Ortiz ran for 45 yards on the first set of downs and made several Tigers defenders miss badly. Robbie Tufts capped the first series with a touchdown catch to put Holland College up seven before most of the crowd had taken their seats.
The combination of running backs Ortiz and Jordan Blizzard were impressive throughout much of the first half, but the Hurricanes’ defensive lapses allowed the Tigers to storm back. Two long Brendan Festeryga touchdown passes before the middle of the second quarter put the visitors up 14-7.
The Hurricanes marched right back down the field on the next series and Robbie Tufts came up big with two spectacular diving catches in a row. The second, from quarterback Greg Brown, put the Hurricanes up by a touchdown. After a touchback and a couple of safeties the score at halftime was 19-16.
Sloppy play and numerous penalties from the Hurricanes kept the game close through much of the second half. The two teams combined for three turnovers in one 35-second span in the third quarter. There were six turnovers in total in the half.
The highlight of the second half belonged to Ortiz. The running back made a couple of beautiful moves and scored on a highlight reel dive at the corner of the end zone on a 35-yard catch and run touchdown. That put Holland College up for good. The Tigers made it close, and again exposed the Hurricanes’ secondary after a second Darko Stasevic touchdown catch midway through the third quarter. But that would be all the Tigers could manage, as the Hurricanes held on for the 28-24 win.
On the day, Ortiz had 147 yards on 18 carries, four catches for 38 yards and a touchdown. Robbie Tufts had three catches for 72 yards and a touchdown for the Hurricanes. Greg Brown went 6/11 with two touchdowns and two interceptions, while Nick Hunsley went 3/6. Jonathan Gallant had an interception.
Darko Stasevic finished with three catches for 89 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Greg Pelly was mister everything for the Tigers with 38 rushing yards, 110 yards receiving and a touchdown. Quarterback Brendan Festeryga finished 7/14 with two touchdowns and an interception.
Ortiz was selected as APM Offensive Player of the game. APM defensive honours went to linebacker Andrew Oake, who led the team in tackles and was in on a number of key stops.
The Hurricanes travel to BMO field next weekend to play UNB Fredericton before returning to the Island for their final game of the regular season against UNBSJ. That game goes Saturday, October 20 at 1p.m. at UPEI Alumni Canada Place.
By Andrew Sprague
Advocating for football prospects one story at a time.
