By Chris Abbott
Winning matters, but a young developing football team, it’s secondary to gaining experience.
“I’ve been waiting to do this since Grade 9, so the fact that I got to do this in my last year here, I love it,” said Valley Heights’ Ethan Zehr after his season-ending football game against Holy Trinity on Oct. 25. “I am so happy for these guys to come out and make it a possibility.”
Valley Heights’ Ryan Friesen provided a potent offensive and defensive threat, intercepting a pass late in the second-half to set up a quick Bears touchdown – by Friesen.
“It was a good reception,” he said, returning it about 20-25 yards before being hit hard near the sidelines. “I saw it coming – I was following the quarterback the whole time as safety and saw the throw come off his hands… and I hustled over there to get it. Saw the open opportunity and snagged it, and I didn’t feel like getting hit so I ran off to the sideline.”
Seconds later, Friesen caught a long pass and ran in for a touchdown, his second of the game.
“One TD was a run – I think about 40 yards. We do a QB special fake. The quarterback, fullback and running back will run beside each other, like it’s a fake, and I come between the three of them and our quarterback hands me the ball and I run the other way.”
Friesen also kicked a field goal.
A multi-sport athlete, he mainly focuses on motocross and hockey. He also plays volleyball for his school team.
“I love sports – I’m very passionate about it - sports is my life… and I am happy people can come out and enjoy football as much as I am.
“Because I know it was a big part of Valley Heights for a bit,” Friesen understated, “and I’m glad we could get it back, or at least start it back. Hopefully we can get it back to what it once was. Because I know everyone just enjoys watching it, coming out to see some games. I’m glad I could be part of this start-up.”
Valley Heights’ football season consisted of two exhibition games against Cayuga, another team just starting up again, then Holy Trinity – an established AABHN Non-CWOSSA football program.
“Junior (spring football), that was a struggle getting that started,” Friesen noted. “We were lacking some players. I think we went into the junior tournament with 18. This season, it was trying to get younger people to come out. Some are a little timid because they think people are bigger than them, but… some aren’t.”
A Grade 11 student, Friesen said he will ‘most likely’ tryout for next year’s Bears football team.
“It was fun,” said Bears’ Grade 12 lineman Ethan Zehr. “It was rough at times, especially with practices… And then having the drive to get out there and keep going, even when it seems like we’re not going to win.”
Valley Heights had pulled off a stunning last second comeback to tie Cayuga in its second game, but with an injury-depleted lineup on the 25th, they had a long road to travel against Holy Trinity. By the fourth quarter, players were entering the game at any position that needed to be filled.
“Even though we lost today, I think this was putting out a good message for Valley football. As much as it might seem we were way out of our league, we still put a fight in and we never gave up. Three years, if we get a team going, we could win! Who knows? It all depends on the drive, and the numbers, really.”
Holy Trinity did not have the season they wanted, but they finished on a high note with a 34-19 win at Valley Heights.
“We lost a lot of our seniors from last year, so… we needed to make big improvements,” said Holy Trinity Grade 12 quarterback Logan Mark, who threw five touchdown passes – a personal best. “Everywhere, basically. We worked for it, and we got it at the end. We got our win at the end of the day and that’s all that matters.”
The Titans had nearly picked up their first win of the season during Week 2 (Sept. 27), losing 20-18 to Brantford’s Pauline Johnson, who finished the season 2-3.
“We lost on the last play of the game, a two-point conversion,” said Mark, recalling the nailbiter and an opportunity to run in a Holy Trinity two-pointer, missing by one foot. “It was terrible, but we got back at it.”
They lost the next game at Simcoe Composite 18-6, but Holy Trinity’s ‘first year as full-time quarterback’ felt that was the week it really started to gel.
“We knew all our starters and we had our team developed, rebuilt, and that was only three weeks ago.”
Playing against Valley Heights, Mark said the gameplan was the same as any other game.
“Just go out there and work hard and have fun. I think we did that today, we really executed and we got the win. We didn’t know what was coming against us most weeks, and we definitely didn’t know this week. They (VHSS) put up a good battle.”
The Titans used everyone in the lineup, he said, and made sure everyone was having fun.
“We were 0-5, so you’ve got to have fun for the last game. A lot of guys are graduating this year as well, so we didn’t want to go out on a bad note.”
Mark said he is looking forward to teaming up next season with Jayden Arthur, who caught his first touchdown pass at VHSS, but will miss his friend Lincoln who will be attending Assumption in Brantford next year.
“He was definitely my best target this year, he didn’t miss a catch. He made sure he was getting the ball and an extra 10.”
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