The Limestone District Grenadiers hosted the second place Pickering Dolphins at Loyalist Collegiate & Vocational Institute for the junior division Wettges Conference final.
Things looked promising for the Grenadiers when after a few first downs they were within kicking range of the goal line.Β Β P/K Michael Bashall opened the scoreboard after kicking a 16-yard field goal.
Unfortunately for the Grenadiers they were not able to build on their early lead.Β Β With just under one minute of play remaining in the first quarter the Dolphins answered back with a major by WR Tevin Lawrence, who was 4-for-42-yards at the end of the game.
During the second quarter the Dolphins dominated the βiron having picked off two passes by Grenadiers QB Robert Magee.Β Β Scoring one more major and a field goal.
The Grenadiers were down 17-3 at half time.Β Β Had DB Declan McCann not dove for the ball at the goal line with 1:30 remaining, the deficit would have been higher.
βThe momentum will swing back,β stated defensive coordinator Rick Miles.
βThis isnβt over.β
Third quarter action was all Dolphins.Β Β The Grenadiers had trouble building any kind of offensive momentum and their defense unable to break their opponentβs.Β Β The Dolphins led 27-3 at the end of the third with a field goal by Alonzo Addae and a touchdown by Raishaun Provo with ten seconds remaining.
Quickly in to the fourth quarter the Grenadiers answered back with a major by WR Raheem Silcott, who was 3-for-28-yards at the end of the day with a single touchdown.
The Dolphins didnβt waste anytime answering back with another interception by DB Sharlon Smith and an 84-yard major by RB Jordan Grimes to put the Dolphins up to a 34-9 lead over the Grenadiers.
With five minutes remaining a bit of luck had been found for the Grenadiers.Β Β Trey White for Pickering had grabbed one out of the air from Grenadiers QB Chase Peck (18-of-38 for 219-yards).Β Β But due to an unnecessary roughing penalty called against DB Matthew Williams, the Dolphins received a 15-yard penalty giving the Grenadiers an automatic first down.
The Grenadiers tried to build on Pickeringβs misfortune when Jeremy Pendergast carried the ball over the goal line for six, Bashall put up one more kicking the point after.
Just over a minute after the major by Pendergast, the Dolphins quickly returned to the scoreboard when Grimes posted his second major of the game.Β Β Grimes had seven carries for 158-yards at the end of sixty.
At the end of the day the Grenadiers threw 22-of-53 for 272-yards after utilizing three quarterbacks.Β Β Unfortunately it wasnβt enough for the Grenadiers.Β Β The damage had already been done.Β Β The Dolphins put the game away with a final score of 41-16 to advance to the OVFL Provincial Championship.
The Grenadiers ended the 2012 OVFL season with an 8-2 record.Β Β Having scored 345-points-for and 224-points-against.Β Β The passing lane racked up 2598-yards off 151 completions.Β Β Their front-runners totalled 1576-yards.Β Β The Grenadiers defensive line picked off their opponents 19 times and showed a fierce frontline with 31 sacks.
They boast eight players in the OVFL top ten lists in various parts of the game, including the number one ranked field goal kicker Sydenham native Michael Bashall.Β Β Bashall connected on seven field goals for 182-yards.
βThink of what you actually accomplished,β stated Rob Carnegie. βWe really accomplished a lot.
We had a great season.β
Although the Grenadiers didnβt make it to the finals, they had a tremendous season.Β Β What started out as a group of young kids has ended with a group of young men.
βI have never been so proud of a group of guys in my life,β stated head coach Mark Magee.
βFor the whole year Iβm extremely proud.β
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