Photo Credit: Freeze Frame Photos
After closing out the 2024 Ontario Summer Football League regular season with a 40 – 20 win over the visiting the Sault U18 Sabercats on July 13th in Sault Ste Marie, the Sabercats returned to action to open the OSFL post season with a Saturday, July 20th contest at home against the Waterloo Warriors.
57 seconds into the opening quarter, Warrior quarterback Wesley Graham fired a 16 yard pass to Malakhai Pryce to run the opening touchdown 68 yards to give Waterloo a 6 – 0 lead. With 2:13 remaining in the first quarter, Nathan Guizietti carries the ball into the Warriors endzone on a three yard carry to even the game 6 – 6 for the Sault. Nik Vecchio added the extra point to give the Sabercats a 7 – 6 lead. Sabercat quarterback Alex Varpio finds Jack McPherson with a six yard pass to run for a 15 yard Sault touchdown to bring the Sabercats lead to 13 – 6. Vecchio gives the hosts a 14 – 6 heading into the second quarter. At 5:49, Ethan Carchidi increased the Sault’s lead to 20 – 6 after scoring the Sabercats third major of the contest. Vecchio found the uprights for the extra point to give the Sault a 21 – 6 lead.With 3:15 left in the half, Waterloo quarterback Wesley Graham finds Malakhai Pryce in the Sault’s endzone with a 26 yard pass to close the gap to 21 – 12. Roman Marinelli kicks the extra point for the Warriors. Sabercat Nathan Guizietti catches a Waterloo punt to run the ball back 105 yards for a Sault touchdown with three minutes even to bring the lead to 27 – 13. Vecchio added the extra point for the Sabercats. The Sabercats conceded a safety at 2:09 of the second quarter to bring the score to 28 – 14.
Carchidi rushed for a one yard major with 2.8 seconds left in the half to send the Sabercats into halftime up 35 – 14 after a Vecchio extra point. At 10:09 of the third quarter, Jaidan Trudeau rushes for a 28 yard touchdown to bring the Sabercats lead to 41 – 14. Vecchio kicks the extra point to increase the quarter final lead to 42 – 14 for the Sault. Wesley Graham finds Malakhai Pryce in the endzone on a 14 yard pass to score the Warriors third touchdown of the game to bring Waterloo within 22 points at 4:27 of the third. With only 4.3 seconds left in the quarter, Warrior Emmett Gamble carries the ball for a two yard touchdown to bring the score to 42 – 26. 21 seconds into the final quarter, Nathan Guizietti evades three Warrior tackles to out run the Warrior defense for a 93 yard carry for the Sault to give the Sabercats a 49 – 26 lead after Vecchio’s extra point. Carchidi runs for a Sabercat touchdown at 8:48 of the fourth quarter to increase the lead to 55 – 26. Vecchio fires the extra point to give the Sault a commanding 56 – 26 lead. Waterloo quarterback Wesley Graham finds Deinma Tomlin with a eight lead pass to rush for a Warrior 65 yard touchdown carry. Roman Marinelli scores a two point conversion for the visitors at 7:29. Alex Varpio finds Trudeau with a 23 yard pass for Trudeau to run 67 yard touchdown carry at 2:09 remaining in the quarter final to give the Sabercats 63 – 24 win after a Vecchio extra point.
Sabercat coach Jamie Antonello told Saultsports that “Great win today, all three phases contributed with big plays and we got out healthy moving forwards. Our team is meshing and our team chemistry has never been better. I’m excited to see what we can do on the road against a top tier opponent.”
The Sabercats will now take on the Brantford Bisons on Saturday, July 27th with a semi final road game in Brantford, Ontario. Kick off time to be determined.
