Photo Credit: Freeze Frame Photos
The (2-1) Sault Steelers who were coming off a win over the Sarnia Imperials a week ago, hit the road to face the (2-1) Imperials on Saturday, July 6th in an Ontario Power 5 Football League matchup.
Despite facing adversity with a small roster with only 23 players making the trip to southwestern Ontario, the Steelers fought valiantly but fell short in a hard-fought 27 – 9 contest against the Imperials on their home turf. With determination and grit, the Sault players battled throughout the game, showcasing resilience and unity in the face of a formidable opponent. Despite the loss, the Steelers demonstrated character and perseverance, never backing down and giving their all until the final whistle. This experience serves as a learning opportunity, highlighting areas for growth and emphasizing the importance of depth and endurance in competitive sports. As the Steelers regroup and reflect on this game, their small roster will remain optimistic and committed to improving their performance in the games to come, knowing that each challenge makes them stronger as a team.
In the 27-9 loss to the Imperials, Matt Gauthier caught a eight yard pass from Steeler quarterback Ryan Yost along with Brady Smith finding the uprights for the single extra point for the Sault.
Steeler Jonathan Bujold told Saultsports that “We were in the same boat every team in this league has been in on the road so far. Long distances to travel with a short bench once we got there. 23 players total and some injuries making depth worse as the game goes. Take nothing away from Sarnia though. They had their full roster and it proved to make the difference. They’re a talented team, we need all hands on deck if we hope to beat them again should we play them in the playoffs.”
“As always, thankful for the men who did make the trip. Now that the road games are all behind us we’re excited to play at home for the next two weeks with a full compliment of players and sleeping in our own beds. Hopefully we can pull off a couple of wins and secure a home playoff game to make it four weekends at home in a row,” added Bujold.
The Steelers look forward to building on this loss and continuing to strive for excellence throughout the season with their next contest at home at Rocky DiPietro Field on Saturday, July 13th in a 7:30 p.m kickoff against their northern Ontario rivals, the Sudbury Spartans.
