OVFL Varsity: Panthers, Wildcats in a stunning finish

Cumberland Panthers visited the Metro Toronto Wildcats in OVFL conference semi final action on Saturday. The game was well played by both teams and it came down to an exciting finish.

The first quarter, like a heavy weight fight, the teams felt one another out. The only scoring of the opening quarter came on a 30 yard field goal by Metro kicker #6, Kyle Stanton. The score at the end of the quarter was 3 to 0 Metro.

The second quarter, saw much of the same from both teams, great defense and a methodical offensive approach. Cumberland started to get some offensive success in the second quarter, putting 2 drives together. The result of the first drive was a missed 31 yard field goal. The next drive the panthers did better when QB Alex Skinner hooked up with Harry Short down the middle of the field for a 27 yard scoring strike. The convert by #7, Ryan Begin, was good making the score 7 to 3 at 4:42 of the 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] quarter. Cumberland had an opportunity before the end of the half to go up by more when #16, Cory Bellerdine picked off a Metro pass at the Metro 38 yard line at 2:37 of 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] quarter. But 4 plays later the Cumberland 48 yard field goal attempt was short and returned to the 35 yard line. Metro did not run a “hurry up” offense to finish the half and the time ran out during that drive.

Metro started with the ball at the beginning of the 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] quarter deep in their zone. They put together a long drive that ended in a 27 yard field goal attempt that was wide. The drive took 11:28 seconds off the clock. Cumberland got the ball back and went 3 and out, the only 3 plays their offense had in the third quarter.

The fourth quarter is where the game came alive. Early in the quarter, at the 14:15 mark, panther returned #12, Dustin Wilson, returned a metro punt 70 yards to the metro 30 yard line. On the ensuing drive, metro’s defense came up big, stopping Cumberland on a 3 and 6 attempt, and forcing them to settle for a 22 yard field goal by ryan begin, making the score 10 to 3.

Metro’s offense, that put together some drives in the second half, finally generated a big play when receiver #17, Justin Babin, caught a 33 yard seam route from QB, #12, Simon Nassar. The next play receiver, #9 Zechary Millar, turned a wide side stop into a 21 yard TD. The score came at the 8:20 mark of the 4[SUP]th[/SUP] quarter, and after the Kyle Stanton convert the score was 10 to 10.

By this point in the second half, Cumberland had only run 6 offensive plays, and needed to put a drive together to at least give the defensive unit a rest. Cumberland’s offense did manage to put a drive together and had some luck along the way. At the 7:00 minute mark, metro’s TJ Chase got unlucky when he dropped a sure interception in the flats, that may have resulted in 6 points the other way. On that same drive Cumberland was successful on a 43 yard field goal attempt with 3:14 remaining in the game.
Metro selected to have cumberland’s big legged Ryan Begin kick off (instead of taking the football on the 35 yard line) and he kicked the ball through the endzone for a very important single point rouge making the score 14 to 10 and the home team now needing more than a field goal to tie. Metro’s offense did not get anything going and had to punt the ball back to Cumberland. Two plays later, another Metro DB, this time Andy Barrientos, missed an interception in the flats, this time with 2:07 to play. Metro’s defense again held firm and Cumberland had to punt. Unfortunately for the panthers the punt went off the side of the foot and the wildcats started their last drive on their 49 yard line.

Cumberland went into a prevent defense, which almost prevented them from winning. Noticing this defensive adjustment, the wildcats accumulated first downs by running the ball and throwing a bubble screen. The wildcats got the ball down to the 25 yard line. On their first down play they threw a stop route, complete for 2 yards. On second down they threw a corner route to babin, in the end zone, but Cumberland came up with a good defensive play. On third down, metro threw the ball down the middle and were rewarded when Cumberland took a pass interference penalty. So now it is first and goal, metro on the 5 yard line, 25 seconds to go. First play, metro runs a bunch formation to the right, Nassar throws the football in the flats to what looked like an open receiver…but out of know where panthers DB #14 Prenel Cave intercepted the ball in the end zone and returned it to around the 25 yard line. Cumberland takes a knee and wins the ball game 14 to 0.