Golden Eagles go one and one at the 2014 Bubba Bowl

Oct 15, 2014

A picturesque setting sun followed by a bright moon made this year’s Bubba Bowl on October 9 one to remember.. The main event was a double header where the Sydenham Golden Eagles took on the LaSalle Knights in two very exciting and close games, one going to Sydenham and the other to Lasalle.

The Bubba Bowl, now in its ninth year, is named for Alex “Bubba” Turcotte, who played for three years as a member of Sydenham’s junior football team and sadly died of heart failure in May of 2001. The event continues to draw thousands of football fans from the local community and is popular both with former students at the school, some of whom played ball there, and others who just happen to be big fans of the Sydenham Golden Eagles and the game.

Th Junior Golden Eagles and Kinghts taking to the field first. Though I was not able to stay for the games, coaches Mike Love and Jeff Ryan got me up to speed on how they unfolded.

In the junior contest, Sydenham scored early in the first quarter in their opening drive, with Merrick Wilcock getting the touchdown. After missing a 2 point conversion, and with the score at 6-0 for Sydenham, LaSalle tied it up and their single point conversion brought them into the lead 7-6. In the second quarter both teams demonstrated strong defense, each making it difficult for the other team to score and the half the score was unchanged at 7-6 for LaSalle.

Early in the third LaSalle put together a great drive and scored a touchdown and with a successful conversion spread their lead to 14-6. In the fourth Sydenham came back strong and in a long drive Shane Herron scored a touchdown, narrowing the score to 14-12 for LaSalle.

The tensest part of the game happened next, when Sydenham's Colin Bowman went for a two point conversion that ended at the goal line, leading to a lengthy conference among the referees. In the end they decided that Bowman had not crossed the line, leaving the score at 14-12 for LaSalle.

Sydenham then executed an onside kick recovering the ball on the Knights 40 yard line. The Golden Eagles then made a final attempt but their stalled after a failed fourth down attempt.

LaSalle won the game with a final score of 14-12.

Mike Love, Sydenham coach for the Senior Golden Eagles, provided a description of the game against the LaSalle seniors. He said it was “a very close and exciting contest”.

Picking it up at the half time mark, the Golden Eagles were leading 7-6. Early in the third quarter Tom Withey of Sydenham intercepted a LaSalle pass and returned it for a toucdown. LaSalle responded quickly, scoring a touchdown and adding a two point conversion to tie the game 14-14.

Late in the third Sydenham jumoed back into the lead when Sam Moyse scored on a long pass from Dylan Fisher, putting Sydenham into the lead 21-14 at the end of the third.

Early in the last quarter Sydenham recovered a fumble and following a short drive to the line, Brodie Latimer scored a rushing touchdown from a yard out, bringing the score to 28-14.

LaSalle fought back, though, recovering a fumble to score a touchdown with just one minute 30 seconds left in the fourth, closing Sydenham’s lead to 28-21. The Knights then attempted a short kick to get back possession but the Golden Eagles were quick to recover the ball. The Knights had a final chance with just 20 seconds left in the game but failed to get far enough to score.

The senior Eagles have now won three in a row. The Junior Eagles are still trying for their first win of the season and are down three games.

Congratulations to Dave Compton, who won the 50-50 draw, which he generously donated to SHS Athletics.