OVFL: Bulldogs hold on for the victory over the pass happy Sabercats

Varsity:
Sault Ste Marie Sabercats visited the Brampton Bulldogs at the newly surfaced (field turf) Chinguacousy park on Sunday afternoon. The Sabercats had bad news earlier in the week when star running back Trevor Plumley was not available due to surgery he will be getting on his broken wrist, an injury he sustained in the fall.

The game had a sluggish start when both teams played a penalty filled first quarter. Sault Ste Marie started the game quickly when they scored on their first drive of the game on a Jordan Hoover #21 touchdown. The TD was out of a ‘trick’ field goal formation. They used the same formation to score a 2 point convert. The TD was set up by an important 3rd and 11 completion to Alex Morrison.

Brampton responded on their next drive when running back Jorden Boswell pounded the ball in from 5 yards out. The TD was set up by a big pass and catch play from QB Spencer Kardash to receiver Jordan Nugent (York commit). Kardash is from Georgetown district, playing in his first game for the Bulldogs.

It did not take long for the Savercats to respond, going back up on a Joey Plastino TD reception from QB Casey Wright. After a procedure on the first convert try, the Sabercats set up for a traditional kick try that was blocked by the Bulldogs, making the score 14 to 7 which would hold up through the end of the first quarter.

The ensuing kick off return by the Bulldogs was returned past half but the offense could not muster any points off the big return. Later in the second quarter Bulldog defensive standout Ricky Osei (Western commit) caused a fumble that the Bulldogs recovered. Osei was a force all afternoon.

Later in the quarter the bulldogs set up for a 32 yard field goal attempt only to have the Sabercats call a time out. During the timeout the Bulldogs changed strategies and tried to convert the fourth down but were unsuccessful.

With less than 2 minutes remaining in the half the duo of Nugent and Kardash hooked up again, this time for a 35 yard touchdown. The successful convert made the score 14 to 14, the same score that would end the half.

In the third quarter the Sabercats continued their aggressive play calling, attempting and completing a punt fake, this time to Iain Hutchison (Guelph commit). The fake set up another TD, again a TD pass to Plastino. The 2 point convert was good making the score 22 to 14.

This time the bulldogs responded, driving the field and setting up a 1st and goal from the one yard. A set of bizzare plays ensued, with 2 fumbled snaps on the first 2 QB sneak attempts. On the 3rd try, another fumble but this time Kardash picked up the ball and ran in for the TD. After the successful convert the score was 22 to 21 Sabercats with 1:13 remaining in the 3rd quarter.

The bulldogs defense began to tighten their grip on the Sabercats and returned the ball quickly to the offense. Another drive was orchestrated, this time a TD was scored when Shaquille “shaq” Johnson out-jumped the Sabercat defenders for a TD. After the convert attempt was good (barely) the Bulldogs took a 28 to 22 lead with 10:13 remaining.

Near the end of the quarter the Sabercats looked like they had scored a potential go-ahead TD, only to be called back by a holding penalty. The teams went back and forth during the last 3 minutes. Two interceptions in the last 2 drives nullified any comeback attempt by the Sabercats. The last interception was by Johnson, who played both ways most of the 2nd half. The Bulldogs gave up a safety on the fourth last play of the game.

Players to Watch:

Sabercats
44 Pat McGrath LB (Team Ontario)
41 Rhys Mahler LB
24 Iain Hutchison DB
30 Alex Morrison REC
1 Joe Plastino REC

Bulldogs
47 Miles Metchie LB
91 Ricky Osei DL (Team Ontario)
7 Jordan Boswell RB
3 Jordan Nugent REC (Team Ontario)
1 Shaquille Johnson REC (Team Ontario)
66 Colton Schute OL

CIS scouts in attendance:
Donovan Carter – Toronto
Tom Norwell – York
Frank Gesztasi – McMaster

NOTE: apparently the Bulldogs were missing 7 starters due to “Prom weekend”…interesting

Late in the quarter Sault Ste Marie looked like they had