CJFL: Braves undefeated after two

It’s a sign when the first scores in a game are safeties. The Predators conceded two safeties in the first quarter. It was mostly a three and out game in the first, until Nelson High School grad, quarterback Mack Blewett hit a wide-open Chris Fothergill from the three-yard line for a touchdown with two minutes left. After the kick off, the Predators made it to Braves territory for the first time with 35 seconds remaining to the quarter.

The Predators continued their momentum and Mark Harris sacked Blewett twice in a row as the second started off.  Jason Diston continued his work on special teams, recovering a fumbled punt. This set off a scramble as the Predators intercepted a td pass on the one-yard line and then Shane Smiley intercepted a Predator pass. The pick must have inspired Smiley who proposed to his girlfriend at half-time. The interception set up Dustin DeGeorgis’ field-goal attempt which was not on the mark but did add another point for the rouge and the half ended 11-3.

Good coaching at the half from the Mike Samples coaching squad made the difference. The Braves came out blazing after the break. Blewett and Fothergill connected again from the ten-yard line for another td, and the DeGeorgis convert was good. Blewett ran in another TD after the Preds went three and out on their next possession. Up 25-3 in the fourth, the Braves did not let up, although the Spencer Henderson brought the Preds within two scores when he returned an interception for the Kitchener-Waterloo team’s first major of the game. The Braves responded with a 77-yard bomb from Blewett to Diston on the next play after the convert. The Braves last score was a DeGeorgis field goal after an interception. One last pick with 17 seconds left on the clock ensured the game ended with a final score 35-12.

Smiley logged two interceptions, Luke Pearsall, Cory Pattison and Tyler Bistovich added one each. Richard Beckstead and Burlington’s David Shuta led the tackles with five each. Steve Connery and David Tessier each added another four.

“ We were well prepared this week because we know this Predators team can take advantage of any little mistake. And you saw that play out tonight on the field.” said head coach Mike Samples.

Veteran receiver, Brody Essery caught five Blewett passes for a total of 57 yards. Blewett passed for a total of 162 yards and scrambled for another 47. Alex McFarlane carried the ball ten times for 109 yards rushing, including an explosive 40 yard run which put the Braves in scoring position. DeGeorgis was good for three of four converts and logged 524 yards on five kick offs and eight punts

The undefeated Braves host the undefeated London Beefeaters this Saturday at Nelson stadium in a game sponsored by CHCH television. Kick-off is 7pm for the Harding Cup, the annual event in the London vs Burlington game in honour of Dave Harding, a trainer for both teams, who passed away in 2009.