Sturgeon Bantams Close Regular Season at 7-1
July 25, 2010

Head coach Tim Purdy didn't know what to expect from the newest Sturgeon team this year, but as the season progressed the team jelled and improved with every start.  Following their opening game loss, the Sturgeon bantams won seven straight games and enter the play-offs next weekend on a roll.  Their latest victims were the Chatham-Kent Cougars who came to Norm Perry Park requiring a victory to maintain their fourth place standing in order to qualify for the playoffs.  In their previous meeting, the Sturgeon offence ran roughshod over the Cougars, amassing 63 points.  The Cougars came to Sarnia with a revamped defence, seeking revenge.  The defense was geared to minimize the blazing speed of the Sturgeon, but Sarnia still put significant points on the board for a 48-12 victory.
 
The first half was close and ended with the score 14-6 for the Sturgeon.  The home side scored on a 5 yard power run by Alex Parete and a 1 yard quarterback sneak by Josh Elsley.  Elsley also added a 2 point convert.  The Cougars touchdown was on a 9 yard pass from halfback Anthony Cunha to Brady Shepherd. 
 
The Sturgeon offence put 20 points on the board in the third quarter.  Mitchell Smiley scored 2 touchdowns, on runs of 8 and 53 yards.  Alex Parete scampered 35 yards to the endzone on a screen pass from quarteback Elsley.  Cody Miller scored a major for the Cougars on a 5 yard run.  The third quarter ended with the score 34-12 for the Sturgeon.
 
The lone points in the fourth quarter were courtesy of a 36 yard pass and run to Marco Parete.  Nic Paquette added 3 converts in the second half.
 
The Sturgeon travel to Sir Wilfrid Laurier University this coming Saturday for an 11 a.m. matchup in the semi-finals with the Twin-City Predators, the team that caused the lone blemish on their record in the season opener.