Special Teams spark Ontario’s offense in game 3 against Nova Scotia

Game Stats | Defensive Stats

 Special teams scored Ontario’s first 9 of Ontario’s 24 opening half points on route to a 36-0 final against Nova Scotia in game 3 of the 2014 Football Canada Cup at Griffiths Stadium at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon.

Ontario opened the scoring as a Gabriel Siemieniec field goal attempt missed wide right but sailed through the end zone for a single.

Later in the first half, Ontario blocked a field goal attempt off the foot of Greg Hunchak. Ontario’s Elijah Walter picked up the ball and ran it in for the score, widening Ontario’s lead 8-0.

Quarterback Kylew Gouveia hooked up with receiver John Wotherspoon to give Ontario a first and goal at the 6-yard line. Running back, Austin Whetton punched the ball on the following play to make the score 16-0.

Running back Jevante Stanley supplied an 89-yard touchdown run to widen Ontario’s lead 23-0 with 1:20 seconds to play in the opening half. Siemieniec hooked a 31-yard field goal attempt wide right, bouncing through the end zone for a single.

In the second half, Ontario added a field goal, safety and touchdown run to make the final score 36-0.

Nova Scotia head coach Chris Valardo thought Ontario’s opening score had a big impact on the momentum of the contest.

“I thought we played a heck of a first half. That first quarter when we had that drive with a blocked field goal and they went the other way for a touchdown — I think that was the big turning point of the game,” reflected Valardo.

“I thought our defense played very well. We had a few breakdowns and they capitalized on three of four big plays and I think that Ontario is a hell of a team and they run a very nice offense. They run the ball hard and they are very disciplined. On offense, that’s a great defense out there and we have trouble moving the ball all day.”

Ontario head coach Glen Mills was pleased with his team’s overall performance but admits there’s still work to do.

“We’ve got to improve our penalty situation – we took too many unnecessary penalties. We’ve got to be a little more discipline,” said Mills.

“We’ve also got to execute a little bit better. We came out of the gate a little bit slow and I was pretty pleased with our second half.”