Fourth Quarter Heroics Lead to Sturgeon Victory

Sturgeon Bantams Close Regular Season at 7-1
Head coach Tim Purdy didn’t know what to expect from the newest Sturgeon team this year, but as the season progressed the team jelled and improved with every start. Following their opening game loss, the Sturgeon bantams won seven straight games and enter the play-offs next weekend on a roll. Their latest victims were the Chatham-Kent Cougars who came to Norm Perry Park requiring a victory to maintain their fourth place standing in order to qualify for the playoffs. In their previous meeting, the Sturgeon offence ran roughshod over the Cougars, amassing 63 points. The Cougars came to Sarnia with a revamped defence, seeking revenge. The defense was geared to minimize the blazing speed of the Sturgeon, but Sarnia still put significant points on the board for a 48-12 victory.
The first half was close and ended with the score 14-6 for the Sturgeon. The home side scored on a 5 yard power run by Alex Parete and a 1 yard quarterback sneak by Josh Elsley. Elsley also added a 2 point convert. The Cougars touchdown was on a 9 yard pass from halfback Anthony Cunha to Brady Shepherd. The Sturgeon offence put 20 points on the board in the third quarter. Mitchell Smiley scored 2 touchdowns, on runs of 8 and 53 yards. Alex Parete scampered 35 yards to the endzone on a screen pass from quarteback Elsley. Cody Miller scored a major for the Cougars on a 5 yard run. The third quarter ended with the score 34-12 for the Sturgeon.
The lone points in the fourth quarter were courtesy of a 36 yard pass and run to Marco Parete. Nic Paquette added 3 converts in the second half.
The Sturgeon travel to Sir Wilfrid Laurier University this coming Saturday for an 11 a.m. matchup in the semifinals with the Twin-City Predators, the team that caused the lone blemish on their record in the season opener.

Fourth Quarter Heroics Lead to Sturgeon Victory
The Sarnia Sturgeon had high hopes for this season but encountered difficulty getting off the mark at the beginning of the year, losing their first 3 games. Since then, however, they are the hottest team in their division, winning their last 4 games. The latest victory was a come from behind victory over the first place Oakville Titans on Sunday at Norm Perry Park. The Sturgeon spotted the visitors a 17-2 lead after three quarters before roaring back with 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter for a 23-17 victory.
The Titans ran a sophisticated spread offence led by the precision passing of quarterback Mike Malo. Malo was pressured all game long by the Sturgeon front four and his scrambling ability was tested. There were numerous dropped passes by the Titan receivers. The Sturgeon defence tightened at opportune times, minimizing the deficit until the offence began firing on all cylinders. Key sacks by Brandon Burns, Dylan McMichael, Randy Beardy and Brett Boersma thwarted several Oakville drives. Brett Boersma reorded the only points for the
Sturgeon in the first half on a safety, as the homeside trailed 17-2 at the break.
A forty-five yard fumble recovery and return by Nathan McIntyre ignited the Sturgeon offence who scored their
first touchdown earely in the fourth quarter on a 42 yard pass from quarterback Scott Campbell to Adrien MacMillan and a 9 yard run by Campbell.
On their next possession, Curtis Robichaud rumbled into the endzone and a successful convert knotted the game at 17 with 8 minutes remaining. The Sturgeon defence stiffened and a high snap on fourth down when the Titans were in punt formation gave the Sturgeon possession at the Titan 38. Three plays later Curtis Robichaud attempted a 40 yard field goal that fell short. The Oakville return man fumbled the ball on the return and the Sturgeon recovered inside the 10 tard line. From here, Robichaud bulldozed his way into the endzone for the go
ahead touchdown. The Titans had one last possession but this drive ended on a fumble. The Sturgeon were able to run out the clock with power running up the middle.
The Sturgeon are right back at it Wednesday night with their final regular season game at Norm Perry Park at 8 p.m. when they host the Chatham-Kent Cougars. A victory by the Sturgeon will result in them hosting a semifinal game on Sunday August 1 against the Toronto Junior Argos with kick-off slated for noon.

