By Joel van der Veen

HANLEY — A 72-21 win in their home opener gave the Hanley Sabers a solid start to their new season.

Hanley hosted the Viscount Vikings on Thursday in 1A six-man senior football action.

Though the visiting team remained competitive through the first half, the Sabers led throughout and ran away with the game in the fourth quarter, in which they added 30 points to their score.

While he was pleased with the outcome, Sabers coach Mark Anderson also said there was lots of work ahead for the team.

In particular, he said there was room for improvement with the team’s offensive line, saying they displayed skill but needed to work on their timing.

“On offence we have so many new starters,” said Anderson. “They’re just not clicking yet.”

The coach said he was feeling positive, given the team Hanley has this year and the high level of commitment they are showing.

“They’re into it fully,” he said, adding, “We’ve got to play faster and we’ve got to play tougher.”

Anderson also noted that Viscount has an athletic team, despite its smaller numbers, and predicted a tougher fight with them next time.

Viscount’s Logan Gusikoski had the opening kick in Thursday’s game.

A pass from quarterback Conor Prosofsky, standing near the 30-yard line, to Rylen Bellina gave Hanley its first TD about two minutes in.

Prosofsky made a successful pass to Samuel Gogol later in the first quarter for a second TD.

Just before the quarter’s end, Ian Koob slipped through to the end zone to earn Viscount its first TD. Coupled with a field goal, this took the score to 14-7.

Hanley surged ahead in the second quarter with three consecutive touchdowns.

Samuel Gogol scored the first on a pass from Prosofsky, while the quarterback ran the second one in himself.

Then, with five-and-a-half minutes left in the half, Samuel Gogol scored another TD on a pass from Prosofsky, taking the score to 34-7.

With a minute remaining, Viscount’s Bryce Welter broke away to score a late TD, narrowing the gap to 34-15.

Hanley’s defence stumbled briefly in the third quarter, allowing Viscount to gain significant ground.

This paved the way for the Vikings’ third TD, also scored by Welter, taking the score to 34-21. (Tyler Halabi blocked the convert attempt.)

The Sabers steadily recovered, holding Viscount scoreless for the rest of the game.

Prosofsky scored Hanley’s only TD in the third quarter with 3:35 remaining.

The final quarter began with Hanley well-positioned to score, after Wyatt Olyniuk had successfully run the ball from midfield to the 10-yard line. Samuel Gogol made the TD, his fourth of the game.

Minutes later, Vaughn Pitzel blocked an attempted pass by Viscount. The resulting interception gave Hanley another opportunity, with Prosofsky passing to Bellina for another TD.

Prosofsky scored again with six minutes remaining, running the ball in from midfield.

The final TD came with 83 seconds left in the game, with Will Gogol running the ball in on a pass from Prosofsky, reaching the final score of 72-21.

Kicker Tyler Halabi made six successful conversions during the game, adding a total of 12 points to the Sabers’ score.

Hanley’s season continues with three consecutive road games: Hague on Sept. 14, Porcupine Plain on Sept. 22 and Viscount on Sept. 28.

The Sabers host their next home game on Thursday, Oct. 5 at 4 p.m., when they welcome the Hudson Bay Riders.

2A football

The Davidson Raiders were scheduled to host Lanigan in senior football action on Friday, Sept. 8. Results will follow in next week’s Leader.

The team heads to Preeceville on Sept. 15. Their next home game is on Friday, Sept. 22 at 4 p.m., when they host Watrous.