The Ladysmith Steelers opened the season on a winning note in peewee division football.
The Steelers blanked the visiting Harewood Bulldogs 25-0 in Mid-Island Co-op League action.
Ryker Pearson threw for two touchdowns and rushed for another for the Steelers. Darren Seymour and Marcus Copp hauled down the touchdown grabs.
“Most teams at this age group it’s run to the left, run to the right. We’re 70 per cent pass,” said Steelers coach Jeff Pinckney. “There’s a lot of talented athletes among these kids who will go on to high school in Ladysmith.”
The stifling Steelers defense shut down the Bulldog offence and forced a number of turnovers. Luke Kedves started things off for the defence with a solo tackle and strip for a fumble.
“We held them in check for most of the game,” said Pinckney, adding a core group of the Steelers team has played together for several years.
The Steelers followed that up with a 21-0 win over the Campbell River Eagles on Saturday.
The Steelers Jr. bantam squad couldn’t get on track in a 25-0 loss to Harewood.
“It was the majority of the team’s first game so I think it was a case of first-game jitters. I’m sure there’s better things to come,” said Pinckney.
The Steelers will be back in action this Saturday at Forrest Field with the peewees taking the field at 10:30 a.m. and the kick off for the Jr. bantams going at noon.
Both teams are still accepting registrations from new players. The Ladysmith Minor Football Association is open to both boys and girls aged 7-12. Interested players can contact Pinckney through the Facebook page Ladysmith Minor Football or at 250-758-9193. The teams practise Tuesday and Thursday nights, with games on Saturday.
“One of the things that people are shocked by is that we provide all the equipment: the helmet, the shoulder pads, the pants and the padding, the jerseys and even the game socks. And it’s only $100 to play for the 10-week season,” said Pinckney.