FCC: Hall leads Saskatchewan to miracle comeback

Ontario East went out to a comfortable lead, up by 24 points with 7 minutes remaining in the game.  Cue the comeback.

Ontario East got on the ball on their first drive when George Papakakos hooked up with Malcolm Carter for a 47 yard fade TD.  On the next Saskatchewan drive Ontario East DB Tyler Ling intercepted a Saskatchewan pass and returned in to the Saskatchewan 39 yard line.  Ontario East settled for a 35 yard field goal from Michael Domagala mid way through the 1st quarter, the score that would hold up through the end of the quarter.

Soon afterwards Ontario East conceded a safety touch to put the green nation on the board.  Another Michael Domagala field goal (18 yard) half way through the quarter putting Ontario East up 13 to 2. The next drive Tyler Ling had his second interception of the game.  Ontario East converted the turnover with a Pelle Jorgen touchdown putting them up with 20 to 2 with 1:06 to play in the quarter.  A Ryan Gallagher interception nullified another Saskatchewan drive with 7.7 seconds remaining in the half.  On the last play of half another Michael Domagala  FG (38 yard) making the half time score Ontario East 23 Saskatchewan 2.

Ontario East continued the momentum early in the fourth quarter (after a rouge) when they blocked a punt (Michael Moore), getting the ball on the Saskatchewan 40. Saskatchewan held strong and Ontario East missed a field goal attempt.  Saskatchewan, desperate for some momentum, gambled on 3rd down and the Ontario East stopped them, taking over at the Saskatchewan 40 yard line with 5:23 remaining in the 3rd quarter.  Ontario East managed another Domagala field goal (20 yards) to put them up 27 to 2 with 2:20 remaining in the 3rd quarter.

And then it happened.  Mid way through the fourth quarter.  Saskatchewan came to life.  Cue the special teams.  A bad snap on an Ontario East punt resulted in Saskatchewan getting the ball on the 3 yard line.  Next play
Brandon Grasdal ran the ball in (2 pt convert no good) putting Sask down 27 to 8 with 7:11 to play.  Saskatchewan got the ball back after an Ontario fumble and the very next play Brandon Grasdal ran it in (2 pt convert good to Alex Thompson) making it 27 to 16 with 5:22 remaining.

After a defensive stand the momentum continued.  Saskatchewan QB Noah Picton threw a beautiful fade to
Richard Sandini for a 40 yard touchdown (2 pt convert good to Thompson) to bring them within 3 with 3:30 remaining.  On the ensuing kick off Ontario East fumbles and Sasks’ Marcus Hall picked up the ball up and ran 25 yards for a touchdown, making it 31 to 27 for Saskatchewan after the PAT.

Desperate for some production, Ontario East came out throwing but Marcus Hall again came up big with an interception that he returned to the Ontario East 20 yard line with 1:20 remaining.  A defensive stand gave Ontario the ball back late in the half.  But it was too little too late.  Ontario East conceded a safety touch to make the final 33 to 27.  Saskatchewan will now face Quebec at 4pm on Wednesday in the first determined semi-final (championship side).  Alberta awaits the winner of tonight’s Manitoba, Ontario West game.  Ontario East faces New Brunswick.

GAME MVPs

Saskatchewan
Offense
QB 14 Noah Picton
Defense
DB 5 Marcus Hall

Ontario East
Offense
RB 33 Pelle Jorgen
Defense
DB 23 Tyler Ling

 

Advocating for football prospects one story at a time.

Leave a Reply