Sabercats hang on for second straight road win (8 photos)

CAMBRIDGE -- When the Sault Sabercats needed someone to step up, along came Peter MacNamara.

When starting quarterback John Mullin went out of the game in the second quarter with a shoulder injury, MacNamara took control of the offense and led the Sabercats to a 20-15 win over the Cambridge Lions here on Saturday at Rogers Field in Ontario Varsity Football League action.

The victory gives the Sabercats a 2-0 record before their home opener on Sunday against the Essex Ravens. Game time is 1 p.m. at Rocky DiPietro Field.

In just over two quarters of play, McNamara threw for 201 yards and a touchdown as the Sabercats built a 20-1 lead and held off a late game rally by the Lions.

After a scoreless first quarter, fullback Jeff Greco opened the scoring for the Sault early in the second on a five yard run. Mullin set up the score by completing a 14 yard pass to Jonathan Widgett on a fourth down audible from the Lions 19 yard line.

Frank Weise, who also kicked two converts in the game, then added field goals from 27 and 20 yards out to build a 13-0 lead at the half.

Following a Cambridge single, Tyler Brown hauled in a 14 yard touchdown pass from MacNamara on the final play from scrimmage in the third quarter for a 20-1 lead.

With less than six minutes remaining in the game, the Lions took to the air and marched for a pair of touchdowns against the Sabercats to pull to within five points.

Despite struggling with the run game for nearly the entire game, the Sabercats mustered a pair of big first downs on the final drive of the game along the ground to run out the clock and not give the Lions offense a shot at the win.

The Sabercats continued to make big plays defensively as the team recorded three turnovers in the first half and turned in four all together. Jon Day made an interception while Zach Clement, Weise and Tyler King recovered fumbles.

Receiver Anthony Amadio caught four passes for 101 yards, Brown hauled in four for 53 yards, Widgett grabbed two for 56 yards and Peter McGonegal two for 31 yards. MacNamara completed 10 of 20 passes while Mullin completed three of five for 58 yards before leaving the game. Greco led the rushing attack with 42 yards on seven carries.

Clement and Adam Elliott led the defense with 6.5 tackles plus half a sack each while Jason Amadio added 5.5 tackles plus half a sack. Pat Murray recorded five tackles, Weise four, Michael Storozuk 2.5 and a sack and Josh Leslie 2.5 plus half a sack.