******UPDATED JULY 10th @ 16:00 AST******
Quebec reign ends, Ontario & Saskatchewan to the final
Saskatchewan Green 40 Alberta 32
Saskatchewan Green built up a big lead and hung on to beat Alberta 40-32. They now move on to play Ontario in the final. Alberta will go for bronze against Quebec.
Led by CFC Top 100 quarterback Sawyer Buettner, Saskatchewan scored three majors in the second quarter to carry a 22-14 lead in the break.
Second quarter TDs included backup QB Cordell Kadash scoring his second rushing touchdown of the quarter when he dove in on a second-and-goal try. That play was set up by an unnecessary roughness on Alberta.
Then, following an interception by Benjamin Whiting, Buettner found Kade Belyk from five yards out.
Buettner had completed all but one of his 14 passes in the first half for 177 yards.
Saskatchewan continued its sustained offence in the third quarter by scoring 17 points – a 30-yard field goal by Kristopher Calcutt and touchdowns by Ben Getzlaf and Kadash.
But Alberta narrowed the gap with a touchdown on the last play of the third quarter by CFC Top 100 Jacob Janke.
A field goal and another major put Alberta within eight, but the province with the last three silver medals could not get any closer. Alberta had ball at midfield with 29 seconds left. A three-and-out gave Saskatchewan the win.
Saskatchewan victory means they now have a chance to claim the province’s first gold medal since 2010.
Ontario 30 Quebec 16
CFC Top 100 Deshawn Stevens, John Wotherspoon and Jevante Stanley scored the Ontario touchdowns. Ontario ended the reign of three time defending champions with this victory and will battle Saskatchewan Green in the Gold Medal Game. Quebec will play for bronze against Alberta – a rematch of the 2013 Gold Medal game.
In the first of two semi-final games at the 2014 Football Canada Cup at Griffiths Stadium at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Ontario defeated three-time defending champion, Quebec 30-16 to earn a berth in the gold medal game on Saturday July 12.
Following a Quebec single on the opening kickoff, a Deshaun Stevens pick six to put Ontario up 7-1.
Later in the half, Ontario gambled on 3rd and 2 at the Quebec 45-yard line. The gamble paid off as quarterback Kevin John found receiver John Wotherspoon for the touchdown strike to widen the Ontario lead 14-3.
An interception by linebacker Tchad Ayotte gave Quebec great field position at the Ontario 6-yard line. With their backs at the end zone Ontario’s defense stood strong, holding Quebec to a field goal to make the score 15-6.
Ontario widened their lead to 23-6 as quarterback Tristan Arndt found Jevante Stanley in the end zone. The play was set-up following a fumble recovery at the Quebec 25-yard line.
After a field goal made it 15-6, Zacharie Quiviger responded following his turnover, running the ball in from the 2-yard line to narrow Ontario’s lead 23-16.
Jevante Stanley cemented the Ontario win with a 56-yard touchdown run to make the final score 30-16.
Quebec head coach, Pat Boies acknowledged penalties and mental errors played a large part in deflating the defending champion’s sails.
Saskatchewan White 26 Nova Scotia 14
Saskatchewan-white opened the scoring on a 2-yard Tyler Hermann quarterback keeper. Saskatchewan widened their lead to 10 on an Alex Lenius field goal to start the second quarter.
Nova Scotia kicker Greg Hutchins got his team on the board with a rouge on a field goal that missed wide but had enough leg to go through the end zone for a single point.
Following the rouge, Nova Scotia recovered a Saskatchewan fumble to give them great field position at their own 42-yard line. On the next play, NS returned the favour as Saskatchewan recovered a fumble at their opponent’s 18-yard line. Saskatchewan capitalized on the turnover with a second Lenius field goal to make the score 13-1 heading into halftime.
Early in the 2nd half, Nova Scotia capitalized on their second fumble recovery at midfield with a 2-yard Valardo keeper to make the score 13-8.
Saskatchewan responded to the NS score with a long kickoff return to give the home province great field position at their opponent’s 39-yard line. Following a 3rd down pass interference penalty set-up 1st and goal at the 1-yard line, Paul Frabacher punched the ball in to widen the Saskatchewan lead to 20-8.
Following a 3rd and 14 conversion at the Saskatchewan 48-yard line, Valardo found receiver Greg Hutchins on a 24-yard pass to set-up first and goal at the 1-yard line. Valardo called his own number to make the final score 26-14.
Manitoba 54 New Brunswick 0
Both teams opened day two’s action looking to bounce back after dropping their day 1 Canada Cup games on Sunday.
New Brunswick’s offense struggled to find its offensive rhythm throughout most the contest while Manitoba’s rhythm came early.
Following a NB 2-and-out, Manitoba scored on their two opening possessions. A 7-yard Brandon Sitch touchdown run put Manitoba on the board.
Quarterback Will Reimer connected on four opening half touchdown passes. First he found Sam Blakely on an 11-yard strike followed by followed touchdown passes to Bradon Sitch, Kai Madsen and Liam Grace.
A Trevor Wright rushing touchdown opened the second half scoring to give Manitoba a comfortable 44-0 lead.
Leading 54-0 following an 18-yard field goal and Tinaye Muza touchdown run, New Brunswick got new life sparked by a Travis Branscombe interception which gave NB the ball at the Manitoba 27-yard line. New Brunswick began to finds it’s offensive rhythm in the dying minute of play but was unable to score before the clock ran out.
Photo credits: Louis Christ – SnapMug INC
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