Varsity Cougars boost playoff hopes

The Chatham-Kent Varsity Cougars are tied for the final playoff spot in the Ontario Football Conference after beating the Toronto Jr. Argonauts 16- 7 on Sunday.

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Mitch Rate ran for a touchdown and 113 yards as the Cougars improved to 2-4-0 by winning their home finale at the Chatham-Kent Community Athletic Complex.

The Cougars are tied for fourth place with the Forest City Thunderbirds, who own the tiebreaker after winning the first game between the teams. They play again July 17 in London.

The Cougars are off this weekend. They have two games left in the regular season.

The Peewee Cougars remain unbeaten after pounding the Jr. Argonauts 37-0 for their fifth straight shutout Sunday. They’ve outscored teams by a combined 205-0.

The Bantam Cougars lost 63- 27 to the Sarnia Sturgeon and the Junior Varsity Cougars beat the Burlington Stampeders 42- 21 in Sunday’s other games.

VARSITY:Josh Woodman kicked two field goals in the Cougars’ win.

They also scored two points on a safety and one on a punt.

Graham Smyth gained 134 all-purpose yards, Tyler Dacey added 118 all-purpose yards and quarterback Zach Welten ran for 73.

Brendan Thompson made seven tackles, Nathan Stonefish had four tackles and an interception, and Robert Dobbin had an interception and two tackles.

PEEWEE:Brady Pataki ran for a 47-yard touchdown and caught a 29-yard TD pass from Kelton Evans at Toronto.

Evans also threw a 41-yard TD pass to Ross Krieger and finished 4-of-7 for 83 yards. He tossed a two-point convert to Krieger as well.

Chris Vercauteren scored his first TD of the season on a 41- yard reverse. Clayton Shreve added a six-yard TD run.

Owen Dorssers kicked four extra points and Krieger punted for a single. Pataki ran 10 times for 84 yards.

The Cougars’ defence was dominant again, allowing no first downs and letting the Argos cross midfield only once.

Nolan Hakr had an interception and a fumble recovery, Jake Anderson forced a fumble and Tanner Shuian, Austin Miller, Quentin Forgie and Jordan Church were defensive standouts.

BANTAM:Brady Shepherd ran for touchdowns of 18 and nine yards in the second half at the Chatham-Kent athletic complex.

Dalton Shuian caught a 10-yard TD pass from John McCauley and Cody Miller rushed for a five-yard TD in the loss.

Shane Foster scored a two-point convert and Christian Couture kicked an extra point.

Shuian had 163 rushing yards and Anthony Cunha added 92.

Justin Markovich made eight tackles and Tristan Logan had six. Braydon McTavish had an interception.

JUNIOR VARSITY:Blayne Bechard led the Cougars’ powerful rushing attack with 197 yards on 10 carries. He scored 66- and 69-yard touchdowns at the Chatham-Kent athletic complex.

Jason Laprise also scored twice and gained 80 yards on four carries. Sebastian Smith ran six times for 111 yards and a TD, and Sam Tommen ran for the other TD.

The Cougars finished with 436 rushing yards. Clark Green kicked all six extra points.

Mike Price made eight tackles and two interceptions. Connor Martin had 11 tackles, Jack Cavanaugh had six tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery, Tevin Shadd added eight tackles and Cam Labute made six.

The Cougars are 3-2-0, one game behind the division coleaders. They continue a three-game homestand this Sunday against the Jr. Argonauts at 1 p.m.