Staff Report
BRANT NEWS

The Brantford Bisons dropped to 1-6 in the Ontario Varsity Football League following a 65-6 loss to the Essex Ravens on Saturday at the Gretzky centre field.

The Ravens, who move to 5-2 and sit in third place in the Adam Conference, built a 44-0 lead by halftime that included an 80-yard punt return as time expired.

The Bisons are in a rebuilding year though, and coach Dan Padmore was happy with the effort on both sides of the ball.

“We are trying to get these guys to learn the game of football,” he said. “It’s got nothing to do with all these points that are on the board. Right now it’s about how we got those points and what did we do to allow those points.

“Once they’ve learned it, then it becomes about the points.”

Ben Hall played his first game at quarterback after starter Victor Twynstra suffered a concussion last week.

Padmore said Hall showed some nervousness early, but settled in and made some nice passes.

The Bisons had just one sack in six games this season entering play on Saturday, but linebacker Zachary Box had two sacks during the game that resulted in two fumble recoveries by the Bisons’ defence.

The lone Bisons touchdown came 5:45 seconds into the third quarter when a failed onside kick attempt by the Ravens gave the Bisons the ball on the 55-yard line.

Running back Ben Crocock found a hole and ran it all the way to pay dirt. The Ravens blocked Hall’s extra point.

Padmore said he hopes to see some more improvement in the fundamentals of the game as the Bisons play their final game of the season next weekend on the road against the Guelph Bears.