BY JASON THOMPSON
The evolutionary process continued Saturday
afternoon for the Sudbury Northerners as they tamed the
Ottawa-Cumberland Panthers in Ontario Varsity Football League
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Jacob Gauthier (5) prepares to
throw a bomb to an open Northerner's teammate during
Saturday's 37-31 victory. |
Despite a Panthers touchdown in the final
minute of the game which notched the score at 31, the
Northerners took to the gridiron determined and came away with
a 37-31 sudden death overtime win, ending a three-game losing
streak.
"Last year we couldn't do this," said
defensive lineman Kevin Garbuio. "We're stepping up, we're
going as a team. Offence has really been coming along, the
offence played outstanding. For the next game, we've (defence)
got to work on getting more penetration."
With the victory, Garbuio and company
improved to 2-3 this season while the Panthers continue their
downward spiral with a record of 0-5.
"It was disappointing," said Northerners head
coach Roger Sauve on the subject of the Panthers' fourth
quarter strides.
"We felt we did everything we had to win this
game only to give up a major score with less than a minute to
go, but at the same time, going into overtime I had a lot of
confidence."
Although his team came through with the
gritty win, Sauve was quick to point out that a lot of work is
needed for success to continue.
"The first half we made quite a few mental
mistakes, we should have been ahead after the first quarter,"
admitted Sauve.
"It was just a matter of bringing everybody
together and talking about it at halftime and putting on a
better show in the second half."
"I think we had the edge the whole game, a
lot of times they were moving the ball aided by our mental
mistakes and penalties."
The Northerners will now prepare to host the
Sault Ste. Marie Sabrecats, on the heels of a 28-0 romp over
the Brantford Bissons.
With an opportunity to break even at 3-3 with
a win against the Sabrecats, Sauve is hoping for a productive
practice this week.
"That will help in reducing mental mistakes,"
said Sauve.
"Because of school commitments it's been hard
to get people out to practice but I think most of that is
done."
The Northerners play the Sabrecats July
1.
Game time at Queen's Athletic Field is 7 pm
and will be followed by a fireworks presentation.
