Day 2 Mini-round robin recap
On the consolation side of the draw, host New Brunswick, Manitoba and Nova Scotia looked to rebound from day 1 defeats. The 2013 Football Canada Cup marked the return of a mini games due to the amalgamation of Ontario into a single provincial team creating a field of seven. Mini games had previously been used up until 2010 when the under-17 and under-19 divisions were amalgamated into a single under-18 tournament to better align with Football Canada’s newly created Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) model.
The contests featured two twelve minute halves without a halftime and a 20-minute break between games.
Special teams critical for Nova Scotia
Day two’s action began with an all-maritime match-up between host New Brunswick and neighbouring Nova Scotia.
Nova Scotia opened the scoring on a 48-yard Greg Hutchins field goal after recovering a fumble at the New Brunswick 45-yard line.
Hutchins recorded all seven first half points, adding a single on a punt that bounced through the end zone along with a 20-yard field goal to put Nova Scotia up 7-0 at the half.
To open the second half, Hutchins’ kick-off rolled through the end zone to make the score 8-0 for Nova Scotia.
After a 10-yard holding call, New Brunswick’s defense recorded a sack for a loss of 10 made it 3rd and long at the NB 45-yard line, forcing a punt. Hutchins struck again as his punt rolled out of bounds to make the score 9-0.
Late in the second half, NB began at their own 22-yard line with a 22-yard reception from quarterback Andrew Crawford to receiver Branden Keenan. A 2-yard 1st down reception and 2nd down incompletion made it 3rd and 8. NB elected to go for the 1st down, as Crawford sailed a pass down the sidelines to a leaping Kyle McClusky. The NS coverage held tight, batting the ball to the ground to force the turnover.
Late in the game, Nova Scotia started at the NB 49-yard line. After a NS chop block penalty negated a 17-yard completion, NB’s defense forced a 41-yard field goal attempt. Hutchins continued his stellar day, drilling his third field goal kick to mark his 12th point and final score of the game.
Manitoba showcases its firepower in game 5
Thursday’s second mini-game pitted host New Brunswick against Manitoba in a rematch of last year’s 7th place game.
On the game’s opening possession, quarterback Drenin Busch found receiver Riley Harrison for a 31-yard touchdown pass.
Beginning at the New Brunswick 35-yard line, a 23-yard 1st down Alex Taylor run set Manitoba up inside the red zone. On the next play a Taylor 18-yard touchdown run to put Manitoba up 14 after the Busch extra-point.
A single on a kick-off through the end zone following the Taylor rumble increased the Manitoba lead to 15.
A 16-yard fake field goal pass to Jeremy Edmonds with 3:36 to play in the 1st half pushed the lead to 22.
Manitoba began their next offensive series at their own 52-yard line. A Busch pass to receiver Cameron Duplin gave Manitoba a fresh set of downs inside the 10. Following a run for a loss of 3-yards an incomplete pass set-up a 3rd and 13. Quarterback Drenin Busch (who also handles Manitoba’s kicking duties) found Jeremy Edmonds on an 13-yard fake field goal pass for six. With the extra-point, Manitoba pulled out to a 22 point lead.
Following a 22-yard Jayde Erasmo touchdown run to make the score 29-0, the teams traded opening drive turnovers. First a Brock Lekteman interception gave Manitoba possession at the New Brunswick 43-yard line. On their 1st play from scrimmage Charlie Dee recovered a Manitoba fumble to give NB possession at their own 18. The host province was unable to capitalize as Manitoba’s defense held strong, forcing a 2-and-out.
The dynamic duo of Alex Taylor and Victor St Pierre added two more rushing touchdowns each to make the final score 56-0 for Manitoba.
Nova Scotia comes back to defeat Manitoba
Down 10-5 late in the 2nd half, Nova Scotia stormed back to defeat Manitoba 12-10.
Thursday’s third and final mini-game saw Nova Scotia square-off against Manitoba in a rematch of last year’s day two opening game which saw a Nova Scotia 14-point 4th quarter comeback propel Nova Scotia to the 2012 5th place game.
On Thursday, after the Nova Scotia defense forced a 2-and-out on NB’s first possession, they brought the heat, blocking the Drenin Busch kick. Following the block, Busch (who is also Manitoba’s starting quarterback) won the footrace to the bouncing ball in the end zone. Busch pounced on the ball to minimize the damage to a safety.
To close out the 1st half, quarterback Drenin Busch found receiver DeVonn Shepherd who managed to keep his feet in bounds in the corner of the end zone to make the score 10-2 after the Busch extra-point.
Nova Scotia closed the gap 10-5 with a 35-yard Hutchins field goal with 7:39 left to play.
With 1:53 left to play, Manitoba took over at the Nova Scotia 30-yard line. On 3rd and short, Manitoba elected to hand-off to running back, Alex Taylor who went off-tackle to pick up a new set of downs. From there, Nova Scotia’s defense held strong at the 24-yard line led by defensive lineman Shaun Robinson. On 1st down, Robinson met Taylor in the backfield while on 2nd down he combined with Malcolm Hyde to bring down Drenin, forcing a Manitoba punt. With 32 seconds left to play, Robinson made his presence felt once again, pushing his way through the Manitoba offensive line to block the Manitoba punt.
Following the Nova Scotia fumble recovery, quarterback Sean Muir connected with receiver Jake Moore to set-up 1st and goal at the 6-yard line with 18 seconds to play. After Manitoba pass interference penalty brought up a new set of downs, a 2nd down Nicholas Green touchdown run made the score 11-10 with no time remaining on the clock. Greg Hutchins converted the extra-point to make the final score 12-10.
All three teams in the consolation side of the draw will square off in their second set of three mini-games on Sunday beginning at 11am (AT).
