Photo Credit: Freeze Frame Photos
The Brampton Bulldogs earned their first victory of the 2026 Ontario Summer Football League (OSFL) U18 season on Saturday, June 20th, rallying in the final minutes to defeat the Sault Sabercats 34-28 at Superior Heights Field in Sault Ste. Marie.
Entering the contest, both teams were searching for their first win of the season. The Bulldogs arrived in the Sault with an 0-5 record following a 61-12 loss to the Kingston Grenadiers on June 13th, while the Sabercats were looking to rebound from a 45-7 setback against the Cornwall Wildcats on the same day.
Brampton opened the scoring at the 8:28 mark of the second quarter when quarterback Tevonte Bramwell connected with Jashaine Clarke-Campbell on a 52-yard pass play before Clarke-Campbell raced the final 12 yards into the end zone, giving the Bulldogs a 6-0 lead.
The Sabercats responded at 2:39 of the second quarter when Aaron Juma returned a third-down kick 52 yards for a touchdown. The extra-point attempt by AJ Coccimiglio struck the uprights, leaving the game tied 6-6.
Brampton regained the lead with 1:57 remaining in the half when Bramwell powered across the goal line from one yard out to put the Bulldogs ahead 12-6. The Sabercats answered quickly. With just 55.5 seconds left before halftime, quarterback Garrin Pine found Coccimiglio in the end zone on a 21-yard touchdown pass, and the successful conversion gave the home side a 13-12 advantage heading into the break.
The Sabercats carried that momentum into the second half. On the opening kickoff of the third quarter, Coccimiglio’s kick was recovered by the Sabercats, and on the very next play Pine connected with Ren Levesque on a one-yard touchdown pass. Following the conversion, Sault extended its lead to 20-12.
Coccimiglio added a 38-yard kick at the 6:41 mark of the fourth quarter that resulted in a rouge, increasing the Sabercats’ lead to 21-12. Moments later, Pine capped off another drive with a one-yard rushing touchdown with 3:04 remaining. After the extra point, the Sabercats appeared to be in control with a 28-12 lead.
The Bulldogs, however, mounted a dramatic comeback. With 2:27 left to play, Bramwell scored on a one-yard quarterback sneak and then connected with Isaiah Lecesne for the two-point conversion, cutting the deficit to 28-20.
Brampton struck again with 52.5 seconds remaining when Bramwell found Isaiah Blackwood alone in the end zone on a 17-yard touchdown pass, narrowing the score to 28-26.
The Bulldogs completed the comeback with just 18.1 seconds left on the clock. Bramwell rushed three yards for his third touchdown of the game, giving Brampton its first lead since the second quarter at 32-28. Bramwell then connected with Terrell Hooper-McPherson on the two-point conversion to seal a 34-28 Bulldogs victory.
The win improves Brampton’s record to 1-5 on the season, while the Sabercats fall to 0-6 and remain in search of their first victory of 2026.
Visit Freeze Frame Photos by Bob Davies photo gallery of the Brampton Bulldogs versus Sault Sabercats in U18 OSFL action.
The Sabercats will look to bounce back on June 27th when they host the Durham Dolphins at Superior Heights Field in a 4:00 p.m. kickoff. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs will attempt to build on their momentum when they host the Cumberland Panthers in Brampton later that evening at 7:00 p.m.
