In the first of two semi-finals on Thursday Alberta defeated Ontario 43-36 in a thrilling Football Canada Cup semi-final bout for the ages at Monctonβs Rocky Stone Field.
Alberta went into Thursday looking to push its streak to three consecutive gold medal final appearances while Ontario looked to make a push for gold in the first year of fielding a single U18 provincial team.
Alberta opened the scoring on their second drive after forcing an Ontario 2-and-out. At 8:06 of the second quarter, quarterbackΒ Ben KopczynskiΒ found receiverΒ Colby MillerΒ on a 45-yard touchdown pass to put Alberta ahead early 7-0 after theΒ Vuyani NdhlovuΒ extra-point.
Alberta continued to press Ontario early, adding aΒ Quinn PolleyΒ 15-yard touchdown run to extend their lead to 14.
Down by two touchdowns, Ontario rallied back, beginning at their own 20-yard line. The drive began with a 22-yardΒ Raishaun ProvoΒ run while quarterbackΒ Nate HobbsΒ found receiverΒ Jake Williamsto bring Ontario to the Alberta 41-yard line. Gambling on third and 5, Hobbs stepped up and foundJake WilliamsΒ for a 36-yard score to get Ontario on the board, 14-7.
Driving early in the second quarter withΒ Colton HunchakΒ in at quarterback, Alberta was able to convert on two 3rdΒ and 1 attempts, the last on a 1-yardΒ HunchakΒ goal line surge to regain a 14 point Alberta advantage, making the score 21-7 with 9:35 to play in the 1stΒ half.
Beginning at the Alberta 45-yard line, Ontario surged down field largely through the running ofMarquis RichardsΒ before culminating the drive on a 9-yardΒ Liam PuttΒ strike toΒ Jake Williams,making the score 21-14 after the extra-point.
AΒ Jamaal James-PeterΒ interception gave Ontario a last chance to score on the Alberta 51-yard line with 26 seconds to play in the 1stΒ half. QuarterbackΒ Liam PuttΒ foundΒ Ben FieldΒ once again to give Ontario a 1stΒ down at the 11-yard line with 13.8 seconds to play. Unable to find the end zone, aMichael TarbuttΒ field goal attempt went wide right, bouncing out of bounds for a single to give Ontario a 22-21 lead.
With 7 minutes left to play in the 3rdΒ quarter aΒ NdhlovuΒ field goal put Alberta back on top 24-22.
To close out the 3rd quarter on a drive that began at mid-field,Β PuttΒ connected withΒ FieldΒ once again, this time on a 19-yard reception to put Ontario ahead 29-24.
Following a 3rdΒ and 1 conversion inside the Alberta 30-yard line, a 17-yardΒ ProvoΒ touchdown run widened the Ontario lead 36-25.
Defending silver medalist, Alberta would not go away quickly asΒ Tyler ChowΒ gave the wild rose province great position at the Ontario 47-yard line on the preceding kick-off return. WithΒ Ben KopczynskiΒ now in at quarterback he found follow quarterback turned receiverΒ Colton HunchakΒ on a 36-yard grab to give Alberta a 1stΒ down at the Ontario 11-yard line. Hunchak made an outstanding sprawling catch on a 2ndΒ down Kopczynski pass, making the score 36-33 with 3 minutes to play following the two-point conversion.
Β Still trailing by 2, an Ontario fumble gave Alberta the ball right back at the Ontario 22-yard line. A facemask penalty against Ontario made it 1stΒ and goal Alberta at the Ontario 1-yard line.KopczynskiΒ called his own number on a 1-yard run to pull Alberta ahead 40-36 with 2:31 left to play.
Ontario looked to reply asΒ Nate HobbsΒ found his go0to receiverΒ Ben FieldΒ on a 32-yard strike to set them up at mid-field. Ontario gambled on 3rdΒ and 2 as Hobbs fired a strike toΒ Cameron WrightΒ who was unable to hang on for the 1stΒ down.
Alberta continued to surge with the momentum change following the Ontario turnover on downs asVuyani NdhlovuΒ nailed a final field goal to make the score 43-36.
Ontarioβs quarterback tandem ofΒ Liam PuttΒ andΒ Nate HobbsΒ threw for a combined 372 yards while their favourite targetΒ Ben FieldΒ hauled in 208 of those yards. Alberta running backΒ Quinn Polleyrushed for 122 yards on 14 carries.
With the win Alberta returns to the finals for the third straight year while Ontario will compete for bronze on Sunday.
Photo credit: Tanya Everett
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Players of the Game
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Ontario
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Offensive #12 Liam Putt
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Defensive #20 Quinn Polley
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Alberta
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Offensive #74 TreVaughn James
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Defensive #44 Jakob Butler
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