The second half opened with Richard Beckstead forcing a fumble that led to a go ahead field goal for the Braves. They didn’t relinquish that lead until four seconds left on the clock when London scored a field goal. The Braves’ hail-Mary pass with four ticks left was intercepted. The team was trying to recreate a magical 77-yard TD completion from the week before.
“The players know they made enough good plays to win,” said head coach Mike Samples. “They also know now that you cannot continue to give a good team like London second chances with large, undisciplined penalties.”
The defence made the difference this game, London logged four sacks, one each from Patrick Ramsay, Andrew Pedda, Steve Plaine and Garrett Heming. Ricardo King logged a sack but the Braves were unable to capitalize on it.
Beckstead led the defence with five tackles, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble. Steve Connery logged seven tackles, Ian Marouf five, Rob Downey, Jason Diston and rookie Dave Shuta had four each.
Dowling was busy on special teams as well, with three punt returns, a kick off return and a missed field goal return. Kicker Dustin DeGeorgis made two of three field goals, one convert and punted seven times for 200 yards. The Braves blocked a point after convert and stopped a two point conversion that would have tied the game.
Rookie Alex McFarlane continued his ground game, logging over one hundred yards in eight carries as well as three catches for another 34 yards along with a touchdown. Connor Anderson had ten carries for 48 yards and two catches for 12 yards, finding the end zone twice. Pivot, Mack Blewett had a 50 per cent completion rate for 154 yards and two interceptions.
The Braves are in third place, behind undefeated Windsor and London. They travel to Brantford to face the Bears Friday, August 31 at 8pm at Chinguacousy Park.
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