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£ s -Marauders fali to Markham 7 By MURRAY TOWNSEND Special to The Champion If you're an optimisi. the Milton Marauders played a great haîf ot football; if you're a pessimisi they played a terrible baîf. Both are true but they still lost 37-7 to the Markham Raiders, lowering their Northemn Conference record to 0-4, while Markham raised theirs to 4-0. ln the first half, Milton got one first down, complet- ed no passes and were hypnotized by Markham quar- terback, Dean McLaren, who threw for two toucb- downs of close to 50 yards each and ran one in him- self. Markham also scored on a blocked punt and a safety. By the time the smoke cleared, Markham was out front 30-O. The only positives for Milton in the first half were a sack by defensive end Stu Gilbert and a 15-yard scam- per by new running back, Cbad Ford, formerly of the University of Windsor. Apart from that, tbe Markham players were acting like shey were baving a day out at Chuck E. Cheese and couldn't be happier with the gifts they were receivirig. The Marauders made them pay the bill in the second haîf. McLaren either retired or was rested afier the first haîf because he didn't play any more, although the Markham replacement QB could hardly be called a backup, since he played for St. Marys University. It wouldn't bave mattered. Right from tbe second haîf kickof the Marauders meant business. Somehow, during tbe break, they had become a different team. On Narkham's first possession they forced a fumble in the backfield which was recovered by Clint Stanfield. Then Milton started to move the baIl on offense for tbe first time in the game. Ryan McGilI, replacing Gary Baetsen at quarterback, kept the bal and rusbed for nine yards, then Ford busted one for 12. McGilI completed the first two passes of tbe game, short gains for Robert Wilson and Damien Hannaford, and eamned a couple first downs before being stopped fmally on fourth down. A good punt by Mike O'Brien was retumned the length ofthte field, but fortunaîely tor Milton i was called back on an illegal block, and the Milton delense dug in. David Joseph made a nice tackle, ihen Michael Ward, and Marco Pereira made one of several on the day. Pinning the Raiders deep in their own zone led lii Milton's second touchdown of the season. A third down pass went right into the arms of Matt MacPhail, who had nothîng but daylight between him and the end zone. "They kept doîng the same play (iver and over again," explained MacPhail, one of three brothers, Adam and Jay, playing on the same team for the first trne. 1I knew that pass was coming. The coaches told me what to do." On Markham's next possession the Marauders were aIl over them like coydogs in a feeding frenzy. Dave Wheelihan made a good tackle, Ward another one. Gilbert broke into the backfield and brought down a runner, and Alistair Bailey and Mark Dow made great stops. Even though the Marauders forced a fourth down. Markhamn, with nothing to lose, gambled and won, throwing a touchdown pass. On their next possession. Milton was moving again. earning four first downs. You couldo't tell which team was undefeated or which ieam was winless. The sec- ond haîf final score was 7-7. So. what happened at haîf ime? Quite a bit of yelling from coaches, for one thing, which led to some soul searching. Gilbert, who played for Burlîngton last season is tired of losing. "Last year, we went O-8; you get that sick feeling. We're starting to bond. We're improving every day." Head coach, Alan Colîver said: "We just started to play the way we should. "We won't go 0-9, that's for sure." "Me Marauders will play Sunday at Bisbop Redmng against the Belleville Panthers, a team that may pro- vide themn witb that firat win. If they play as tbey did in the second half against Markhamn, the Panthers are in for a surprise. Game trne is 2 p.rn. The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, June 25, 2002 -21 ln the know sports fans get their news in The Champion r"'lp' T iPqrthv a-ndFrirPV