After suffering a 61-8 loss against the Tri City Outlaws in their last game in Kitchener and despite the score being better Saturday night with the Imperials losing 22 - 6 Coach Jake Cherski is disappointed with the loss and said there was no improvement.
 

"They were missing Mike Montoya their big running back." Cherski said "Point black, it would have been the same score as last week if not worse. We didn't play up to how we should.  We had better guys on defense, even though when your watching the game and see the poor tackling that happened these guys got to pick it up."

 

 

The Imperials were also missing their starting quarterback Ricky Gorton who is sidelined with a sprained ACL and it's unknown when he'll be back in the line up.  Another key Imperial player Defensive Back Julian Shadd was injured early in the game.

 

After a scoreless first quarter Tri City's Jermaine Decosta ran in 29 yards for the first touch down at the 9:00 minute mark in the second quarter.  Mark Urban's kick was good for the extra point and the Outlaws took a 7 - 0 lead.  At 4:05 the Imperials were tackled in their own end giving Tri City an extra point.  With 2:49 remaining in the first half Ryan Yantz intercepted a pass and ran in for the touch down to widen the Tri City lead and with the convert good took a 15 - 0 lead at the half.

 

In the 3rd quarter at 13:51 Tri City scored on a 65 yard punt return and with the convert good gave them 22 - 0 lead.  The final goal of the game came at 9:39 in the final quarter by the Imperials on an 8 yard run in by Joe Mason who was filling in as quarterback for the injured Gorton. The extra point was blocked giving the Imperials just 6 points on the play.

 

 

The Imperials were denied on several plays including an interception by Ryan Lounsbury deep in the Imperials end and ran 100 yards and stopped at the 1 yard line.  The Imperials were unable to reach the goal line due to misplays and fouls.

 

"We should have won that game there's no doubt about it." Cherski said " I got to readjust when we go to the Sault next week, it's going to be a battle itself."

 

The Imperials are now 1 - 2 for the season as they head to Sault Ste Marie on June 28.

 

"The Sault is big and tough especially at home. I don't think they lost a home game in nine years." Cherski said "Hopefully our guys show up to play.  I expect to hear some excuses; not making excuses or condoning it I know it's going to happen, so you got to make do with what you go up with .  We went up with 18 guys one year and almost knocked off the beast so if we have the right 18 guys I think we will be ok."