Manitoba bounces back to beat Nova Scotia 23-6 on the second day of the 2024 Football Canada Cup

July 11th – REGINA, SK – Team Manitoba bounced back from their opening day loss with a hard-fought 23-6 victory over Nova Scotia in the second round of the 2024 Football Canada Cup on Wednesday, July 10, at Leibel Field in Regina, Saskatchewan.

The game unfolded as a defensive struggle for most of the contest, with each quarter presenting its own narrative:

Manitoba struck first with a single point on a 19-yard rouge by Rogan Vergata at 8:26. The quarter ended with Manitoba leading 1-0, as both defenses held firm.

The defensive battle continued, with Manitoba adding a safety at 6:50 to extend their lead to 3-0. Nova Scotia responded late in the quarter with a 31-yard field goal by Thatcher Manuel, tying the game 3-3 at halftime.

Nova Scotia took their first and only lead of the game at 5:03 with a 17-yard field goal by Thatcher Manuel, making it 6-3. Manitoba’s offense continued to struggle, failing to score in this quarter.

Manitoba’s offense finally came alive, scoring 20 unanswered points. Rogan Vergata connected with Nathan Esch for a 6-yard touchdown pass at 6:00, followed by another touchdown pass to Taylor Trosky at 10:19. Onan Furst capped off the scoring with a 4-yard touchdown run at 11:46, sealing the 23-6 victory for Manitoba.

Manitoba’s offense found its rhythm late, amassing 261 total yards compared to Nova Scotia’s 120. Quarterback Rogan Vergata led the passing attack, completing 14 of 30 attempts for 156 yards and 2 touchdowns. His primary targets were Taylor Trosky, who caught 3 passes for 36 yards and a touchdown, and Ben LaRose-Short, who had 2 receptions for 40 yards. On the ground, Bryan Lee spearheaded the rushing effort with 45 yards on 8 carries.

Manitoba’s defense showed significant improvement from their opening game, limiting Nova Scotia to just 33 rushing yards and forcing two turnovers. Jesse Deneka continued his strong tournament performance with 5 tackles and an assist.

Nova Scotia’s offense struggled to find consistency for the second straight game. Quarterback Jesse Allison completed 13 of 26 passes for 135 yards, with C. Dauphinee being his top receiver with 4 catches for 36 yards. Henry Stanhope led the ground game with 39 yards on 10 carries.

The game was characterized by penalties, with Manitoba drawing 19 for 154 yards and Nova Scotia 9 for 65 yards. Despite these setbacks, Manitoba’s ability to convert on third downs (3 for 3) proved crucial, while Nova Scotia struggled, converting only 1 of 5 third-down attempts.

The 2024 Football Canada Cup continues with the final round of games on Saturday, July 13. Manitoba (1-1) will play for 5th place, while Nova Scotia (0-2) will compete in the 7th place game.

For full stats information and the tournament schedule, visit www.footballcanada.com.

About the Football Canada Cup: The Football Canada Cup is a prestigious event in the Canadian football calendar, showcasing the best U18 male talent from across the country. This tournament serves as a crucial platform for player development and provides a pathway for athletes aspiring to compete at higher levels, including U SPORTS, NCAA, national team programs, and professional football.

About Football Canada: Football Canada is the national governing body for amateur football in Canada. Football Canada’s mission is to initiate, sustain, and encourage programs, services, and activities targeted at all levels of the game of football in Canada. The organization oversees various programs and competitions, including national championships, coach and official certification programs, and national team programs for tackle, flag, and touch football. Football Canada is committed to fostering the growth and development of football at all levels across the country.

About Football Saskatchewan: Football Saskatchewan is the provincial sport governing body for amateur football in Saskatchewan. The organization is dedicated to promoting, developing, and governing all aspects of football within the province. Football Saskatchewan works tirelessly to provide opportunities for athletes, coaches, and officials at all levels of the sport. Through various programs and initiatives, they aim to increase participation, improve the quality of play, and create a positive and inclusive football community throughout Saskatchewan. As hosts of this year’s Football Canada Cup, Football Saskatchewan demonstrates its commitment to advancing youth football and showcasing the province’s sporting capabilities on a national stage.