OFC conference final recap (VARSITY/JV): Stampeders split

Summary and recap by John Metcalfe

VARSITY

The defending champs dug themselves a 25-7 hole at halftime and came back before falling short to the Hamilton Varsity Tiger Cats 39-36. Both sides combined for 903 yards of net offence to give those in attendance their monies worth! In the defeat, Mason Brown led Stamps completing 28 of his 35 passes for 445 yards and four scores with one interception. Michael Lehmann was Brown’s favourite target latching onto 15 throws for 225 yards and 3 majors. J.D. Foxcroft also had a solid game catching three passes for 116 yards which included a 75 yard scoring catch. #CFC100 Myles Manalo had the other Stamps score on a 2 yard plunge. Patrick Whelan added four converts and the Stamps defence forced a conceded safety touch. Cats pivot #CFC100 Connor Carusello was no slouch himself completing 17 of 28 passes for 307 yards and 5 scoring strikes.#CFC100 Jacob Patten Bohtelo had scoring catches of 4 and 24 yards, Damian Tesoro from 16 yards, Tyson Middlemost from 25 yards and a rainbow of 82 yards to Christian Sirko that clinched the matter for the winners. Patten Bohtelo booted 5 converts, a 35 yard field goal and a rouge on a wide field goal to close out the victors score card. With the win, the Cats move on to the Varsity Final for the third time in four seasons and will face the Cinderella Sudbury Gladiators for the Championship.

JUNIOR VARSITY

The Stamps season rolls on after a 53-0 shut out over the Brantford Bison in the Jr. Varsity Division Final. Nathan Langley returned to the line-up and led Stamps with 18 carries for 153 yards and two majors. Zach Ihasz had a 2 yard run while Kenny Sproat snared a 26 yard scoring pass and Nikita Buzynskyy latched onto scoring passes of 39 and 20 yards. Buzynskyy also added 6 converts and a 28 yard field goal to close out the Stamps scoring.

The Jr Varsity Stamps move on to the OFC Finals which will be played on August 13th in Ron Joyce Stadium at McMaster University. Their contest will kick off at 2:00 pm and their opponents will be the Huronia Stallions who edged the North Halton Crimson Tide 22-18 in the North Division Final. It is believed that this is the first time Stallions and Stamps have met in an OFC Final.