Spartans win home debut, 36-0

After coming so close the first two times, the B.C. Spartans defence pitched a shutout on Saturday night, winning their home debut 36-0 over the West Sound Saints.

The Spartans, a new semi-professional team which plays in the North American Football League’s first division, improved to 3-0. They sit in first place in the Olympic Division.

They have allowed just 13 points in three games this season, while racking up 111 in the scoring column.

“The first home game, we just wanted to start on a good note,” said Boloy Lokombo, a cornerback.

“We wanted to give the fans a good show.”

A couple of hundred fans were on hand at McLeod Park for the game.

Lokombo had a interception in the first half and also returned a punt deep into Saints territory before fumbling, although it was recovered by a Spartans teammate.

Lokombo had another electrifying return off a partially-blocked West Sound field goal attempt in the third quarter.

He took the ball near the goal line and weaved through traffic all the way down the field for 96 yards, before finally being stopped.

The Spartans punched the ball quickly after that when quarterback Leon Lilley scored on a three-yard bootleg run to put the home team up 23-0. Before the quarter finished, Lilley hit Nathan Beveridge with a touchdown pass to put the Spartans up 30-0.

The game’s final score came in the fourth quarter, and fittingly it was the defence that delivered the blow. Cornerback A.J. Hay returned an interception for the major.

The Spartans overcame a slow start offensively in the first half. The team got their first points when the Saints botched a snap near their goal line, with the ball going out of the back of the end zone for a safety.

The home team also failed to convert on a first-and-goal opportunity and their field goal attempt was no good.

The team’s first score was set up by a 50-yard punt return by Vince Barone, which set up the Spartans on the five-yard line.

The next play, running back Gary Pontes used a great second effort to get over the goal-line for a 9-0 lead.

Pontes had an impressive day rushing the ball, but afterwards, he credited the guys up front for creating huge holes.

“The offensive line stepped up huge today,” he said. “They made it easy.”

The second quarter had just one touchdown, when Lilley hit Harvey Stables for a score. Lilley, who also threw a pick and lost a fumble on a botched snap, has thrown eight TD passes and just two interceptions.

Defensively, Carter Souter forced and recovered a fumble.

The game was not all smooth sailing for the Spartans.

In addition to the two turnovers, the team had a special teams touchdown called back.

The Spartans blocked a punt and Kevin Tomyk recovered the ball and returned it for an apparent score, only to have the Saints retain the ball because of penalty.

The Spartans have a bye this week before they host the 0-2 Valley Mustangs on Saturday, Aug. 2. Game time is 7 p.m.