On Saturday, August 8th, the Sault College Cougars returned to the field for their first taste of 2026 action, travelling to Mike O’Shea Field in North Bay to take on the Ottawa Sooners at 2:00 p.m. Ontario Football Conference exhibition matchup. The meeting offered an early opportunity for both programs to evaluate their rosters and measure the progress made since last season. The Cougars entered the contest looking to build on an impressive inaugural OFC campaign in 2025, when Sault College finished with a 4-4 record, while Ottawa finished the season at 1-7. The two teams are no strangers to each other, with the Cougars dominating their lone meeting last season, cruising to a convincing 52-6 victory over the Sooners in the nation’s capital. With a new season on the horizon, Saturday’s exhibition matchup provided both teams with an opportunity to turn the page and begin building toward what lies ahead in 2026.
The Sault College Cougars opened the scoring in the first half with a strong defensive and special teams effort. Kicker Nick Vecchio recorded two points after kicking two rouges into the end zone, giving the Cougars a 2-0 lead. Sault College then extended its advantage when Afonso Kiala hauled in an impressive 81-yard touchdown reception, putting the Cougars ahead 8-0. Vecchio added the extra point to make it a 9-0 Sault College lead at halftime.
The Cougars continued to control the game in the second half, with Ottawa struggling to find an offensive rhythm. The Sooners conceded a pair of safeties, giving Sault College another four points and extending the lead to 13-0. The Cougars then found the end zone again when Jack MacPherson caught a 35-yard touchdown pass, putting Sault College firmly in command at 19-0.
Vecchio added the extra point following MacPherson’s touchdown, bringing the score to 20-0. The Cougars continued to shut down the Sooners for the remainder of the contest, finishing the exhibition matchup with a 23-0 victory. Sault College’s dominant defensive performance and big plays through the air provided an impressive start to the 2026 campaign.
From coach Orazietti, the effort and consistency displayed by his team were among the biggest positives coming out of the game, while improved depth was another area that stood out from last season. “I love watching the effort that our guys gave. There’s no quit start to finish. We played consistently for four quarters,” he said. “I think team depth stands out the most in terms of improvement from last year.” Several players also caught the coach’s attention, with veterans Afonso Kiala, Gabe Barkley and John Davis standing out, while rookies Jack Button, Nick Poirier and receiver Rylan Varcoe impressed. Orazietti believes the Cougars have the pieces needed to be competitive in 2026, but there is still work to do before the regular-season opener. “I think it confirms that we have the pieces to be very competitive this year,” he said. “We need to clean up our focus on the sideline when guys are not on the field. In my opinion, that was an area of weakness on Saturday.”
After a convincing 23-0 exhibition win over the Ottawa Sooners in North Bay, the Sault College Cougars will now turn their attention to the regular season as they prepare to open their second season in the Ontario Football Conference. The Cougars will hit the road on Saturday, August 15, travelling to Burlington, Ontario, where they will face the Hamilton Hurricanes at Nelson Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m as Sault College looks to carry the momentum from its preseason victory into the start of the 2026 OFC campaign.
