The Ballenas Whalers senior varsity football team can put a lot of points on the scoreboard.
They proved that Friday, with a 34-20 win over the Handsworth Royals from North Vancouver.
Their defense, however, needs a little work.
Ballenas opened the scoring in the first quarter and followed that touchdown with another in the second quarter. The Royals would get one back late in the half, but miss the convert. Ballenas would add another score before halftime.
“Our goals were excellence and composure,” said coach Jeremy Conn. “One was dead on, the other ... not so much.”
The Whalers took more penalties than the visitors — which would catch up to them in the second half.
Handsworth came out strong after the break and scored two touchdowns in a row, prompting the whalers to make adjustments.
“We had some out of position players and their offense took advantage,” said slotback Matt Vandervelde.
He was called on by co-coach Sean Hines to get to the bottom of the defensive breakdown.
“I had to talk to the defence and we all had to step up,” said Vandervelde. “And we responded to that.”
The Whalers picked off a few of the Royals’ passes and stopped a couple of, downfield to hold Handsworth to 20 points.
It was up to the Whalers’ offense to do the rest. They scored two more touchdowns (with one missed convert) to rack up 34 points. Apart from all of the penalties, Conn said he was pleased with the game.
“There were a lot (of penalties,” he said, adding the team has a bye week in which to work on those issues.
“We have some key defenders out (injuries) and it showed. We were surprised when the Royals came back so strong in the second half, and we have to be ready.”
The Whalers play the Windsor Dukes from North Vancouver on Fri., Nov. 4 in North Van.
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