The Earl Marriott Mariners were set to battle South Delta Friday in the second senior football game held on their newly renovated field, but when referees did not show up, the exhibition tilt turned into a scrimmage instead.
“There was a lack of communication somewhere,” said EMS coach Michael Mackay-Dunn of the mixup, which resulted in coaches and volunteer parents officiating the contest.
“It wasn’t the best situation, but it wasn’t all bad – we still got some reps in, and we were able to get some guys on the field who haven’t played a lot.”
South Delta edged Marriott 22-15, but had to leave before the fourth quarter was up, with the Mariners in the red zone and threatening to score.
“It was certainly a strange afternoon,” Mackay-Dunn said.
Bobby Devaney led EMS with two touchdown catches, both of which came from quarterback Cole Meyer.
Mackay-Dunn said that acting as a referee rather than a coach gave him a different perspective on his team.
“I didn’t have anything to do with the coaching at all, which was good for our assistant coaches, I think,” he said.
“And it was interesting for me to see things from that point of view.”
This Friday, Earl Marriott’s senior and junior squads will travel north to Kelowna, where they’ll each play Rutland Secondary.
Rutland’s senior squad is coming off a big victory over Richmond’s Hugh Boyd Trojans.
“They have a good running back... it should be a good game,” Mackay-Dunn said.