Long breakouts and giveaways are never a good recipe – unless you are on the receiving end.
The St. Thomas More Knights fell victim to a few turnovers and some long plays in Friday’s 33-7 loss to No. 2-ranked Terry Fox Ravens in AAA senior football action.
Keeping Fox’s star running back Jeremie Kankolongo off the scoresheet was certainly one pre-game target – unfortunately the limber-legged rusher was able to scoot for 138 yards while a couple of other Ravens stepped up with major contributions.
“I think we were so focused on stopping Kankolongo that we didn’t remember they had another guy who could run the ball,” said STM head coach Bernie Kully. “We changed things up towards the end but it was too little too late.”
Scoreless after 12 minutes, Fox got inside the 15-yard line on their first drive but the Knights held the undefeated Ravens back.
The game’s first score came early in the second quarter after Kimani Dorsey picked off STM quarterback Liam Feenan’s pass at midfield. Dorsey returned the pick to the Knights’ 20-yard line and a few minutes later the Ravens put six on the board on a 15-yard passing play.
The Port Coquitlam crew would add to their lead when QB Jake Laberge hit Jaden Shanley on a fourth-and-23 play with 1:27 remaining in the half.
STM got on the board six minutes into the third quarter when running back Luca Bellini drove five yards through the middle for six points. It capped a tremendous series by the Grade 12 senior, as he batted down a Fox pass and on the next play recovered a fumble on the Ravens’ 20-yard line.
But that was all the offence the Knights could manage.
Bellini would end with 137 yards on 17 carries and six tackles at linebacker – earning him the Player of the Game honours as chosen by the Fox announcer.
“I was telling Luca that this was one of the best games that I’ve seen from an STM guy in a while and we’ve had some pretty good players,” remarked Kully. “His effort was awesome. He’s very humble and he does exactly what you ask him to do. It’s awesome to have a guy like Luca in terms of his attitude and effort.”
Tyler Eckert and Ben Steele counted nine tackles each, while Demarius Henderson collected eight on the day.
Terry Fox improved to 4-0 in Conference play, while STM sits second at 3-1-1. The Knights have a bye week to prepare for their final home game, Nov. 6 against Kelowna.
