Alberta defeats Ontario in Canada Cup classic

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In the first of two semi-finals on Thursday Alberta defeated Ontario 43-36 in a thrilling Football Canada Cup semi-final bout for the ages at Moncton’s Rocky Stone Field.

Alberta went into Thursday looking to push its streak to three consecutive gold medal final appearances while Ontario looked to make a push for gold in the first year of fielding a single U18 provincial team.

Alberta opened the scoring on their second drive after forcing an Ontario 2-and-out. At 8:06 of the second quarter, quarterback Ben Kopczynski found receiver Colby Miller on a 45-yard touchdown pass to put Alberta ahead early 7-0 after the Vuyani Ndhlovu extra-point.

Alberta continued to press Ontario early, adding a Quinn Polley 15-yard touchdown run to extend their lead to 14.

Down by two touchdowns, Ontario rallied back, beginning at their own 20-yard line. The drive began with a 22-yard Raishaun Provo run while quarterback Nate Hobbs found receiver Jake Williams to bring Ontario to the Alberta 41-yard line. Gambling on third and 5, Hobbs stepped up and found Jake Williams for a 36-yard score to get Ontario on the board, 14-7.

Driving early in the second quarter with Colton Hunchak in at quarterback, Alberta was able to convert on two 3rd and 1 attempts, the last on a 1-yard Hunchak goal line surge to regain a 14 point Alberta advantage, making the score 21-7 with 9:35 to play in the 1st half.

Beginning at the Alberta 45-yard line, Ontario surged down field largely through the running of Marquis Richards before culminating the drive on a 9-yard Liam Putt strike to Jake Williams, making the score 21-14 after the extra-point.

A Jamaal James-Peter interception gave Ontario a last chance to score on the Alberta 51-yard line with 26 seconds to play in the 1st half. Quarterback Liam Putt found Ben Field once again to give Ontario a 1st down at the 11-yard line with 13.8 seconds to play. Unable to find the end zone, a Michael Tarbutt field goal attempt went wide right, bouncing out of bounds for a single to give Ontario a 22-21 halftime lead.

With 7 minutes left to play in the 3rd quarter a Ndhlovu field goal put Alberta back on top 24-22.

To close out the 3rd quarter on a drive that began at mid-field, Putt connected with Field once again, this time on a 19-yard reception to put Ontario ahead 29-24.

Following a 3rd and 1 conversion inside the Alberta 30-yard line, a 17-yard Provo touchdown run widened the Ontario lead 36-25.

Defending silver medalist, Alberta would not go away quietly as Tyler Chow gave the wild rose province great field position at the Ontario 47-yard line on the preceding kick-off return. With Ben Kopczynski now in at quarterback he found follow quarterback turned receiver Colton Hunchak on a 36-yard grab to give Alberta a 1st down at the Ontario 11-yard line. Hunchak made an outstanding sprawling catch on a 2nd down Kopczynski pass, making the score 36-33 with 3 minutes to play following the two-point conversion.

Still trailing by 3, an Ontario fumble gave Alberta the ball right back at the Ontario 22-yard line. A facemask penalty against Ontario made it 1st and goal Alberta at the Ontario 1-yard line. Kopczynski called his own number on a 1-yard run to pull Alberta ahead 40-36 with 2:31 left to play.

Ontario looked to reply as Nate Hobbs found his go0to receiver Ben Field on a 32-yard strike to set them up at mid-field. Ontario gambled on 3rd and 2 as Hobbs fired a strike to Cameron Wright who was unable to hang on for the 1st down.

Alberta continued to surge with the momentum change following the Ontario turnover on downs as Vuyani Ndhlovu nailed a final field goal to make the score 43-36.

Ontario’s quarterback tandem of Liam Putt and Nate Hobbs threw for a combined 372 yards while their favourite target Ben Field hauled in 208 of those yards. Alberta running back Quinn Polley rushed for 122 yards on 14 carries.

With the win Alberta returns to the finals for the third straight year while Ontario will compete for bronze on Sunday.