ONTARIO EAST IMPROVES TO 1 – 2 WITH WIN OVER ALBERTA FOR SEVENTH PLACE

WOLFVILLE, N.S. – Down 8-0 following a Kristopher Stretton 94 yard pass and run reception in the opening quarter plus a Steven McCaffrey missed field goal rouge in a little over one quarter of play, Team Ontario East posted a 20-1 run that ended early in the fourth quarter.

Ontario East offensive player of the game, Dallon Kuprowski, connected with David Nsabua for a 106 yard touchdown reception. A 31 yard field goal by Tyler Crapigna gave Ontario their first 10-8 lead of the game with just under two minutes remaining in the half.

A McCraffrey rouge off of a missed 11 yard field goal closed to gap by one but Ontario East responded with early fourth quarter points on a 25 yard Crapigna field goal capping a 10 play 57 yard drive. Dallon Kuprowski sprinted 10 yards for Ontario’s last major of the day for the 20-9 lead.

In the mind of Team Alberta, things were not over. Dexter Brown’s 20 yard pass reception from teammate and second half pivot Taylor Yaremchuk, with just under four minutes remaining, narrowed the lead to five points after a missed two point convert attempt.

Brown struck again less than a minute later after an on-side Alberta kick off was recovered on the Ontario East 52 yard line. Brown pulled in his fourth pass reception of the day, picking up a 32 yard touchdown from Yaremchuk to give Alberta a 21-20 lead.

Alberta elected to kick the one point convert instead of padding the lead by three points with a two point conversion. The decision to go for only the one point convert would later haunt Alberta.

In possession of the ball with just over a minute remaining the in the game, Alberta’s Yaremchuk turned over the ball on a 19 yard interception return by Ontario East’s Sam Jamieson to Alberta’s 37 yard line.

From the 22 yard line, Ontario’s Tyler Crapigna nailed a 29 yard field goal for the eventual one point win with 10 seconds remaining in the game, ending Alberta’s hopes of victory in a 23-22 loss.

Both teams were even with 316 yards in the air, but Alberta’s running game gave them the 454-407 total offence advantage.

Ontario East’s Dallon Kuprowski, who was named last year’s Under 17 Football Canada Cup MVP, was 14 for 29 passes, offering 312 yards in passing.  David Nsabua captured a team high 173 yards on five catches.

Alberta’s Trace McLellan-Eeles posted the game high rushing numbers of 90 net yards on 10 carries. Starting quarterback Mark Oness was 9 for 21 with 233 yards passing, while teammate Taylor Yaremchuk added 83 yards on four completions in the closing of the game.

The Team Ontario East win gives them a seventh place finish in the eight team tournament.

Players of the Game:

Offense

East Ontario – Dallon Kuprowski

Alberta – Dexter Brown

Defense

East Ontario – Sam Jamieson

Alberta – Zack McEachern

This post is also available in: French