Varsity Sabercats ride solid defensive performance in win

Confidence is continuing to grow for the Sault Sabercats varsity team

After a pair of narrow losses dropped their record to 1-2, the Sabercats picked up an important 35-18 Ontario Football Conference win on the road against the Brantford Bisons.

That game was the beginning of a five-game winning streak that secured a home playoff game on Saturday, a game in which their opponents were that same Bisons club.

A strong defensive performance was the difference on Saturday as the Sabercats advanced in the OFC playoffs with a 33-16 win over the Bisons at Superior Heights.

“Offensively we started a little slow and it was a defensive battle to start the game but we’re happy to get the win,” Sabercats Coach Matt Premo said. “There are still a couple of things we want to clean up if we’re going to get a win next week.

“Our defence played solid,” Premo added. “We definitely wanted to be able to stop their run and we did a great job stopping the run.”

After a scoreless opening quarter, Lucas Higham would punch the ball in from five yards out with just over four minutes to go in the half to give the Sabercats the 7-0 lead.

Brantford would concede a safety with 1:07 to go in the half to make it 9-0.

Higham would catch another touchdown pass from quarterback Jordan Robinson-Wright from 36 yards out with 44 seconds to go, making it 16-0 Sabercats.

Brantford would get on the board in the final seconds of the half as Tucker Almert kicked a 25-yard field goal to make the score 16-3.

In the second half, Connor DePodesta hit Danny Bosset for a 76-yard touchdown 1:24 into the half to get Brantford back into the game.

Robinson-Wright would hit Parker St. Onge for a big gain with just over four minutes to go in the third quarter, setting the stage for an eight-yard touchdown pass from Robinson-Wright to Higham to make the score 23-10 Sabercats.

A big gain on a catch-and-run by Edgerrin Williams-Hernandez would bring the Bisons deep into Sabercats territory late in the third quarter. 

That would set up a 25-yard field goal by Almert with 28 seconds to go in the quarter to make the score 23-13 Sabercats.

Almert would then kick a 30-yard field goal with 8:59 to go in the fourth quarter to pull Brantford to within seven.

Aaron Grawbarger would put the Sabercats ahead 26-16 with 3:49 to go thanks to a 35-yard field goal.

With 59 seconds to go, Mitchell Della Vedova ran the ball in to cap off the Sabercats scoring.

Premo credited the big offensive performance by Higham and the ability of the Sabercats to capitalize with some big plays at key times.

“He’s an athletic kid and he’s dangerous every time he touches the ball,” Premo said. 

Official stats were not kept for the game.

The Sabercats advance to the OFC West Division final next weekend where they will face the Waterloo Predators, who won the other OFC West Division semifinal on Saturday night, beating the Oakville Titans 31-6 at home.