Football Notebook: Steelers season opener delayed, Sabercats open with wins

The Sault Steelers and Sault Sabercats took to the field for their first game action of the 2016 season over the weekend

The Steelers took to the field at Superior Heights on Saturday for its first game action in an exhibition game against NCAA Division III school Hamline University, based in St. Paul, MN.

The game saw the two teams play by American rules for the opening half before switching to Canadian rules for the final two quarters.

Hamline opened up a 27-0 lead in the opening half and would beat the Steelers 41-0.

The Steelers were scheduled to open the Northern Football Conference regular season on May 28 against the Toronto Raiders at home but the team will instead have a bye week after the Raiders took a one-year leave from the league due to player commitment issues.

The other week one games will go on as scheduled but the league is currently re-working the remainder of the schedule according to a post on the NFC’s official Facebook page.

The league expects the new schedule to be released “late Tuesday or early Wednesday.”

Meanwhile both Sabercats teams were in action on the road coming away with victories.

The junior varsity team picked up a 52-42 win over the York Region Lions in Aurora.

Quarterback Jordan Robinson-Wright completed 20 of 28 passes for 303 yards and four touchdowns in the win.

Nik Gervasi ran the ball 15 times for 188 yards and three touchdowns. Parker St. Onge also ran for a touchdown for the Sabercats.

Skylar Premo-Miceli caught five passes for 106 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Travis Johnson and Byron Pine also had touchdown catches.

Joseph Rosso paced the Sabercats defensively with eight assisted tackled, six solo tackles and an interception.

York Region quarterback Anthony Pinto threw for 201 yards and three touchdowns on 17 completions in the game.

Ron Boshoer ran the ball 25 times for 205 total yard and three touchdowns.

The JV team returns to action on the road on May 29 against the Myers Riders in Carleton Place, ON. The Riders opened the season on Saturday with a 53-6 win over the Toronto Thunder.

The varsity Sabercats beat Etobicoke 30-20 on the weekend to open the season.

Quarterback Michael Byron completed 15 of 25 passes for 265 total yard and two touchdowns, both caught by Dalton Toppan.

Toppan finished the day with 109 yards receiving on five catches.

Tristian Marshall ran for 175 yards on 22 carries and two touchdowns.

The varsity Sabercats are back in action on May 28 at home against the Mississauga Warriors in a 1 p.m. start at Superior Heights.