Parkside kicks off season under lights

   

   Stampeders football splits opening night vs London Banting with juniors winning

  

 

  September 25, 2022

 

 

By Rob J. Ross

ST. THOMAS - There are so many new faces on the Parkside Stampeders senior football team, even head coach Jason Congdon may need a roster.

Only four starters from last year's team were on the field, when the Stampeders kicked off their 2022 Thames Valley Regional Athletics (TVRA) season, hosting the London Banting Broncos, under the lights, Friday.

A pair of touchdowns led Banting to a 15-3 win.

"This is the youngest, most inexperienced team I've ever coached," Congdon said. "It was as a good a performance that you could ask for 20 kids who have never played senior football in the positions they were playing tonight."

Parkside led 3-0, on a first quarter field goal.

Covan Stachowiak, late in the third quarter and Nick Seybold, scored TDs for Banting, one converted. The Stampeders' offence also surrendered a two-point safety.

"We competed start to finish. Nobody gave up. There was frustration, but it came out on the sideline in the form of communication," Congdon said. "Our defence played extremely well and we ran the ball well. We had a ton of defensive stops. We blocked a punt. Defence always develops faster than offence early."

The Stampeders were working on plays during the games.

"Tonight was the first time we actually returned a kick-off live. We haven't done it on practice. We walked though it, teaching the skills, but we've never lined it up," said Congdon. "We have some really good kids, who are keen. My hope is we improve greatly over the next week or two. It's coming along."

In junior action, Parkside defeated Banting, 26-22.

Stampeders' tailback Merrick Rollins scored three touchdowns, while slotback Connor Ward had a TD and ran in a two-point covert.

Parkside quarterback Evan Jackson guided the offence, including a 99-yard drive that started on the Stampeders' own one-yard line.

Alex Medeiros made an interception, preventing a Banting score and giving the Stampeders the ball on the one-yard line.

Parkside led 8-0, opening the scoring in the second quarter, before Banting took a 12-8 lead.

It was knotted at 14 at half-time.

Collins found the end zone in both the third and fourth quarters, putting the home team up, 26-14.

Parkside visits London Saunders, Thursday.

 

 

More images on Instagram - hometownplay