Nanaimo Redmen players got in a lot of game action in four quarters of football. The city's Vancouver Mainland Football League team defeated the Victoria Spartans 22-10 on Sunday at Pioneer Park despite playing with a bit of an under-manned lineup. A lot of guys rarely came off the field.
"It pushes you harder," said Steve Bowen, who had two fumble recoveries. "Even if you get a bump or a scrape you know you have to keep playing to win."
Nanaimo got two rushing touchdowns from Jake Borserio and one from Riley Savard.
"We ran the ball really well," said Sean Roden, the team's coach. "When you're able to grind the ball out against a team that doesn't have a high-powered offence, [you can] run the clock down and we were able to do that."
On the other side of the ball, Nanaimo's defence was typically stingy.
"We really don't like getting scored on, so it's a big push to not let anybody get past," Bowen said.
Special teams also contributed, as Austin Lyle blocked a punt.
The Redmen reach midseason with a 4-1 record and Roden said the team will be in good shape so long as it stays healthy and well-conditioned.
"I've been here before and we know that we need to have these guys in shape and healthy at the end of the season," the coach said.
GAME ON … Nanaimo hosts the last-placed Coquitlam Falcons (0-5) this Sunday (Oct. 13) at 2 p.m. at May Richards Bennett Pioneer Park. Admission is free.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com