Alberta shows offensive explosiveness in opening game of 2012 Football Canada Cup

(London, ON) — In the opening game of the 2012 Football Canada Cup, hosted by the Ontario Football Alliance at TD Waterhouse Stadium on the campus of Western University, Alberta showed its offensive firepower defeating Nova Scotia by a final score of 39-8.

Alberta running back, Ryder Stone (#34) scored the opening touchdown of the tournament on a 3-yard run on a drive in which they methodically worked their way down the field after starting at their own 15 yard line.

Alberta came up big on special teams after a Nova Scotia miscue on a punt return was recovered by Alberta on the Nova Scotia 38. Alberta extended their lead to 14 on a Boston Rowe (#5) quarterback keeper touchdown run after a Nova Scotia 3rd down penalty gave Alberta a new set of downs on the goal line. A Daniel Ellis (#21) 26-yard field goal increased the Alberta lead to 17 with just over 3 minutes left in the half.

Nova Scotia would reply, blocking an Alberta punt which was picked up and returned for a touchdown by Taylor MacDonald (#28) with just over a minute to play in the opening half.

After a Nova Scotia rouge on the opening kickoff of the 3rd quarter, Alberta continued to press offensively at the 6:18 mark as Boston Rowe scored his second rushing TD of the day to make the score 24-8. The play was set-up on a key first down scramble by Alberta’s backup QB, Chris Merchant (#12).

Later in the quarter after Nova Scotia failed to convert on 3rd down at their own 49, Merchant connected with Scott Hannah (#80) who used all of his 6’5” frame to make an acrobatic catch in the end zone to widen Alberta’s lead 31-8.

After a Nova Scotia fumble, Alberta drove down the field behind the running of Ryder Stone and Chris Merchant but the Nova Scotia defense held strong and forced a turnover on downs.  Nova Scotia conceded a safety after Alberta forced a two and out to make the score, 33-8. After a botched shotgun snap, a broken play Chris Merchant scramble to the end zone marked the last score of the opening game after the point after attempt was blocked.

Despite the loss, Nova Scotia had a number of standouts including defensive linemen Shaun Robertson (#23), and Josiha Hathaway (#74). Nova Scotia quarterback, Scott Borden (2) was 5 for 11 passing for 57 yards while running back Ryan Keays (#1) had 2 carries for 35 yards.

Nova Scotia moves on to play the loser of game 4 between Manitoba and Ontario West in the opening game on Wednesday at 10 pm ET while Alberta will face the winner of that same game at 7 pm.

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