Ontario defeats Saskatchewan to capture bronze

Game stats

Following defeats on semi-final Thursday, Saskatchewan and Ontario squared-off on Sunday in the bronze medal game at the 2013 Football Canada Cup. Saskatchewan looked for revenge after falling to Ontario West in the 3^rd place game in 2012.

Leading by only two points at halftime, Ontario pulled away in the 3^rd quarter to defeat Saskatchewan 34-15.

Early in the 1^st quarter following a Paul Henning interception, Ontario began their drive at their own 46-yard line. Quarterback Liam Putt found running back Khaliel James on a 58-yard reception to set up 1^st and goal at the 7. A Putt scramble made the score 7-0 after the Michael Tarbutt extra-point.

Saskatchewan tied the game at 6:36 of the 2^nd quarter on a 32-yard Jordan Walls touchdown pass to receiver Blake Anaka.

On their next possession a Michael Tarbutt 18-yard field goal pulled Ontario ahead 10-7.

To end the half, Saskatchewan added a single on a Brett Boechler field goal attempt to make the score 10-8.

Saskatchewan opened the 2^nd half on their own 29-yard line. At mid-field Saskatchewan gambled on 3^rd and 1, converting on a Walls on a read option keeper. Utilizing the momentum created by the conversion, three consecutive Kayden Johnson 1^st down rushes gave Saskatchewan great field position at the Ontario 33. Ontario seized the momentum back on the following play as an 80-yard Elijah Hamilton pick-6 widened the Ontario lead 17-8 with 7:30 to play in the 3^rd quarter.

After forcing a Saskatchewan 2-and-out, Ontario took over at the Saskatchewan 40-yard line. Electing to run on 3^rdand 1 inside the Saskatchewan 20, running back Marquis Richards made a heads-up play fielding a botched handoff on one bounce, rushing to the Saskatchewan 6. Unable to find the end zone, Michael Tarbutt increased the Ontario lead 20-8 with an 11-yard field goal.

To start the final quarter, Ontario added a pair of rushing touchdowns – a 90-yard rush from Mitchell Smiley and 7-yard Khaleil James rush to increase the Ontario advantage 34-8.

Trailing with under 5 minutes to play, Saskatchewan would not go down without a fight. Beginning at their own 46-yard line, Saskatchewan converted on 2^nd and 20 as a backup quarterback Brett Boechler found receiver Yol Piok on a 39-yard strike. Saskatchewan took a shot at the end zone, drawing an Ontario pass interference penalty. The penalty set up a 1^st and goal opportunity from the 3-yard line. Following the penalty, Boechler escaped an Ontario sack in the backfield, threading a pass to Borsa who hung on in the end zone to narrow the Ontario lead 34-15 with 2:39 to play.

The Saskatchewan surge was too-little, too-late as the Ontario lead proved insurmountable. With the win, Ontario captured 3^rd place at the 2013 Football Canada Cup while Saskatchewan settled for 4^th place.

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