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Sarnia,
On – The Sarnia Sturgeon junior-varsity football
team had a successful home opener Sunday afternoon,
as the Sturgeon defeated the Hamilton Panthers 24-7.
Hayden
Mclean would have a big game on the ground for the
Sturgeon, opening the game with a twenty yard run
before the Sarnia offence was pushed back and forced
to punt. But when the Sturgeon got the ball returned
to them, Mitchell Smiley would get the hand off on a
reverse run, and take it back 52 yards for the
touchdown, putting Sarnia up 7-0.
In the
second quarter the Sturgeon defence began to take
over the game, as the Panthers got inside the Sarnia
10 yard line, but were held out of the end zone and
turned the ball over on downs, as Sarnia doesn't
allow the ball through the line.
Coming
near the end of the quarter, Sarnia had a chance to
force a punt, but on fourth down, the Panthers would
send a pass down field, and get a new set a downs.
They would eventually work it to the goal line and
punch it in on the ground the tie the game at 7-7.
Before
the end of the half, Sarnia would get the ball down
the field, and with the clock running out, Michael
Shende would kick a 25 yard field goal to give
Sarnia a 10-7 lead at the half.
To open
the second half, Sarnia kicked off. The Panthers
would return, but fumble the ball, with the Sturgeon
jumping on the loose ball and re-gaining possession.
But the Sturgeon can't push the ball forward, and
are eventually picked off in the end zone on a
throw. The Panthers would march the ball down field,
benefiting off penalties, but the Sarnia defence
would again force turnover on downs, shutting
Hamilton down on fourth down.
Hayden
Mclean would have two big runs to get the Sturgeon
down field, where quarterback Josh Elsley would keep
the ball and rush it in for another score to put the
Sturgeon up 17-7.
In the
fourth with the game turning rough, the Sturgeon
defence stepped up to stop any comeback from the
Panthers, forcing another fourth down turnover on
downs. But on the second attempt with a fourth down
conversion, the Panthers would throw a 25 yard throw
down the middle to keep the drive alive.
But with
two sacks, the Sturgeon defence would force a fourth
and long and again, force another turnover on dons.
Sarnia would keep the ball on the ground trying to
run out the clock, but with a third and 30, Mitchell
Smiley would find Bradley Churchill down field for
an open catch to get the first down. The next play,
Smiley and Churchill would hook up again, as
Churchill would make the over the should catch in
the end zone for another third yard pick up, as the
Sturgeon move 60 yards in two plays for a touchdown
to go ahead 24-7.
Sarnia's
defence forced the Panthers to turnover on downs
multiple times, not allowing the Panthers to move
forward and held on goal line stances to help pick
up the victory.
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@sarniasports.
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