The second game at TD Place in Ottawa came down to a a nail biting finish as the game was still in doubt with under a minute remaining. Following a blowout win, it was just what the day needed to keep the atmosphere alive for fans inside TD Place.
The game would start out much the same as all the others, as a defensive affair. However, later in the quarter, Team Central would begin to move the ball and even get inside the Team East 10 yard line. Fortunately for Team East, their defence was up to the task and turned away Team Central ‘s advance.
Team East took the momentum gained from that right to the house. A few short moments after forcing a stop, Team East’s Josh Ruby galloped down the field and into the end zone for a touchdown score to put Team East up 7-0.
The second quarter would begin with both teams trading fumbles, and neither team really being able to cash in on their counterparts’ misfortune. Turnovers were high in this quarter along with the fumbles Team East got. Ā Defensive back Justice Koradi also picked up an interception, in what was really the only big play of the second quarter.
The defenses, though dominant were not so entertaining as much as they were fundamentally sound, which made for a lot of changes in possession but not a whole lot of highlights. At halftime, the score was 7-0 for Team East.
The third quarter would open with more offence in the first few plays than the second quarter could offer in it’s entirety. Team East would find pay dirt, this time in the form of Jacob Asselin’s touchdown to increase Team East’s lead 14-0.
It was at this point the Eastern offence began to click and future MVP Kevin Thomas Victome began to make a case for himself. However, despite more big plays, neither offense would find the end zone for the rest of the quarter.
In the fourth, Central would find itself and begin moving down field. Finally, on a goal to go situation after converting a fourth down, Central would hit pay dirt with a beautiful catch in the end zone. The score became a much closer 14-6 game.
Unfortunately for Team Central, the fourth quarter would be where Victome would make his strongest argument for MVP. He carried his team down the field eating up valuable clock time, keeping the ball away from Team Central’s suddenly potent offence.
Victome would carry Team East all the way down the one yard line, where he’d finish the job himself, putting Team East up 20-6. However, Team Central had no plans of throwing in the towel and marched all the way down to Team East’s 10 yard line, converting a pivotal fourth down in the process.
Team Central would again make the right plays at the right time and score to make it 20-13 with under a minute left. Unfortunately the clock was at such a point where Team East could just kneel it out, ending the game with a 20-13 victory.
“They came together,” said Team East Head Coach Warren Steeves. Ā “It wasn’t us as a coaching staff as much as it was the kids coming together.”
“To come in and play in TD Place, get a win over a very good Toronto team. Ā Couldn’t be happier!”
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