Sabercats begin life in new league

It was a tough start for the Sault Sabercats as the program opened the new football season in the Ontario Football Conference.

The Sabercats varsity and junior varsity teams dropped home games to the Peterborough Wolverines on Saturday at Superior Heights.

The varsity team dropped a 35-13 decision while the junior varsity team fell 57-21 to the Wolverines.

“For the most part, our defence played well,” said varsity coach Matt Premo. “I was really happy with their performance. Offensively, we had a hard time finding a rhythm. Penalties definitely cost us. That’s something we’ll have to improve on going into next week.

“The final score kind of makes it seem like the game wasn’t as close as it was,” Premo added. “We had a chance in the fourth quarter to come within one score. We had two shots at the end zone that could have been touchdowns but we didn’t make a play.”

The team will look to make some adjustments heading into next week when the team hosts the Huronia Stallions on June 3 at Superior Heights. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m.

“A couple of big plays really cost us.” Premo said. “They had a punt return for a touchdown and late in the game they had a long pass that really hurt us. The inability of our offence to sustain drives and put first downs together kept our defence on the field way too long.”

Premo said the season opener was a learning experience as the program adjusts to three-down football in the OFC, calling it a “big adjustment.”

The JV team will also be in action on June 3 against Huronia in a 1 p.m. start at Superior Heights.