The Victoria Renegades overcame a sluggish start  to post a convincing 44-16 win over the West Shore Spartans in junior bantam football action at Bear Mountain Stadium in Langford, Sunday.

"I liked the effort by our kids. It was very warm out there today and we were playing a very good Spartans team, but I thought our guys improved as the game went on," said Renegades head coach Mark Townsend. 

The Renegades led 8-0 in the first quarter when Spartans running back Brian Galbraith-MacTavish broke through the line untouched and scampered 60 yards for a TD to tie the game.

But that was the only major score the Spartans could muster until late in the second half when fullback Sam Varo broke through for another long touchdown run.

Tanner Browne led the way for the Renegades offence, rushing for a pair of touchdowns and tossing another one on a run-option play. Quarterback Ashton MacKinnon threw for two TDs and ran for another, while rookie pivot Joey Clarke chalked up a TD pass to Ryan McNeil.

Isaiah Pfeiffer led the receiving corps with three catches, including a touchdown off Browne’s toss from the backfield and a 35-yarder that set the table for a touchdown strike to receiver Julian Luis.

Townsend said the blocking of offensive lineman James Nicholas and defensive lineman Keith Cathcart was the key to the Renegades ability to take control as the game wore on.

The Renegades defence also benefited from the return of standout linebacker Marcus Davis, who is returning to form after an early-season hamstring strain, Townsend said.

The win moves the two-time defending provincial champion Renegades to 2-0 on the young season, while West Shore drops to 1-1.

The Renegades are at home to the Cowichan Bulldogs Sunday (Bear Mountain Stadium 1 p.m.) while the Spartans head up-Island for a tilt against the junior bantam Lions.