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Steven Commerford
Steven Commerford boots the game-winning penalty goal as Brock won 13-12 over Western at Alumni Field on Saturday, Sept. 25.

Men's Rugby Stephen Leithwood

Commerford triggers theatrical comeback victory for Brock men's rugby

The Homecoming crowd at Alumni Field was treated to quintessential sports theatre on Saturday, Sept. 25.
 
Brock Badgers captain Steven Commerford felt like he scored the game-winning kick to an end a movie.
 
Commerford sealed the comeback victory for the Brock men's rugby team with a penalty goal kick as they defeated the Western Mustangs by a score of 13-12 in the dramatic final minutes of their Ontario University Athletics (OUA) season-opening match.
 
Down two points with less than three minutes remaining, the Badgers trailed all game, but that didn't dampen their spirits.
 
"We haven't played in two years, and for these guys to have the guts and the courage to come back is out of this world," said Commerford, a fourth-year Teacher Education student. "Every athlete wants the game on the line. It's unreal the way it all went down."
 
The Badgers found themselves in the heart of Western's territory despite committing a litany of errors all game long.
 
Commerford, who hit a post and missed two other previous kicks, lined up for what he called 'the most unique moment I've ever experienced.'
 
He looked at the corner to go for a lineout and have his team look for a try to win it.
 
"It was all the pressure. I was in my head just a little bit at that moment because that's a spot where I know we need to win. I'm zero-for-three on kicks I should be making, and we're down two points," he said. "One of my teammates pointed at the goalposts and said go for it. That's all the confidence I needed."
 
The raucous Homecoming crowd fell to dead silence when Commerford wound up to put boot to ball.
 
"The crowd was so energetic and loud today, but all I heard was dead silence when I went to kick," Commerford said. "It was surreal."
 
Shawn Windsor, named head coach during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, won his Brock coaching debut.
 
"It was a gutty win. We kept battling and kept our heads up when we made mistakes. From day one, we've looked for character players," Windsor said. "Everyone believes in each other. We take on that underdog mentality, but we knew we could make it and come back."
 
Senior lock Zach Zorbas punched in Brock's first try before Commerford found the end zone later in the second half.
 
"Steven was outstanding. He was our best player in the park today. He's our captain for a reason, and he did everything right," Windsor said. "He leads by example and has the biggest heart out of anyone out here. So for him to miss all of his kicks and then hit the final one to win, it shows you nothing rattles him."
 
The Badgers (1-0) travel to Guelph to face the Gryphons (1-0) on Saturday, Oct. 2 at 4 p.m.
 
Liam Boeyenga
Third-year wing Liam Boeyenga pass the ball versus Western at Alumni Field on Saturday, Sept. 25.
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