TNT, Ticats in epic battle


The Toronto Junior Ticats visited the TNT Express at Mel Mitchell Field in Beeton on Father’s day in Junior Varsity action of the Ontario Minor Football League. The game was the last of three games of a great day of football at Mel Mitchell. It took 59 minutes but the home team squeaked out a victory.

The first quarter saw the home side get out to a seven to zero lead when QB, #10, Michael Gautreau scrambled for 25 yards and the score. The touchdown was converted by place kicker, #13, Collin Hall. The first quarter and a half was dominated by the TNT in time of possession and field position and the result was a fourteen point lead. The second TD came at 12:37 of quarter number 2 when #26, Joshua Kraly scampered 3 yards to pay dirt. Hall converted the touchdown. The home team had all the momentum but some big pass plays got the visitors right back in the game.

The first big pass play was from QB, #12, Justin Davis to receiver #82, Terrell Swaby. The play brought the ball down to the TNT 6 yard line. After 2 negative plays, and incompletion, and at TD called back on a penalty the Ticats settled for 3 points on the leg of #14, Sergio Meza.
Not long after the Ticats again had a great catch, this time by #42 Edwin Arruba. An acrobatic reception in a crowd of 4 people that resulted in a first in goal at the 5 yard line. This time the visitors were not to be out down and converted a fourth and goal from the 3 yard line on a TD reception by #2, David Bortka. Meza converted it and the result was a halftime score of 14 to 10 for TNT.

The second half saw much of the same back and forth action. The TNT offense was stopped by the Ticats when they attempted a fourth and six deep in Ticat territory. Shortly after Davis and ARrubla hooked up again, this time for a spectacular 90 yard pass and run touchdown. Meza kicked the convert and the visitors took the lead 17 to 14 at the 2:02 point of the 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] quarter.

The very next play the TNTs #44, Thomas Troop, returned the kick off 65 yards to the Ticat 25 yard line. This set up a one point rouge, scored on the first play of the last quarter. With the score 17 to 15 the TNT scored a TD by Troop on a 30 yard run. The TNT attempted and were successful on a 2 point convert, by #80 receiver Tanner Griffin.
The ticats never gave up and #80, Nicholas Izzard and #2, Bortka made some more spectacular pass and catch plays. The final drive the ticats drove the ball all the way down to TNT territory only to have their last ditch effort spoiled by the TNT defense. Final score 23 to 17. Both teams played well and ended the great day of football on a great note.



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