In a game with significant play-off implications, the Sarnia Sturgeon travelled to
Chatham to battle their Southwestern Ontario rivals on Sunday. When all the smoke had
cleared, the Sarnia offence had exploded for 521 total yards enroute to a convincing 63-
27 victory over the hometown Cougars.
Chatham won the toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff. The Cougars marched
the ball down the field on an impressive 8 minute drive that ended with a fumble that was
recovered by the Sturgeon’s Alex Parete. The potent Sturgeon offence then moved the
ball down the field in four minutes and their first possession concluded with a 3 yard
touchdown run by Alex Parete. The next Cougar drive took 8 minutes off the clock but
ended when they turned the ball over on downs at the Sturgeon 10 yard line. At this point
the track meet was on, as the Sturgeon offence took over. Before the half was over
Hayden MacLean had scored 2 touchdowns on a 69 yard pass and run play from
quarterback Josh Elsley and a 13 yard run around the left side. Nick Paquette added a
convert. Dalton Shulan finally got the home side on the board in the last minute of the
half and a successful convert made the score 20-7 for the Sturgeon at the half.
The speed of the Sturgeon offence posed a serious issue for the Cougars all game and in
the second half Josh Elsley had two touchdown runs of 62 yards and from 1 yard out.
Marco Parete dashed 99 yards for another major. Hayden MacLean added 2 more
touchdowns on runs of 15 and 58 yards. Nick Paquette booted 2 converts and Marco
Parete ran for a 2 point convert. Mason Kett closed out the Sturgeon scoring on a 6 yard
quarterback sneak.
Hayden MacLean was the offensive star of the game with 4 touchdowns, 1 two point
convert, 5 carries for 111 yards and 2 pass receptions for 107 yards. Alex Parete rushed
for 117 yards on 5 carries and brother Marco 9 times for 50 yards. The game was a
chippy affair with 90 yards in penalties assessed to the home side and 145 yards called
against the Sturgeon. Josh Travis, Riley Green and Johnny Ramos ed the Sturgeon
defence with many bone jarring tackles.
The Sturgeon bantams have their lone bye of the season next weekend and close out the
regular schedule July 18 at home against the Toronto Junior Argos and July 24 when they
host the Cougars. On Sunday July 11 the PeeWee Sturgeon host Chatham and the Junior
Varsity tackle Burlington at Norm Perry Park with opening kick-offs slated for noon and
3 p.m.
Advocating for football prospects one story at a time.
CFC Prospect Game Spotlight: Ontario OT is pumped to play the best around on home turf