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Fourth Quarter Heroics Lead to Sturgeon Victory


Sturgeon Bantams Close Regular Season at 7-1
Head coach Tim Purdy didn’t know what to expect from the newest Sturgeon team this year, but as the season progressed the team jelled and improved with every start.

Following their opening game loss, the Sturgeon bantams won seven straight games and enter the play-offs next weekend on a roll. Their latest victims were the Chatham-Kent Cougars who came to Norm Perry Park requiring a victory to maintain their fourth place standing in order to qualify for the playoffs. In their previous meeting, the Sturgeon offence ran roughshod over the Cougars, amassing 63 points. The Cougars came to Sarnia with a revamped defence, seeking revenge. The defense was geared to minimize the blazing speed of the Sturgeon, but Sarnia still put significant points on the board for a 48-12 victory.
The first half was close and ended with the score 14-6 for the Sturgeon. The home side scored on a 5 yard power run by Alex Parete and a 1 yard quarterback sneak by Josh Elsley. Elsley also added a 2 point convert. The Cougars touchdown was on a 9 yard pass from halfback Anthony Cunha to Brady Shepherd. The Sturgeon offence put 20 points on the board in the third quarter. Mitchell Smiley scored 2 touchdowns, on runs of 8 and 53 yards. Alex Parete scampered 35 yards to the endzone on a screen pass from quarteback Elsley. Cody Miller scored a major for the Cougars on a 5 yard run. The third quarter ended with the score 34-12 for the Sturgeon.
The lone points in the fourth quarter were courtesy of a 36 yard pass and run to Marco Parete. Nic Paquette added 3 converts in the second half.
The Sturgeon travel to Sir Wilfrid Laurier University this coming Saturday for an 11 a.m. matchup in the semifinals with the Twin-City Predators, the team that caused the lone blemish on their record in the season opener.

Fourth Quarter Heroics Lead to Sturgeon Victory
The Sarnia Sturgeon had high hopes for this season but encountered difficulty getting off the mark at the beginning of the year, losing their first 3 games. Since then, however, they are the hottest team in their division, winning their last 4 games. The latest victory was a come from behind victory over the first place Oakville Titans on Sunday at Norm Perry Park. The Sturgeon spotted the visitors a 17-2 lead after three quarters before roaring back with 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter for a 23-17 victory.
The Titans ran a sophisticated spread offence led by the precision passing of quarterback Mike Malo. Malo was pressured all game long by the Sturgeon front four and his scrambling ability was tested. There were numerous dropped passes by the Titan receivers. The Sturgeon defence tightened at opportune times, minimizing the deficit until the offence began firing on all cylinders. Key sacks by Brandon Burns, Dylan McMichael, Randy Beardy and Brett Boersma thwarted several Oakville drives. Brett Boersma reorded the only points for the
Sturgeon in the first half on a safety, as the homeside trailed 17-2 at the break.
A forty-five yard fumble recovery and return by Nathan McIntyre ignited the Sturgeon offence who scored their
first touchdown earely in the fourth quarter on a 42 yard pass from quarterback Scott Campbell to Adrien MacMillan and a 9 yard run by Campbell.
On their next possession, Curtis Robichaud rumbled into the endzone and a successful convert knotted the game at 17 with 8 minutes remaining. The Sturgeon defence stiffened and a high snap on fourth down when the Titans were in punt formation gave the Sturgeon possession at the Titan 38. Three plays later Curtis Robichaud attempted a 40 yard field goal that fell short. The Oakville return man fumbled the ball on the return and the Sturgeon recovered inside the 10 tard line. From here, Robichaud bulldozed his way into the endzone for the go
ahead touchdown. The Titans had one last possession but this drive ended on a fumble. The Sturgeon were able to run out the clock with power running up the middle.
The Sturgeon are right back at it Wednesday night with their final regular season game at Norm Perry Park at 8 p.m. when they host the Chatham-Kent Cougars. A victory by the Sturgeon will result in them hosting a semifinal game on Sunday August 1 against the Toronto Junior Argos with kick-off slated for noon.

Advocating for football prospects one story at a time.

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