Beefeaters edge the Hurricanes

In a new twist to the 2010 Beefeater plot line, the Beefs came from behind to claim a victory rather than getting ahead and then watching the lead and the game evaporate. We could call it, with apologies to Charles Dickens, “A Tale of Two Halves”.

The Hurricanes started the game like a Category 4 storm, putting up 11 points in the first quarter and earning 7 first downs. It seemed like the London defense could not stop the spread offense of the Canes. Following a Hamilton field goal at the start of the second quarter, however, the game started to turn around. Gradually the Beefs defense adjusted to the wide-open Hamilton offense and the offensive juggernaut of the first quarter slowed noticeably. In turn, the Beefs’ offense started to move the ball more consistently and, although no points were recorded in the first half by the Beefs, there were signs of what was to come.

The insertion of Kyle Woldenberg-Puyda at tailback in the second quarter and Jason Schuler at quarterback to start the second half put the spark into the offense. Carmine Gentile kicked two field goals, 21 and 30 yards, to get the Beefs back in the game by the end of the third quarter. 4:04 into the fourth frame, Schuler barged in from the 1-yard line to bring the score to 14-12 Hamilton at that point. A Schuler to Brendan Allen pass on the 2-point conversion attempt was good and the game was tied at 14. A few minutes later, following a 24-yard punt return by Connor Grinnell and a 15-yard unnecessary roughing penalty against Hamilton, the Beefs took over at the Hamilton 42-yard line. Four plays later they were third and goal at the 5-yard line. Carmine Gentile came in and was good on a 12-yard chip shot field goal to give London its’ first lead of the evening at 8:21 of the fourth quarter.

From then on the defense was key. With little time remaining, Hamilton got the ball at their 48-yard line, determined to at least get into field goal range. Quarterback Mike Chase completed 4 of 5 passes and, with a couple of short runs thrown in, the Canes found themselves on the Beefs 25-yard line with time running out. Julian Hooker, the Hamilton place-kicker, attempted a 32-yard field goal but it went wide and was run out of the end zone by Grinnell. Two kneel downs later, the comeback was complete and the Beefs moved to 2-3 on the year with Hamilton dropping to 3-2.

Next weekend the Beefeaters are part of a Windsor/London doubleheader in Alumni Stadium at the University of Windsor. The Beefs meet the AKO Fratmen at noon while the UWO Mustangs tangle with the Windsor Lancers at 7:00 p.m.