The Orangeville District Secondary School Bears football team are still looking for their first win of the season after taking a 32-0 loss to St. James from Guelph on the field at ODSS on Thursday, October 15.

The squad from St. James scored a couple of early touchdowns that left the Bears struggling to get back into the game.

The game was called before the fourth quarter got started when the referees observed lighting in an approaching storm. It was a good call.

Moments after the teams wrapped it up and severe lighting storm approached with strikes too close to the field to make it safe to continue.

By the time the game was called the Bears were trailing 32-0 and never had the opportunity to erase that zero from the score.

The Bears were having trouble stopping a strong St. James team and the Guelph squad managed to scored three more touchdowns in the second quarter.

Going on the offensive, the Bears had some success including a nice first down pass from quarterback Fisher Brown to receiver Kyle Touhy, but the squad lost the ball on downs.

They recovered again when Bear’s Jack Clubine intercepted a Guelph pass for the turn over.

Brown and Touhy teamed up again with a long pass and 30 yard run from Touhy but the team couldn’t capitalize on their field position and had to give up the ball on downs.

The Bears attempted a field goal in the third quarter in an effort to get on the scoreboard but the attempt was blocked on the rush from the St. James team.

One of the reason St. James seemed to turn out such a strong effort was the fact that they showed up with a full squad of 60 players. ODSS suited up half that num- ber for the game.

“It was a little discouraging,” Said Bears coach Dirk Leers. “We had a lot of inju- ries, but I think we held our own. But it was definitely challenging. I’m proud of the kids. They could have been intimidat- ed and folded right away but up to the half they were holding their own.”

Despite the loss, the Bears team left the field with a good attitude.

“We’ve got to keep grinding and keep coming at it,” Said Bears full back Kyle O’Leary. “We need consistency. We’re going to have fun, hopefully get a couple of wins and do some good things on offence and defence. They have a lot more players, they’re going to be a little fresher, and a little faster off the get-go, but we’ve got to keep going and keep grinding.”

Bears defensive end Justin Patchett shook off the loss.

“They’re (St. James) big guys, and their fast, but I had fun. Now we just have to practice hard.”

With the games sudden end, the Bears were shut-out from a chance to get on the scoreboard before regulation time ran and had to settle for the loss.

The loss leaves the Bears winless this season with one game left on the sched- ule for the regular season.

Centennial Collegiate is currently in first place in the standings – undefeated after four games.

They are followed by Our Lady of Lourdes who have a 3-0 record, and St. James with a 3-1 record for the season.
The Bears will return to their home field on Thursday, October, 22, to host Bishop Macdonnell.

Game time is 3:00 p.m.