The Central Technical Blues ran all over the East York Goliaths 34-0 in high school football on Tuesday.
Running back Jamal Boreland had a huge game, scoring three touchdowns while putting together several long runs.
Quarterback Abe Shah was impressive throughout the contest, controlling the play and throwing for two touchdown strikes.
East York was unable to generate any semblance of an attack on the ground or in the air, but head coach Glenn Edwards wasn’t making any excuses for his team’s play.
“It’s the worst game I’ve coached in seven years, the execution was not there,” he said. “Whatever team was on the field it wasn’t East York tradition.”
The big story wasn’t the one-sidedness of the game, but rather a concerning injury to Goliath linebacker Nick Collett.
After a Shah fumble, Collett pounced on the loose ball and was hit hard in the back while lying on the ground.
He stayed on his back for 45 minutes until paramedics arrived and carted him off on a stretcher before taking him to the hospital.
Fortunately the medical attention was precautionary and Edwards said Collett felt numbness in his back but could be ready for Friday’s match against the Leaside Lancers.
The Goliaths looked overwhelmed from the opening kickoff and were unable to penetrate the Blues’ stifling defence.
“We really do our best to play lunch box defence here, we just like to come to work and do our job,” said Blues’ defensive coach Jeff Hunter. “We had 12 guys working as one … we had really good execution.”
Despite looking dominant throughout the game, the Blues also caught a few breaks along the way, including a called back run on Jonathan Abbiew, who darted 50 yards for a touchdown.
The score would have brought East York within seven points, but a Goliath receiver was called for holding.
On the ensuing play, quarterback Kyle Emerson was picked off by Blues’ defensive back Jordan Ribiero.
Following the pick, Shah orchestrated a perfect drive and finished it off with a five-yard toss into the end zone.
Coach Edwards felt the holding call and the Blues’ touchdown drive completely changed the momentum of the game.
“From there on in mental mistakes happened time and time after,” he said. “Too few guys on the field, too many guys on the field, guys not knowing what the play was. Today was one of those cases where it was just an overall team letdown.”
Despite the multitude of mental gaffes, Edwards was quick to give credit to the Blues.
“Central Tech is a good team,” he said. “As much as we made mental mistakes, they took advantage of them. So they earned the win and they deserved the win.”
East York will need to turn the tide quickly as it is set to take on Leaside in three days for the annual Friday Night Lights showdown.
Central Tech, on the other hand, has 10 days off to prepare for a highly anticipated match against the powerful Northern Red Knights.
“We haven’t beaten them in four years,” Hunter said. “We’ve been close and in the game, but penalties and those type of errors have been the difference. I don’t think their athletes are any better than ours, it’s just a matter of execution and game plan.”
Someone really needs to bring some attention to the obvious fact that refs favor Northern over Tech. There has always been very bad wrong calls at all the games between these two teams and as a parent Ifind it very sad that this is happening in this day and age. Tech is a strong and very well run team and should win the games against Northern but unfortunately due to bad calls by the refs cause great arguments and frustration from Tech players as well as thier coaches. This really has to be put to rest, it hasbeen happening for way too many years.
Jamal Boreland did not score 3 touchdowns he got only 2 i was the other person who scored the third one not Jamal he came out in the second half and i was in for the rest of the game scoring that long touchdown run Nikal Jackson.