It was redemption Saturday for the junior bantam Prince George Celts, who rebounded from their first loss in more than a year by shutting down the Vanderhoof Vikings 19-0.
Celts head coach Brett Morrow said his Prince George Minor Football Association team played a solid game at Lakewood Field, a week after a sloppy 26-24 loss to the P.G. Whites.
"The boys were amped up to go," said Morrow. "They just really showed what type of character they have."
A week after the Celts' offence gave up three defensive touchdowns, the Kaiden Witso-led offence hemmed the Vikings inside its own end for most of the game in building a 13-0 advantage at the half.
Tyell Laing put the Celts on the board with a 6-0 lead on Prince George's first possession after the Vikings offence went backwards to start the game. The 13-year-old added a 20-yard major in the third quarter to put the home side up 19-0.
"Tyell is one of the most athletic players in the entire province," said Morrow about the fourth-year receiver, running back and safety. "He's got a lot of heart as well - he doesn't get down on his teammates; he really encourages them."
Evan Bichon powered through the Vikings' defence for the Celts other touchdown - Laing ran for the extra point on the only conversion P.G. made - in the second quarter.
"He is pound-for-pound probably the strongest kid in junior bantam," said Morrow about Bichon. "And, he's got a really good motor; he works harder than anybody else in games and practice."
Bichon also contributed five first-half sacks and several hard tackles in the win.
The Vikings were unable to cross midfield until late in the third quarter when Steven Williams returned a the kickoff after Laing's second score deep inside the Celts' end by evading several tackles.
Vanderhoof also saw quarterback Wyatt Giesbrecht and his replacement both go down with suspected cracked elbows. Williams stepped in at third-string and promptly went down, winded, after a hard tackle caused him to fumble.
Laing gave credit to his teammates in working hard in practice and carrying it over to the game in rebounding from the first loss most of the team suffered in a year.
"I think we really improved in our blocking and our running backs really stepped up today," said Laing.
The win gives the Celts a 2-1 record this season, while it was the Vikings (2-1) first loss. The Celts are off until Sept. 28 when they have a rematch against the P.G. White at Masich Place Stadium.
In other Saturday action, the Prince George Green No. 2 held off their atom Prince George White opponent 27-6, but the other P.G. White squad was shut out 13-0 by the atom Vanderhoof Vikings. In peewee, the P.G. Whites earned a 27-13 victory over the Vikings.
Saturday at Lakewood Field, there are five games, starting with atom P.G. White facing P.G. 2 at 9 a.m., with the other P.G. White team suiting up against Vanderhoof at 10 a.m. The P.G. White peewees take on Vanderhoof at 11 a.m., with the junior bantam game between the P.G. White and Vanderhoof to follow at 1 p.m. A bantam game between P.G. White and Vanderhoof ends the day with a 3 p.m. kickoff.
