Sabercats season ends as rally falls short

The Sault Sabercats took their Ontario Varsity Football League playoff aspirations down to the final seconds but a second half rally fell short.

With a 24-21 loss to the Toronto Thunder on Saturday afternoon at Rocky DiPietro Field, the Sabercats finish the season at 4-4 and one victory shy of a postseason berth.

The Sabercats were officially eliminated when the Brampton Bulldogs blanked the Ottawa Cumberland Panthers 34-0.

After a quick start, the Sabercats found themselves trailing 24-7 at the half. But a pair of second half touchdowns pulled the locals back to within a field goal just 48 seconds into the final quarter.

Joe Storozuk caught a 14 yard touchdown reception from quarterback John Mullin in the third quarter while Jon Widgett hauled in his second touchdown of the game from four yards out early in the fourth. Widgett's major was set up by a Matt Kirby fumble recovery on the Thunder four yard line following a bad punt snap.

Tom Rose recovered the ensuing onside kick but the Thunder defense held which allowed their offense to chew up the clock along the ground until Mike Wozny intercepted a pass with 6:55 to play.

The Sabercats had three possessions on offense from then on to at least tie the score but eventually ran out of time.

Widgett's first touchdown on a 52 yard catch and run opened the scoring 2:22 into the first quarter. Brad McCarthy kicked all three converts.

Troy Seivwright scored two majors for the Thunder on catches of 63 and 19 yards while Jamal Darius scored on a four yard run and Matt Hunte booted a 32 yard field goal and three converts.

Further details will be added later.