By John DeCoste
The Horton and Central Kings football seasons both came to an end recently, with the Griffins losing the Tier 1 semifinal 67-0 to top-ranked C.P. Allen, while the Gators dropped a 31-14 decision to CEC in the Tier 3 semifinal.
“It is what it is,” Horton head coach Alec Hyndman said. “We probably weren’t going to beat them, but we shouldn’t have lost by that much…we’re young, and that’s what happens.”
The future should be bright for the Griffins, who played the Nov. 8 game with “10, Grade 10 starters and 10, Grade 11 starters,” and will lose just two starters – Jake Melanson and Cam Davidson – to graduation.
Those two will be hard to replace, Hyndman added, especially Melanson, who “played two positions” – defensive end and quarterback – for Horton this season and was named Scotia Division Player of the Year.
“The two players really represent three positions,” he said, adding that Melanson “was a dominant lineman” and “a more than adequate quarterback.”
As for Davidson, he was outstanding running the ball, catching the ball and particularly returning kicks. He did not, however, play a regular role on defence, and for that reason, Hyndman said, “Jake is our MVP.”
CK coach happy with season
Despite the less than stellar finish, Hyndman was “very happy with our season. To make Tier 1 with a group of mostly Grade 10s and 11s is pretty special.”
Central Kings, meanwhile, was eliminated from further competition with a 30-14 loss to CEC Nov. 10 in Truro.
The Gators had a 14-0 lead, said head coach Larry Priestnall, “but we made a few mistakes and fell apart a bit.” He was pleased “the kids hung in there and didn’t quit,” even down 16 with time running down.
Overall, CK finished the regular season with a 4-4 record.
“All in all, that’s an OK season. We beat some of the weaker teams handily, and lost to the better teams.”
The Gators finished the year with 31 players, 23 of whom are scheduled to return next season.
“That’s a good nucleus if all those kids come back,” Priestnall said.
“It’s a success to finish 4-4, right in the mix. My biggest disappointment was losing to Dartmouth. Beat them and we’re 5-3, and everything is different.”
Read about West Kings' inaugural season here.
All-stars announced
The NSSAFFL all-stars and major award winners were announced Nov. 15, with the Valley schools well represented. Read more here.
