spreading the ball around."

At 2-0, Parkside is second in the TVRA Walxzak division, behind London Lucas, at 2-0-1. The Stampeders host London H.B. Beal (1-2), October 13.

In the junior match, the Stampeders led 14-0 after one quarter, thanks to a Nathan Utterlinde 11-yard run and a Zachary Copeland one yard plunge.

Quarterback McKellar (Mac) Watson tossed a 34-yard TD pass to Cameron Zimmer, to help the Stampeders stretch their lead to 22-0, by half-time.

Watson opened the second half, returning the kick-off, 70 yards to the house. The PAT was blocked, but Parkside led 28-0.

Saints' Owen McDonald and Stampeder Camerin Zimmer, traded touchdowns in the fourth frame.

Helping give the Stampeders favourable field position throughout the game was their defence.

Watson and Kyle Fraser had interceptions, while Rudy Bukich, Justin Carnegie and Gavin Eldridge, with two in a row, sacked the Saints' quarterback.