2015 ONTARIO PROSPECT CHALLENGE (Ottawa): Park blasts through Team Central in Minor contest

Under bright, sunny skies and 22 degree weather, some of the best players Ontario had to offer stepped on the turf at TD Place eager to prove why they were chosen for the Ontario Prospect Challenge (OPC).

The first game would Team Central against Team East in the Minor game.

The game would end in a run away victory for Team Central, led by Cameron Park.

The game started out defensively, with both teams moving between the 20’s but neither team really able to get into a position to score. That would all change however; when Park decided to dash to the other side of midfield,

Team Central would be 7-0 part way through the first quarter. Later in the quarter, Team Central would again score from very far out on another long touchdown run to put themselves up 13-0 after a failed conversion attempt.

In the second quarter, it would not be much different for either squad as Team East would surrender another long touchdown on the ground, this time to Team Central ball carrier Julius Brown.

After that though, things would begin to briefly look up for Team East as running back Antonio Corsi began running and moving the offense down the field. Unfortunately, the promising drive would end in a fumble that Team Central would recover.

A little while later, Team East would watch again as they surrendered a long, punishing run to Ty Harris, who would then take it on from the one. Part of the problem for the East was their offense could not stay on the field, and in turn their defense began getting fatigued. It was not unusual to see team Central defenders in the backfield on most plays, like this on

In the final minute of the half, Team East would find themselves with a first and goal, down 33 and a chance to start mounting what would be an improbable comeback. Again. Team Central’s defence was up to the task, forcing a goal line stand and giving the ball back to their offence. In the final play of the half, Park would again find the end zone  – this time from 90 yards out.

To open the second half, Team Central would score again to put themselves up 39-0.  In the third quarter, Team East team would begin playing a lot better as the offense began sustaining drives and the defense was able to string together more stops.

Team East’s new found run game and their running back Corsi picking up tough yards that weren’t there so much in the first half but could not get any points the board in the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Team East would really begin to play Team Central close, matching Central hit for hit, yard for yard.

All in all, Team East outplayed Team Central shutting them out and even nabbing a pair of interceptions thanks to defensive back Cameron Geary.  The latter of the two interceptions would also set up an opportunity to score, which Team East took full advantage of when Jayden Theodore found pay dirt with 3:00 left to make the final score 39-6.

“It’s a lot of fun” said Team Central Head Coach Roberto “Bubba” Allen in his postgame comments.  “You get some of the best kids in the GTA to come up here and make a team.”

“I thought we did a good job.”

Despite the loss, Team East Head Coach Geoff Graham found some positives.

“We fought hard,” added Graham.  “I thought we got better as the game went on, I mean the fourth quarter was our best quarter.”