Barely surviving

OVFL: Varsity Ravens barely hold on to survive Jr. Mustangs thrilling comeback

This was supposed to be a game between two of the best teams in the OVFL, it was expected that they would go blow for blow all game long. However, it did not start off that way.

The Essex Ravens came out and ran the ball right down the London Jr Mustangs throats. The Ravens would took 7-0 lead on a 14 yard Eli Fera touchdown run. After the Ravens defense forced a punt, Khaliel James scored a 79 yard touchdown for the Ravens to give the team a 14-0 lead while shocking the Jr Mustangs in the process.

Early in the second quarter, the Ravens increased their lead 21-0 when Fera scored a 23 yard touchdown run.   An interception by the Ravens on the next Mustangs offensive possession would be returned to the London 10, but the Ravens settled for a single point off a missed field goal.  Another defensive stop  and a Cody McCann 1 yard touchdown would increase the Ravens lead 29-0 at halftime.

The second half was a completely different story. London cut the deficit to 29-7 on a 21 yard touchdown pass, and soon after cut the deficit to 29-14 and began to take the momentum away from the Ravens.  On the ensuing kickoff, London recovered their own kick, and took  it all the way for a touchdown to cut the Ravens lead to 29-21 and thus stunning  the hometown crowd. The Ravens running game eventually aome back to life as Fera and  McCann each rattled off long runs and Fera scored from 14 yards out to increase the lead to 36-21.

With less than 3 minutes to play London faced a 4th and 15 at the Essex 32. An illegal contact penalty on the Ravens gave the Mustangs a fresh set of downs and London cashed in to cut the lead to 36-28 with 2:22 left in the game. On the ensuing kickoff, the Mustangs recovered their onside kick and gave their offense a chance to tie the game. With 51 seconds left, the Mustangs  scored on a 15 yard touchdown pass and cut the lead to 36-34. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty moved the Mustangs up to the 1 yard line for their two point conversion attempt. The Ravens defense was able to get a stop and the two point conversion was no good.

In a somewhat questionable move, instead of trying an onside kick with 51 seconds left, they would kick it deep. The Ravens would run the clock out and narrowly escape with a 36-34 victory.

Next up for the Ravens will be the Niagara Spears on Saturday August 10th in the Adams Conference Championship game. Kickoff is at 7pm.

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