Revenge still the motivation for Varsity Ironmen


Just one week after heading down to London and defeating the #3 ranked Falcons, the Ironmen boarded a bus for a 10 hour trek to take on the #1 ranked Sault Ste Marie Sabercats.

The Cats defeated the Ironmen 8-7 at their home in double overtime earlier this season, and were favoured to repeat their efforts. However, the Ironmen planned a different ending to what may possibly turn out to be a fairytale ending to their 2010 season. With all the distractions of league politics, major injuries, and previous internal strife no one could phathom that the team would survive in the most competitive league in the province. But there they were, over 800kms from home with what felt like everything to lose, and everything to prove. Saturdays game lived up to all its hype and anticipation, but when the dust finally settled the Ironmen were on the winning side of a 21-16 contest. The Ironmen opened up the scoring with a field goal by Julien Hooker, but the Sabercats arial attack answered right back finding broken coverage in the Ironmen secondary and outfighting the Ironmen on jump balls to score two quick majors and generate a 16-3 first quarter lead. The Ironmen then turned to their own air attack led by QB Zach Lascelle who found multiple receivers including Andrew Shultz, Mike Hayes, and Jordan Rebello, before finding Curtis Pryce on a 30 yard hitch and go for the touchdown to close the gap to 16-10 at the half. The second half started much like the first with the Ironmen driving the ball into Cats territory and Hooker splitting the uprights for 3 more points. The sabercats who have struggled kicking all year attempted to punt the ball through the end zone for a single only to have rookie LB Renato Rossi pick up a blocked punt and sprint 80 plus yard for the major and eventual game winner. The Sabercats had a late chance to go ahead only to have a pass intercepted by Rossi to finish the game. “I’m proud of the team and the determination they showed. Anytime you fall behind by two touchdowns to a premier team like the Soo the result is usually unfavourable. If revenge is the motivation it’s working and the team has been given enough fuel to prove something to the OVFL” commented coach Underhill. The Ironmen will now face long time rival Essex Ravens for the Conference Finals at the Toronto Rogers Center on Sunday. The last time the two teams met last year the Ironmen won 27-24 in overtime.


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