Steelers eliminated from NFC playoffs (Details Added)
Monday, August 06, 2012 by: Brad Coccimiglio
The Sault Steelers Northern Football Conference season came to an end over the weekend after a 28-2 road loss at the hands of the Sarnia Imperials.
The loss came in the NFC quarterfinals and allowed Sarnia to advance to face the Toronto Titans this weekend in Toronto. The winner of that game advances to the NFC title game.
Sarnia used a pair of Steelers turnovers in the second quarter to help build a 21-0 lead heading into halftime. Chad VanBarneveld returned a fumble 17 yards to open the scoring for Sarnia in the opening minute of the second quarter while John Bain scored from 35 yards out on a lateral, just moments after the Imperials defence intercepted a pass by Steelers quarterback Rob Green.
Sandwiched in between the two turnovers was a 39-yard touchdown run by DeShawn Hayes, the first of two majors Hayes would score in the win.
After the game was delayed in the third quarter due to weather, Hayes would run the ball in from two yards out to cap the Sarnia scoring in the win.
The Steelers lone points came as the Imperials conceded a safety late in the fourth quarter.
Green finished the night completing 12 of 24 passes in the loss with a pair of interceptions in the loss, while also running for 14 yards on a pair of carries. Jesse Hill caught six of those passes for 78 yards while Aaron Bertolo caught a pair of passes for 53 yards.
Nate Edwards ran for 43 yards on 10 carries while Bryan Babic also had 10 carries and ran for 37 yards.
Hayes led the Imperials offensively with 132 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 13 carries.
The Imperials (4-4) will face Toronto (8-0) in one semi-final after the Titans beat Sudbury 41-6 in their quarter-final. The other semi-final will see the Ottawa Invaders (6-2) take on the Tri-City Outlaws (5-3).
Ottawa beat the Toronto Raiders 47-14 while Tri-City beat Oakville 43-13 in the quarter-finals.
