(by John Metcalfe)
An ill wind blew in to Nelson Stadium on August 29th in the form of the Hamilton Hurricanes and the visitors prevailed 59-14 over the home side Burlington Braves.
The Braves actually hit the score sheet first via a 71 yard pass and run from pivot John Peele hooking up with Kyle Sparks and Vasillie Paulopoulos convert. The Hurricanes struck back immediately as quarterback Jonathan Mataya and receiver Archelaus Jack hooked up for an 81 yard major. Owen Charnock converted to even the score. From that point on, it was all Hurricanes. Mataya then hooked up with Angus Button (11 yards), Nigel Applewhaite (7 yards) and Emmett Putt (34 yards) along with three Charnock converts and a 42 yard field goal to stake the ‘Canes to a 31-14 lead. Braves Joel Brtka did manage to wind his way to a 100 yard kick return for the Braves. In the 3rd frame, Button’s second major came from 43 yards out followed by Jack’s second strike from 25 yards away and then Michael Brown as an on-side man recovered a Charnock punt and raced 20 yards for the score. Mataya would finish the evening with 6 touchdown passes. Charnock was good on 2 of 3 converts in the quarter. In the final quarter, Niah Wilson ran in from 5 yards which was converted by Charnock and then Charnock added an 85 yard kick off rouge.
Mataya amassed 327 yards on 15 of 23 passing for the winners. Jurrell Graddishaw led the ‘Canes with 14 rushes for 131 yards and Jack led all receivers with 137 yards on 3 catches and also had 83 return yards. Alex MacFarlane led the Braves ground attack with 20 rushes for 175 yards and the Braves leading receiver was Kyle Sparks with 3 catches for 81 yards. Hurricanes see their record improve to 2-1 while the Braves record falls to 1-1.
The Braves will hit the road for their next three games. On September 5th they trek to the Nation’s Capital to take on the Ottawa Sooners, September 12th at London and September 19th at Hamilton. Next home action for the Braves will be on September 26th at Nelson Stadium when the Sooners will pay their return visit. Hurricanes are back at Tim Horton’s Field on September 5th hosting the London Beefeaters with kick off slated for 4:00 p.m.
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