There were plenty of positives mixed in with a couple of negatives in the Mount Douglas Rams鈥� season-opening 41-7 win over the visiting Notre Dame Jugglers on Friday afternoon.
The senior triple-A Rams started quickly in building up a 35-7 lead at the half with Grade 9 quarterback Gideone Kremler connecting on touchdown passes to Griffin Posynick (41 yards) and Gavin Cobb (21 yards) on the first two series.
Adam Turrin struck back on a short TD plunge for the Jugglers before Manny Lopez (10-yard run), Cobb (19-yard reverse play and two-point conversion), another Kremler to Cobb 11-yard TD strike and a Kremler 12-yard run to end the scoring.
The negatives were a pair of sloppy turnovers in the second half that need to be corrected as the Rams face a much tougher test next week against South Delta.
鈥淚鈥檓 very happy with our start,鈥� said Rams head coach Mark Townsend. 鈥淲e wanted to establish our physicality early in the game. We wanted to get off to a good start, so I think it was mission accomplished in the first half. It was excellent play on both sides of the ball.
鈥淥bviously, there were turnover issues we want to clean up, but overall it鈥檚 a conference win and now we turn our attention to a real tough South Delta team.鈥�
Cobb and Co. say they look forward to a Western Conference clash and repeat of last year鈥檚 Subway Bowl final in which the Rams had their three-year provincial run snapped.
鈥淭hat was a great way to start our season,鈥� said Cobb. 鈥淲e had a good exhibition season and to come out here and play like we did today was an excellent way to start the regular season.
鈥淲e had that good start and that鈥檚 our key 鈥� start fast and finish fast and we鈥檒l have good results,鈥� he added. 鈥淲e had a few bad snaps, but we鈥檒l work on that in practice and fix everything for next week. That鈥檚 a big game. Ball security for us is No. 1.鈥�
Declann Michielin had 11 carries for 134 yards with Lopez gaining 68 yards on eight carries. Kremler completed 9-of-14 passes for 179 yards, three TDs and one interception. Cobb had six catches for 106 yards.
The two teams took turns turning the ball over, including big Notre Dame defensive lineman Luca Rizzo collecting a Rams鈥� fumble and rumbling nearly 60 yards before Cobb chased him down to punch the ball back out with Mount Doug securing it.
The Rams did lose Lopez and lineman Daniel Umali to injury late in the game, but neither is considered to be serious.
Meanwhile, Belmont lost a decisive 42-7 result to New Westminster on the Mainland.
Spectrum defeated Timberline 38-8 in their season home-opener in Tier 2 varsity double-A play as Oliver Adam recorded five touchdowns.
