Raider captains accepting the A.A.B.H.N. Trophy from Darryl Smart (GEDSB Athletic Consultant).
High school football fans packed the stands as the Delhi Raiders and Simcoe Sabres faced off in a much-anticipated championship rematch on Saturday. The game, held at Simcoe Composite School, kicked off at 1 p.m. under clear skies, but with heavy tension, as fans hoped for a thrilling battle between these fierce rivals.
Delhi entered the game fresh off a decisive win over Mackinnon Park, while Simcoe had edged out the Pauline Johnson Thunderbirds in a nail-biting semifinal. However, any hopes for a close game quickly faded. Delhi’s defence dominated, shutting down Simcoe’s usual sweep and bootleg plays by controlling the edges and forcing the Sabres out of their comfort zone.
The Raiders delivered a full-spectrum win, scoring on offence, defence, and special teams, sealing a powerful 45-0 victory. With team spirit soaring, Delhi’s fans erupted in celebration as the Raiders claimed the championship title in an unforgettable shutout.
Delhi’s head coach, Alex Zurby explained why there was such a different outcome from the Mud Jug game earlier in the season.
Sabre’s head coach Marc Bertrand felt they had missed some opportunities, but feels the team has a bright future.
This football season has been enjoyable to witness and all teams should be acknowledged for their hard work and sportsmanship. For some this was their first experience with football and hopefully it was a good one. For others, this was their final season of football and although some might not get the opportunity to play again, the memories of being in the huddles and cheering from the sidelines will last a lifetime.
Check out photo’s from the game on our Facebook page.
Written by Jeremy Hall