JV Sabercats advance to West final

It was an opportunity for redemption and the Sault Sabercats weren’t going to let the opportunity pass them by.

After dropping a 26-23 decision on the road in their opening game of the season to the Sarnia Sturgeon, the Sabercats opened the Ontario Football Conference (OFC) playoffs on Saturday with a 42-3 win over the Sturgeon at Superior Heights. 

“We were a totally different team at that time,” Sabercats coach Jim Monico said of the first meeting between the two clubs. “We made a lot of mistakes and were very undisciplined and we stayed undisciplined.”

In the first half of Saturday’s game, Monico said he could see discipline becoming an issue again and would address it at halftime. 

“In the first half, we were a little undisciplined and I didn’t like that,” Monico said. “We called them out at halftime for the discipline and in the second half we took care of business. That makes me happy. Overall, it was a good performance and what I expected.”

Just under four minutes into the contest, Nick Pagnotta ran the ball in from 25 yards out to give the Sabercats the early lead.

On the Sabercats' next possession, Pagnotta would break away for a 71-yard major to increase the locals' lead to 14-0.

In the second quarter, Zack Tremblay would get Sarnia on the board with 5:48 to go in the half with a 30-yard field goal.

On their subsequent possession, Tyler Brechin would run the ball deep into Sarnia territory. After getting the ball to the Sarnia goal line, the Sabercats couldn’t punch the ball in and would turn the ball over on downs. 

Sarnia would proceed to kick the ball away, giving the Sabercats the ball deep in Sturgeon territory with 1:25 to go in the half.

Dylan Forsyth would catch a pass from Brechin and take the ball to the Sarnia 12 on the first play. Two plays later, Pagnotta would run the ball in from two yards out to make the score 21-3 Sabercats going into the half.

With 60 seconds to go in the third quarter, Pagnotta would scamper in from 57 yards out to further increase the Sabercats' lead.

In the opening minute of the fourth quarter with the Sabercats deep in Sarnia territory, Brechin would fumble the ball but Tristan O’Flynn would recover it and bring it into the endzone to give the Sabercats a 35-3 lead.

Forsyth would catch a 29-yard pass from Brechin three minutes into the fourth quarter to cap off the scoring.

Gaston Matilla kicked six extra points for the Sabercats.

Defensively for the Sabercats, Zack Martin had four solo tackles and an assist.

“Our defence really stood up strong,” Monico said. “We really wore them down and they really didn’t have anything left at the end of the game.”

“What they did (offensively), we had answers for,” Monico added. “They tried a lot of different formations and we were ready for everything they threw at us. We used some big men in the middle and that made a big difference. Overall, it was just a great defensive performance.”

On the offensive side of the ball, Pagnotta and Brechin were difference-makers for the Sabercats. 

“Pagnotta is a special player,” Monico said. “Between him and Brechin, we have a dual threat inside and outside. It’s tough to spot. And we’re big up front and we wore them down.”

Offensive stats were not kept for the game.

With the win, the Sabercats advance the OFC’s West Division final where they will face the winner of the other divisional semifinal between the Chatham Cougars and Brantford Bisons. The site of the game is pending the result of that game. A Chatham win would mean the Sabercats would go on the road while a Brantford win would mean the Sabercats would host the game.

The Chatham/Brantford game was set to kick off at 7 p.m. Sunday in Chatham.