Sabercats improve to 2-0 with dramatic win

ESSEX -- The Sault Sabercats are making an early statement to the rest of the Ontario Varsity Football League.

A dramatic 36 yard touchdown reception by Jourdan Morin from quarterback John Mullin with 9.7 seconds remaining lifted the Sabercats to a 19-14 win over the OVFL's second ranked Essex Ravens here on Saturday night.

The victory, the club's first ever against Essex, gives the Sabercats a 2-0 record, sole possession of first place in the Adam Division West and serves notice that team is a serious playoff contender.

The Sabercats will now prepare for their home opener on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Rocky DiPietro Field against the rival Lambton Lions, who have also started the season strong.

In Essex, Morin's touchdown capped a game that quickly became a war between two punishing clubs. The contest featured plenty of big hits before the whistle, after the whistle, in the play and away from the play as each club struggled with discipline and officiating that had both teams crying foul.

The Sabercats opened the scoring late in the first quarter as Noah Rushon hauled in his first of two touchdowns from one yard out to give the team and early 7-0 lead following Dan Swystun's convert.

Essex rallied late in the first half to take a 14-7 lead.

But the Sabercats responded in the second half by making the big plays when needed as Jon Day set the tone early with an interception.

Rushon's second touchdown from 15 yards out to cap a long drive late in the third quarter could have tied the game but execution problems on the convert led to two procedure penalties and finally a blocked kick helping the Ravens maintain a 14-13 lead.

In the fourth quarter, the strong Sabercats defense continued to keep the team in the game by stopping Essex on a fourth down gamble early in the quarter.

With timing ticking away, Mike Jurich turned in the biggest defensive play of the game by ripping the ball from the hands of an Essex running back and pouncing on the loose ball to give the Sabercats possession on the Essex 42 yard line with 40.4 seconds remaining.

Marc Palumbo iced the game with an interception following the winning score to run out the clock.

Mullin, who bounced back from several punishing hits, continued to shine by completing 17 of 28 passes for 263 yards and three touchdowns.

Jon Day caught three passes for 88 yards while Rushon had 84 yards on eight receptions. Morin led the rushing attack with 58 yards on 11 carries while Kofi Osei added 43 yards on 13 carries.

Receiver Matt Premo caught two passes for 44 yards before leaving the game seven minutes into the first quarter with a knee injury.

Frank Weise, who arrived at the field shortly before game time after attending a family funeral earlier in the day in London, anchored the defense from the rush end position with 7.5 tackles and a sack.

Mark Porco and Craig Johnson added six tackles each while Tyler King recovered a fumble to stall an Essex drive at the goal line.