Sturgeon Bantams Improve to 5-1

In a game with significant play-off implications, the Sarnia Sturgeon travelled to Chatham to battle their Southwestern Ontario rivals on Sunday.  When all the smoke had cleared, the Sarnia offence had exploded for 521 total yards enroute to a convincing 63-27 victory over the hometown Cougars. 
 
Chatham won the toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff.  The Cougars marched the ball down the field on an impressive 8 minute drive that ended with a fumble that was recovered by the Sturgeon's Alex Parete.  The potent Sturgeon offence then moved the ball down the field in four minutes and their first possession concluded with a 3 yard touchdown run by Alex Parete.  The next Cougar drive took 8 minutes off the clock but ended when they turned the ball over on downs at the Sturgeon 10 yard line.  At this point the track meet was on, as the Sturgeon offence took over.  Before the half was over Hayden MacLean had scored 2 touchdowns on a 69 yard pass and run play from quarterback Josh Elsley and a 13 yard run around the left side.  Nick Paquette added a convert.  Dalton Shulan finally got the home side on the board in the last minute of the half and a successful convert made the score 20-7 for the Sturgeon at the half.
 
The speed of the Sturgeon offence posed a serious issue for the Cougars all game and in the second half Josh Elsley had two touchdown runs of 62 yards and from 1 yard out.  Marco Parete dashed 99 yards for another major.  Hayden MacLean added 2 more touchdowns on runs of 15 and 58 yards.  Nick Paquette booted 2 converts and Marco Parete ran for a 2 point convert.  Mason Kett closed out the Sturgeon scoring on a 6 yard quarterback sneak. 
 
Hayden MacLean was the offensive star of the game with 4 touchdowns, 1 two point convert, 5 carries for 111 yards and 2 pass receptions for 107 yards.  Alex Parete rushed for 117 yards on 5 carries and brother Marco 9 times for 50 yards.  The game was a chippy affair with 90 yards in penalties assesed to the home side and 145 yards called against the Sturgeon.  Josh Travis, Riley Green and Johnny Ramos led the Sturgeon defence with many many bone jarring tackles.
 
The Sturgeon bantams have their lone bye of the season next weekend and close out the regular schedule July 18 at home against the Toronto Junior Argos and July 24 when they host the Cougars.  On Sunday July 11 the PeeWee Sturgeon host Chatham and the Junior Varsity tackle Burlington at Norm Perry Park with opening kick-offs slated for noon and 3 p.m.