Final mini-round robin recap
On the consolation side of the draw, host New Brunswick, Manitoba and Nova Scotia opened the last day of action in a second series of three mini-games. Nova Scotia came into Sunday’s mini-game action undefeated while Manitoba had both a win and a loss and host NB still looked for their first win of the tournament.
The 2013 Football Canada Cup marked the return of mini-games due to the amalgamation of Ontario into a single provincial team creating a field of seven. Mini-games had previously been used up until 2010 when the under-17 and under-19 divisions were amalgamated into a single under-18 tournament to better align with Football Canada’s newly created Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) model.
The contests featured two twelve minute halves without a halftime and a 20-minute break between games.
Special teams propel NS to 2nd victory over NB
The first game in the second series of three mini-games featured the all-maritime match-up of host New Brunswick and neighbouring Nova Scotia. Host New Brunswick looked to rebound from a 12-0 shutout by a Nova Scotia squad who relied heavily on the leg of Greg Hutchins to provide all 12 of the games points.
On Sunday much like he had done on Thursday, Hutchins provided all the game’s scoring.
Greg Hutchins got NS on the board with an opening kickoff rouge to give Scotia an early 1-0 lead
Starting at the 35-yard line, New Brunswick looked to reply following the rouge. Following a NB offsides penalty which made it 2nd and 15 at the NS 32, NB running back Trey Ball broke a few tackles on 12-yard run to set up 3rd and 3. Quarterback Andrew Crawford found receiver Kyle McClusky on a play-action pass to give New Brunswick a 1st and goal at the 9-yard line. Despite the opportunity three incomplete passes led to a New Brunswick turnover on downs.
Late in the opening half, a Nate Rostek punt return gave Nova Scotia great field position at the NB 15-yard line. Quarterback Sean Muir found receiver Spencer Well on a shovel pass to give set-up a 1st and goal at the 4. With time winding down an incomplete pass closed out the half with a 1-0 score.
After New Brunswick went 2-and-out a Riley Spear punt backed Nova Scotia up to their own 46. Three 2nd down conversions including a Nicholas Green run followed by a Greg Hutchins catch on a 50-50 ball gave NS a 1st down inside the NB 20. After faltering on their first two downs, a 25-yard Hutchins field gave NS a 4 point lead with 4:30 to play in the 2nd half.
Hutchins added his 2nd field goal with the final seconds ticking down to make the score a 7-0 final.
Manitoba defeats NB to set up 5th place game with NS
After showcasing its firepower on Thursday, New Brunswick hoped to keep a powerful Manitoba offense at bay.
Manitoba opened the game at their own 44-yard line. Utilizing a balanced attack, Manitoba marched down to the 3 where they ran it in to pull ahead 7-0 with 7:51 to play.
The Manitoba lead widened on their next offensive series as quarterback, Drenin Busch found Felix Kannon on a 37-yard touchdown pass to make the score 14-0 after the Busch extra-point.
Down two scores, New Brunswick looked to respond as they started at their own 25-yard line. Their drive stalled inside the Manitoba 40, forcing a punt. On 3rd and long, a 44-yard Riley Spear punt to the end zone was fumbled by Manitoba and recovered by New Brunswick receiver Cole Storey to narrow the Manitoba lead 7-14 after the Riley Spear extra-point with 1:30 in the 1st quarter.
Gaining momentum, New Brunswick forced a 2-and-out on Manitoba’s next series but could not capitalize.
To conclude the 1st half, Manitoba swung back the momentum on a 35-yard Busch pass to receiver Tayler Morgan to make the score 17-7.
New Brunswick forced a turnover on a fumbled Manitoba punt return however NB coughed it right back on a Nathan Dickson interception near mid-field.
Unable to capitalize on their first opportunity, Manitoba forced a second interception, this time by defensive back Michael Penner. The turnover set up a 55-yard Busch touchdown pass to Riley Harrison to make the score 25-7.
Receiver DeVonn Shepherd added a 39-yard rushing touchdown to make the final score 31-7.
Manitoba avenges day 2 loss to take 5th place over Nova Scotia
The third and final mini-game of the tournament was the most anticipated as in their last matchup, just as they had done on the 2nd day of action in 2012, Nova Scotia mounted a late comeback to defeat Manitoba 12-10.
Following Nova Scotia’s two-point victory against Manitoba on Thursday, to capture 5th place Manitoba needed to win by more than two points in order to win the point differential against Nova Scotia.
Early on Sunday Nova Scotia’s defensive front led by defensive lineman John Paul and Shaun Robinson looked to send a message to Manitoba. To open the game Manitoba quarterback Drenin Busch was sacked by John Paul for a loss of 6 yards. After Busch scrambled for a first down, Nova Scotia’s defense forced a 2nd sack. Busch (who is also Manitoba’s punter) pinned NS inside their own 20-yard line with a 51-yard punt.
Later in the half, Nova Scotia’s defense continued to produce. Starting at their own 53-yard line, Manitoba drove to the Nova Scotia 44. Following a series of Manitoba penalties which set up a 2nd and 20, Shaun Robinson pressured Busch leading to an incompletion. On 3rd and 20, Manitoba elected to try a fake punt however Robinson snuffed the play out in the backfield to force a turnover on downs.
After a Nova Scotia punt on the following series, Manitoba rallied with 19.4 seconds to play in the 1st half as Busch found receiver Riley Harrison on a 10-yard touchdown pass to give Manitoba a 7-0 halftime advantage.
Driving from their own 26 to open the 2nd half, a Liam Haime 1-yard touchdown run gave Manitoba a 13-0 lead following a missed extra-point.
A 75-yard Nicolas Green touchdown run on a pitch narrowed Manitoba’s lead 13-6 with 3:33 to play in the 2nd half following the Hutchins extra-point.
The following kick-off was returned 100-yards by Victor St Pierre to give Manitoba great field position at the Nova Scotia 10-yard line. Unable to solve the Nova Scotia defense, Manitoba settled for a 10-yard Busch field goal to widen their lead 16-7.
A Nathan Dickson interception and 30-yard return gave Manitoba the ball at the Nova Scotia 23-yard line with under 2 minutes left to play. The running back duo of Alexander Taylor and Liam Haime set up Manitoba inside the red zone. The Nova Scotia defense stood tall, recovering a Manitoba fumble on 1st and goal at the 7.
With a minute to play, Nova Scotia drove down to the Manitoba 25-yard line aided by two late penalties to extend the drive. With zeros on the clock, Nova Scotia quarterback Sean Muir looked to continue his team’s last minute heroics as he threw to his receiver in the end zone. Unlike Thursday’s contest the pass fell incomplete to end the game.
With the win, Manitoba captured 5th place, Nova Scotia settled for 6th while New Brunswick finished 7th.
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