FCC: Ontario West wins bronze medal with big win over Saskatchewan

Ontario West got on the board early with a Gabriel Ferraro field goal.  After getting the ball back Ontario West attempted a 3rd down gamble but was stopped in Saskatchewan territory.  The defense came up big and Ontario did not pay for their turnover.  Ontario’s running backs began to impose their will against the green nation.  Jahvari Bennett (Mississauga) began it with a big play on a screen play.  On the next play Jimmy Howard (Burlington) took a draw play deep into Saskatchewan territory.  Ontario did not capitalize on the drive but took momentum and a 3 to 0 score into the second quarter.

The second quarter the momentum began to swing in favour of Ontario.  With Saskatchewan sputtering on offense, Ontario capitalized with a big pass and catch touchdown from James Roberts (Cambridge) to Daniel Petermann (Hamilton).  The very next play Ontario recovered an onside kick, and momentum continued to mount.  Ontario got down to six yard line and Howard took it in to put his team up by seventeen.  The rest of the quarter was the Daniel Petermann show.  He returned the next Saskatchewan punt to the house, only to be nullified by a holding penalty.  The very next punt return, Petermann returned it to the Saskatchewan 8 yard line.  Roberts was the beneficiary of this play, running a gun naked boot into the end zone.  Ontario entered the half up 27 to 3.

Ontario West kept up the pressure early in the second half.  An early fumble recover that was converted on the very next play by a long Howard run gave them a big lead of 31 points.  Saskatchewan through out the run play book and Jaden Marwick (Regina) orchestrated a long drive, culminating in a touchdown pass to Chris Puetz (Melfort).  The ensuing kick off Saskatchewan attempted an onside middle kick but Ontario’s Ray Duplin (Sault St. Marie) beat Saskatchewan to the ball and ended up returning it all the way for a touchdown, killing any momentum.  A late quarter field goal by Ferraro made the score 44 to 10 going into the fourth.

A quick clock (due to the tournament mercy rule) in the fourth quarter limited the amount of action by both teams.  Ontario West was first and goal on the one yard late in the game but Saskatchewan stopped them on a fumble recovery.

Final Score Ontario West 44 Saskatchewan 10

Ontario West  – Bronze medalists (3rd place)
Saskatchewan – 4th place

GAME MVPs

Ontario
Offense:
32 RB Jonathan Howard

Defense:
50 DL Derek Drouillard

Saskatchewan
Offense:
19 REC Mitchell Hillis

Defense:
47 LB Jeremy Wagman

Ontario West offense – 483 yards / 303 passing / 179 rushing
Saskatchewan offense – 186 yards / 152 passing / 34 rushing