Lengthy school lockdown delays Maple Ridge's season-opening win at Barrie North

Maple Ridge's (1-0) senior football team escaped Barrie North (0-1) with a 13-3 win to open its season, but it took much longer than anticipated.

With 1:56 left in the first quarter, the game was halted after students began to file to the football field located at the rear of Barrie North Collegiate Institute. However, the game had been started and played through to that point even while the lockdown alarms were sounding and had been since at least 15 minutes before the scheduled noon kickoff.

It was over an hour before the game resumed as police entered the school to investigate. Officers responded at 11:46 a.m., and as many as seven cruisers were seen on-site.

Preliminary reports indicated that there was an individual barricaded inside a classroom with a weapon. Barrie Police confirmed the lockdown was regarding an 'active situation,' but have not confirmed details about its nature or if a weapon was present. However, Barrie Police did say a male was apprehended and brought to their headquarters.

Students outside the school saw an individual running in the hallways upstairs from the street, adding that it looked like police were rushing to contain the individual and staff were heading to man potential exits.

Eventually a Barrie Police crisis worker arrived on-scene at 12:58 p.m., and four minutes later, vice principal Jim Wardle announced the lockdown had ended. Less than five minutes later, the Ravens and Vikings restarted play.

SUMMARY

First Quarter
MPSS — TD Moncada 74 kickoff return (Tayler convert) 14:45
Second Quarter
No scoring.
Third Quarter
BNCI — FG Murphy 22 2:41
Fourth Quarter
MPSS — TD Schmidt 9 pass from Kenney (Tayler convert blocked) 0:57

As for the game, the first score of the game eventually decided the contest. Caiden Moncada took the season-opening kickoff to the house to give Maple Ridge a lead it wouldn't relinquish.

Ravens kicker Lachlan Tayler amde the ensuing PAT, but missed a 26-yard field goal after play resumed from the lockdown. Then, the Vikings' ensuing drive drive ended with Milo Murphy having a field goal attempt blocked from nearly the same spot minutes into the second quarter. However, he made his only other attempt from 22 yards out in the third.

Barrie North punted again later in the quarter after recovering a fumbled snap by Ravens quarterback Isaac Kenney. But, its best opportunity to take a lead was its second drive of the fourth.

After having converted its only attempt on third down earlier in the half, the Vikings tried to extend this drive with a four-yard gain. However, the Vikings' offensive line collapsed, allowing Ravens defenders Luke Long and Tristan Hyder to combine for a turnover-forcing sack that downed quarterback Nash Hodgins 16 yards behind the line of scrimmage.

Another brutal mistake for Barrie North happened halfway through the fourth when Tayler bobbled the snap before a punt and was subsequently tackled. However, the Vikings were called for having 13 players on the field, giving the Ravens a first down.

The next drive ended with a punt by Murphy yielding -1 yards, and leading to a 19-yard touchdown pass by Luca Barbato to Tristan Schmidt.

Maple Ridge sealed the victory with an interception by Jackson Van Dyke. Hodgins threw two picks, the other caught by Emerson Schwartz.

This is Barrie North's first regular loss since 2023 against Bear Creek (nine games), and Maple Ridge's first-ever win against the Vikings.

UP NEXT

The Vikings are at Innisdale (1-0) Wednesday, then Maple Ridge hosts Collingwood (0-1) Thursday.

ADD. SCAA

Nantyr Shores 35 Collingwood 26