The CFC #11 Resurrection Phoenix (6-0) outlasted the Southwood Sabres (0-6) in an offensive tug of war battle at Cam Allan Field in Cambridge.
Playing without running back Glorian Ganza (nursing sore hamstring), the resurrection phoenix still managed to put up 49 points in a thrilling 49 to 34 victory. QB Jason Chris, consistent and composed, drove the offense up and down the field through the air and on the ground. Running the option offense, Chris made great decisions on his option reads and pass reads all day.
It looked like the Phoenix would run away with this game early when Chris hooked up with #17 Jeff Rodriguez on a 65 yard pass and run TD catch. The phoenix scored quickly again on their second drive and went up 14 to 0 early in the first quarter.
The Sabres composed themselves and bounced back, led by QB Nathan Redford, who had his best game of the season. The Sabres exposed some weaknesses in the Phoenix back end. Redford hooked up with receivers #7 Mike McKnight and #17 Jeff Mayhew all day on short stop patterns, fades and the occasional play action corner pass.
Mayhew and McKnight scored first quarter TDs to make the score 14 to 14 heading into the second. The back and forth affair continued when Res scored on a short run by Alex Doczi (picture). The Sabres then countered on a 44 yard TD pass to #29 Adam Riggi.
With less than a minute to go in the half the Phoenix executed a nice fake 3rd down punt to extend their drive which resulted in a TD by #23 Tyler Schneider. Halftime score was 28 to 21.
The second half saw the sabres open with a 3 play TD drive ending in a Dylan Gordon touchdown. Not to be outdone, the Phoenix scored on their next drive, again after executing a nice 3rd down fake. Doczi scored his third of five touchdowns on the day.
The “CFC” turning point came when southwood had looked to complete a 3rd down gamble only to be dropped by the receiver. The phoenix never looked back from this point scoring 2 more TDs to put the game out of reach. Southwood scored their last touchdown on the last play of the game, unsuccessfully trying a two point convert.
Resurrection finished their season with WCI and Southwood with Bluevale.
GAME MVPs:
Phoenix – QB Jason Chris
Sabres – QB Nathan Redford
JUNIORS
This game featured the 2 and 3 southwood sabres juniors versus the 0 and 5 resurrection phoenix juniors (who had lost multiple close games). From the get go, it looked like the team with the ball last was going to win…and it turned out to be correct.
Southwood marched down the field on their first drive with runs by Zak Sauer and Drew Riley. Sauer finished the drive off with a touchdown (one of four on the day). Resurrection drove down to just beyond midfield on their first drive only to fumble the ball which the sabres recovered.
Southwood capitalized on this fumble with another Zak Sauer touchdown run. On the ensuing kickoff the phoenix #5, Adam Schneider (QB), returned the kick 87 yards for the TD.
The phoenix defense stopped the sabres for the first time on their next drive. The phoenix drove down to about the southwood 28 yard line and lined up for a long field goal attempt. Not sure we have seen this before, but the phoenix lined up a man onside (to the wide side of the formation) and he recovered a perfectly placed kick on the sabre 6 yard line. Next play #99 Tyler Woods took it in for the TD. The sabres attempted a 35 yard field goal on the last play of the half but it was unsuccessful. Halftime 14 to 14.
The second half saw both teams exchange early touchdown drives. The phoenix touchdown was marred by a blocked extra point, which looked like a possible difference maker at the time.
The Sabres scored again on their next drive then attempted an unsuccessful onside kick on the ensuing kickoff. The phoenix made them pay for this when on the very first play from scrimmage they completed a 49 yard touchdown pass to #96 Jamie Hiller. The phoenix went for the 2 point convert, in attempt to tie the score, and Hiller came up big again, catching a ball in the end zone that we think was attempted for someone else. Score 28 to 28 in the fourth quarter.
The sabre offense composed themselves and drove down the field where Sauer scored his final of his 4 TDs. The phoenix tried to respond only to be stopped on a 4th and 15 attempt. (Junior football in waterloo county plays 4 downs and senior plays 3 downs).
Final Score: Southwood 35 Resurrection 28
Game MVPs
Southwood: RB Zak Sauer
Resurrection: QB Adam Schneider
Other players of note:
Southwood: RB/LB Drew Riley, OC Andrew Snels, DB Brendan Deakens
Resurrection: REC Jamie Hiller, RB Tyler Woods, OL/DL Andrew Pickett
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