The Dauphin Clippers football team scored a 22-8 win over the Moosomin Generals, Saturday in Dauphin.
The first half was a defensive battle, with neither team able to do much until late.
The Clippers defence came up with a big goalline stand in the first quarter and thought they had done it again with under a minute to go in the second quarter. But the referees ruled the Generals crossed the line to open the scoring with 37 seconds left on the clock.
Dauphin answered right back.
On the first play after the kickoff, Julien Lopez scored a touchdown on a pass-and-run covering 60 yards to tie the game. Lopez then ran the ball in for the two-point convert to put the Clippers up 8-6 at halftime.
Clippers coach Gerald Lopez said scoring right after Moosomin took the lead was a huge momentum shift.
“I think that final score was an uplifting boost to our whole team. Right after that, all the kids were firing on all cylinders,” he said.
The Clippers held Moosomin off the scoresheet on another goalline stand in the second half.
“It was all building up until where our defence was clicking on all cylinders. That huge defensive goalline stand proves where we are at this point,” Lopez said, crediting defensive co-ordinator Robbie Tomkins for his guidance of the team’s defence.
Lopez was impressed with the team’s discipline on both sides of the ball, noting players walked away rather than reacting.
Lopez added high praise for offensive co-ordinator Nathan Thacker’s new offensive scheme, which coach Jason Pike executed brilliantly.
“The ball was spread around really evenly. There was no real big numbers on one person. Everyone as a whole contributed to the win,” he said.
Defensively, Blake Thacker had 13 tackles, while Sly Fedorkiw and Kingston Stirling had nine each. Julien Lopez had seven tackles and one interception. He also had a 101-yard punt return for a touchdown.
Offensively, Cody Zurba was 14 for 20 in passing for 129 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
Owen Gonty had three catches for 29 yards, one touchdown and one two-point convert. Cole O’Connor had three catches for 40 yards.
The win improves Dauphin’s record to 4-2.
The Clippers will end the season at home, Oct. 18, when they host the Swan Valley Stampeders, which will determine the rankings for playoffs.
“Hopefully we can ride this momentum all the way,” Lopez said.
