Pickering victorious in Ontario Jr. regional semi-finals

Ontario Regional Football Championship

Semi-final

Saturday, November 24th

Pickering 42, Ashbury College (CISAA) 12
The Pickering Trojans have advanced to the Ontario Regional Junior football championship following a 42-14 win over Ashbury College (Ottawa) on Saturday at St. Michael’s College.  Although the final margin was 28 points, the Colts gave the Trojans a great battle behind the stellar passing of quarterback Jake Hamm.
The Colts would open the game with an eight minute and thirty second drive which resulted in Hamm keeping the ball and scoring from one yard out.  Sascha Jammes added a two point convert on the following play.  The Trojans, gambling on fourth down, gave the ball to Darnell Jarrett who swept around the outside for a 40 yard gain.  They immediately followed that play with a 20 yard run by Keyshaun Cumberbatch for a touchdown.  Justice Johnson added the convert as Pickering reduced the deficit to one.  The second quarter was headlined by Darnell Jarrett, who was onside when Pickering punted and was able to recover that punt at midfield allowing the Trojans to maintain possession.  Three minutes later, Pickering picked up a big break when a Colt punt returner had difficulty fielding the ball at the goal line.  As he finally started to control the ball, he was hit hard by Jarrett, who then alertly fell on the ball in the end zone to put the Trojans ahead 13-8.  Ashbury responded with a long drive highlighted by a long pass and run to Sascha James who carried the ball to the eleven yard line before finally being tackled.  Shortly thereafter, Hamm completed a nine yard touchdown strike to Viktor Lorenzen.  The point after attempt failed and the teams reached the half with Ashbury holding a narrow 14-13 lead.
Pickering would retake the lead at the midpoint of the third quarter as Jarrett took the ball to the house from two yards out.  Once again the Colts battled back and appeared to have the Trojan secondary beat at Hamm delivered a long pass to Tommy Friedlich, who was unable to hold on to the ball.
In the opening minute of the final quarter Kesean Bennett increased the lead to 27-14 as he scored from one yard out.  With just under eight minutes remaining, Hamm appeared to suffer an injury to his throwing hand and was moved to running back.  The injury obviously affected the Ashbury passing game from that point onward.  The Colts appeared to tire in the final quarter as Pickering delivered a couple of big plays, including a 93 yard screen pass to Kesean Bennett, who probably ran 150 yards before finally being brought down at the Ashbury two yard line.  Jarrett, on the next play from scrimmage, and Johnson closed out the scoring.
Game MVP awards went to Darnel Jarrett and Jake Hamm.
Pickering advances to the tournament final for the first time since 1997.  Their opponent will be Blessed Trinity (Grimsby), who defeated Notre Dame (Burlington) 34-20 in the game preceding the Trojan-Colt match.
First Quarter
03:32 Ashbury College TD Jake Hamm (1 yd run), 2ptC Sascha Jammes (pass)
00:57 Pickering  TD Keyshaun Cumberbatch (20 yd run), C Justice Johnson
Second Quarter
02:57 Pickering TD Darnel Jarrett (fumble recovery in the end zone)
00:17 Ashbury College TD Viktor Lorenzen (9 yd pass)
Third Quarter
06:56 Pickering  TD Darnel Jarrett (2 yd run), C Justice Johnson
Fourth Quarter
11:31 Pickering  TD Kesean Bennett (1 yd run), C Justice Johnson
05:21 Pickering TD Darnel Jarrett (2 yd run), 2ptC Justice Johnson (pass)
01:33 Pickering TD Justice Johnson (46 yd pass), C Justice Johnson
Pickering: Darnell Jarrett 3TD; Justice Johnson TD, 2ptC, 4C; Keyshaun Cumberbatch TD; Kesean Bennett TD
Ashbury College: Jake Hamm TD; Viktor Lorenzen TD; Sascha Jammes 2ptC