Imperials Battled in Hamilton
July 14, 2015
COMMUNITY NEWS
As week 6 approached the Sarnia
Imperials were hoping to catch
the Patriots sleeping and come
out with a big win that could
have clinched first place finish
for the first time in recent
year history for the red and
gold. Well all 54 Patriots
greeted the depleted royal
family from Sarnia this past
Saturday at Mohawk field.
Steel City came out using a lot
of clock up in the first to cash
in on a 3 point conversion with
4:17 remaining of the first. The
Imperials would march right back
down field and Pat Wright would
find Brad Churchill on a 23 yard
pass to pull ahead, the sure
footed Kevin Allaer
unfortunately had some pressure
with a bad hold and was blocked
but still gave the Imps the
lead. It was a good defensive
game as both teams came up with
timely turnovers, the Patriots
had one fumble recovery and one
interception but were always
buzzing around Pat Wright with 5
batted balls and allowing one
sack for the game.
As for the Imperials, Dan White
and Andrew MacDonald lead the
team with 4 tackles each. The
team had decent pressure with 3
batted balls, Chris VanMeppellen
Scheppink also added a late
fumble recovery and new addition
LaTreze Mushatt came up with a
big interception.
During the second quarter,
Hamilton worked down the field
to grab the lead back with a
touchdown early at 2:35 into the
quarter, the convert was good
and the score now 10-6 Pats. 6
minutes later Kevin Allaer
punched in a 12 yard FG to
shorten the lead to 10-9 Pats
and that's how it stayed until
half time.
With the Imperials getting the
ball back in the second half
first, they had a great drive to
start the half finding a new
running back within the new
addition Rob Bonnani. Rob
carried the ball 14 times and
grabbed up 41 yards, the best
part about this new find was how
the O line were able to create
holes for the strong north south
runner and were able to now
create some long drives.
"The big boys were able to do
what I have been asking them to
do and this is going to be a
great finish to the season, as
they go we go", Cherski says. "I
am very proud of the work the O
line did today for our run game,
we'll get more work in and try
to make our protection for Pat
better and let's see what
happens".
Ryan Lounsbury although kept off
the score sheet for points lived
up to his billing with 7 catches
for 134 yards. Pat Wright threw
for 16 of 28 and 240 yards
passing and a rushing TD. That
rushing TD happen at 3:12
remaining in the third quarter
and the convert was good for a
16-10 lead. Five minutes later
the Patriots got a rouge of
their own to make it a 16-11
Imperials lead.
Enter the fourth quarter, the
cardiac kids needed a big score
to solidify the win, could they
do it? As the quarter played out
the Imps regained the point that
was given up earlier on a bomb
punt off the toe of Kevin Allaer
and the score was now 17-11 for
Sarnia. The defenses were both
playing well having a bend but
do not break attitude. All of
sudden a huge pass and catch
from Steel City and some blown
coverage's set up an end zone
battle that would end up in the
Patriots getting the TD and
convert, for a 18-17 lead, but
there was still time on the
clock.
The Imps moved the ball leaving
one second left for a 48 yard FG,
ball is snapped, hold is good,
enough leg it's moving through
the uprights for the win and
drifted wide right about 3 feet.
Unfortunately the boys could not
make this comeback happen this
weekend. At the end of the game
from the missed FG the Patriots
ran the ball out of the end zone
to lock up the win as the
whistle blew.
Players from both sides got
together to exchange words. The
benches emptied from both teams
and before cooler heads
prevailed the two would be short
2 players each for the next
game. The Imperials will lose
two quality players and leaders
in Chris VanMeppellen Scheppink
and Jim Purves for at least one
game as league rules states, any
ejection will be followed by a
review to deem any further
suspension.
"I hate when a good game ends
that way win or lose, I'm hoping
there is no further
repercussions even though our
one player did get headbutt and
split open after he lost his
helmet in the mele". Head coach
Cherski explained.
Next week the Imperials get
ready to go on the road for the
third week in a row to face the
Oakville Longhorns , 6pm kickoff
at Bronte field in Oakville.