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Sports

Royal Oak Shrine Football has Hot Start to Season

Knights have won all four games, shutting out opponents in three of them.

It might be too early for some teams to start thinking of post-season play, but at least a possible playoff berth is starting to come into view for Royal Oak Shrine’s football squad.

The Knights improved their record to 4-0 and can clinch a post-season berth by winning any two of their final five games. Most recently, they beat Barrie (Ontario) North Collegiate 42-0 on Saturday at Shrine’s Lou Miramonti Field.

“Playoff-point wise, this was a good win for us,” Shrine Head Coach John Goddard said. “We’ve only given up one touchdown in four games, and our offense is scoring points, so I can’t be too unhappy.”

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In Saturday's game, Colin Kelly scored on three short runs against the Vikings, while Jack Wangler had touchdowns on a 28-yard pass reception and a 68-yard interception return, and Joe Nagle added a 41-yard dash late in the game.

The Knights’ defense limited their visitors from Canada to 63 yards of offense. All four of the Vikings’ first downs came via penalties.

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“I thought offensively and defensively we executed very well, even though I wasn’t happy with our level of intensity,” Goddard said. 

In previous weeks, Shrine defeated Suttons Bay 38-6, Macomb Lutheran North 24-0 and Hamtramck 42-0. The Knights are ranked as high as second in the state in some polls.

Shrine faces its first Catholic League division opponent this Friday, traveling to Riverview Gabriel Richard for a 7 p.m. kickoff.

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