Sturgeon Lose a Heartbreaker in Provincial Final
August 8, 2010

The Sarnia Sturgeon completed the most successful year for any team in their short 4 year franchise with a valiant effort in the provincial final on the campus of Sir Wilfred Laurier University in Waterloo on Sunday.  The Sturgeon, with a season record of 8-1 tackled  the first place Burlington Stampeders who sported an undefeated 9-0 record entering the game.  When the game was over the Stampeders had escaped with an exciting 28-27 victory.

The game featured the high powered Sturgeon offence, who led the league in scoring against the Stampeder defence, who had only allowed 39 points in their 9 games this year.  The Sturgeon took the opening kickoff and marched down the field on a 7 minute drive in their first possession.  A 12 yard pass from Josh Elsley to Alex Parete put the Sturgeon up 6-0.  This score remained unchanged at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter saw 26 points put on the board.  Burlington tied the game midway through this quarter as one of their defenders picked up a fumble and scampered 45 yards into the end zone which knotted the game at 6.  On the ensuing kickoff Mitchell Smiley picked up a teammate's fumble on the return and ran 75 yards into the Stampeder endzone.  A convert by Nic Paquette put the Sturgeon up 13-6.  Two drives later with only 35 seconds remaining in the half  Burlington scored their first offensive touchdown of the game on a short run.  A successful convert once again tied the score at 13.  Following the kickoff return, on their first play from scrimmage, Elsley connected with Hayden MacLean on a 74 yard pass and run play.  Paquette's convert sent the Sturgeon to the locker room with a 20-13 halftime lead.

In the third quarter the teams traded scores as Burlington tied the game on a 2 yard run and a successful convert.  Smiley returned the kickoff 82 yards and Paquette's convert had the Sturgeon up 27-20 entering the fourth quarter.  With 8 minutes to go in the game, Burlington booted a single point to close to 27-21.  The Stampeders went ahead for the first time in the game on a 1 yard quarterback sneak and successful convert to lead 28-27.  With 4 minutes remaining in the game the Sturgeon began their final drive.  The ball was moved down to the Stampeder 25 with 2:30 on the clock.  From there the drive stalled, the Stampeders took over on downs and were able to run the clock out.

Head coach Tim Purdy and assistants Dave Elsley, Seth Lippiatt, Fred Klaudi and Adam Bestard are to be commended for taking this team of only 28 players to within 4 minutes of a provincial championship.  Mitchell Smiley led the offence with 2 touchdowns, 157 return yards and 42 yards rushing.  Hayden MacLean ran for 39 yards and caught a pass for 74 yards.  Quarterback Josh Elsley completed 4 of 8  passes for 88 yards.  Elsley led the Sturgeon with 13 tackles and Alex Parete also had a strong game defensively making the stop on 9 plays.

This marks the end of a very successful season for the Sturgeon as they tripled their number of teams from 1 to 3.  Plans are in the works to increase to four, the number of teams in their organization teams next year, should they be able to find an additional coaching staff and if and if donations from the private sector come forward to assist with the purchase of equipment for the new team.