The weather didn’t want to cooperate, but that didn’t dampen the spirits at the second ever CFC Prospect Game on TSN.
Special Head Coach Davis Sanchez led his squad to a 49-24 victory over his CFL on TSN colleague Matt Dunigan at TD Place Stadium in Ottawa, but the scoreboard doesn’t represent the skill displayed on both sides of the field.
It looked like smooth sailing on the first drive for Team Dunigan as CFC100 RB Ashton Watson capped off a long drive with a 25 yard touchdown run to open the scoring festivities. It didn’t take long for Team Sanchez to reply with QB Anthony Lio leading the troops down the field with precision passing, and then decided to use his legs to scamper into the end zone from 10 yards out to put his squad ahead 7-6.
#CFCProspectGame on @TSN_Sports Highlight π₯ #TeamSanchez extend their lead as QB @Anthonylio7 connects with WR @NikShewchuk for a highlight reel grab! Tune into TSN 5 now to watch the entire broadcast ππ pic.twitter.com/HAdlhBnTPW
— CanadaFootballChat (@chatfootball) May 31, 2022
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From there the floodgates were open for Team Sanchez with CFC100 WR Nik Shewchuk putting together an MVP performance for the ages. Shewchuk would end the day with ten catches, three touchdown and 135 yards receiving, with two coming from Lio and the other off the arm of last second replacement QB Mathieu Thiel, who proved he belonged with the best around despite flying into Ottawa on a moments notice when QB Thomas Leroux pulled out due to injury.
The Team Sanchez defence played outstanding all day led by MVP LB Antoine Deslauriers, who made tackles all over the field plus an interception with a dislocated thumb, and DB Tazmin Smith-Windsor, who snagged a pair of INTs including one he took all the way back to the house to extend their lead to 30-6 heading into halftime.
The defence added another major to the scoreboard in the third quarter after an errant snap flew into the end zone and was recovered by DT Hayden Russell, who jumped on the ball for a classic big man touchdown to put Team Sanchez ahead 43-12 early in the fourth quarter. Dual action RB/DB Jeremiah Washington capped off an outstanding defensive performance snagging Team Sanchez’s fourth interception of the game late in the final frame, and also helped carry the rock on offence in between defensive snaps.
Not to be outdone, Team Dunigan DB Raphael Dunn finished the game with a pair of interceptions as well, which was an impressive showing considering he had zero practice time throughout the week due to academic obligations back home in Quebec. Team Dunigan CFC100 LB Nevan Brown also put together a fantastic MVP performance with some explosive plays in the backfield, and showed no quit despite the scoreboard not going their way. The final standout performer on the Team Dunigan defence was DL Vincent Branauer, who dominated the trenches all afternoon.
The Team Dunigan offence showed no quit either in the dying moments with QB Nicholas Penuvchev connecting with CFC100 WR Matthew Jonah on a beautiful 40 yard touchdown pass, and then RB Paul Condon capped off the scoring in Ottawa with a two yard plunge into the end zone after another big play by Jonah to set them up at the goal line.
Not to be forgotten are the lineman MVPs with OL Logan Thiessen taking home the honours for Team Dunigan, and OL Nathan Pahanich earning the nod for Team Sanchez.
TEAM MVPS
Top Row: LB Nevan Brown, DL Vincent Branauer, OL Logan Thiessen
Bottom Row: WR Nik Shewchuk, LB Antoine Deslauriers, OL Nathan Pahanich
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RANKINGS: CFC100 Class 2024 High School Prospect Rankings Final Edition (March Update)
