Ontario crowned national champions at 2014 Canada Cup in Saskatoon

Ontario got off to a rough start, fumbling on the game’s opening play to give Saskatchewan-Green the ball at their opponents 28-yard line. Saskatchewan took advantage as Kristopher Calcutt kicked a 36-yard field goal to give Sask-green an early 3-0 lead.

Ontario was in tough once again following the early field goal as Saskatchewan punter Eric Despins pinned them back to their own 3-yard line. Ontario responded driving down the field and took the lead on a 59-yard Jevante Stanley touchdown run.

Ontario added a 38-yard Gabriel Siemieniec field goal to make the score 10-3.

Saskatchewan stormed back after pinning Ontario at back at their own 3-yard line. Saskatchewan linebacker Logan Mainil stepped in front of a Kyle Gouveia pass, returning it 18-yards for the major. The touchdown tied up the game at 10 with just over a minute to play in the first half.

Ontario answered back as Gabriel Siemieniec hit a 13-yard field goal to put Ontario up 13-10 heading into halftime.

Ontario increased their lead 20-10 midway through the third quarter as defensive back Ben Cross picked up a Saskatchewan fumble and returned it for a touchdown.

Saskatchewan answered on their next possession culminating in a 4-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Sawyer Buettner to his favourite target Kade Belnyk making the score 20-17.

Backed up to their own 5-yard line, Ontario conceded a safety touch at the end of the third quarter to narrow the Ontario lead to one 20-19.

With starting quarterback Kyle Gouveia struggling to find his rhythm in the second half, Ontario turned to dual threat quarterback Kevin John who orchestrated an Ontario drive down to the 9-yard line. Fullback Marquis Richards took over from their driving the ball in from the 1-yard line to widen the Ontario lead 27-19 with four minutes left to play in the game.

Saskatchewan tried to answer, facing 3rd down and 2 at the Ontario 51-yard line and 3 minutes left to play. It was not meant to be as Sask fumbled on the exchange, allowing Ontario defensive lineman Carter Wilson to recover and sealing the game for Ontario.

Ontario head coach Glen Mills was proud of the way his team responded in the championship game.  

“I’m incredibly proud of the kids, the kids hung in there and responded,” said Mills. “It was back and forth at times and I’m proud of the way they handled their business not only on the field but off the field this is a great group of young men.”

“We were real happy with our kids effort today, they battled right until the very end, said Saskatchewan-Green head coach Kyle Stroeder. “Unfortunately we didn’t get the outcome that we wanted, we had some goal set out early – the fourth one was winning the national championship and the third was getting to the national championship.”

“We had a pretty special group and we’ve told them that from the entire time. We’ve created a good group of family and we’ve stressed that the entire time. I’m really proud of these guys and a lot of them are going to have a great future in football and hopefully they can take this experience back to their high school programs and continue to get better and better and help build football in Saskatchewan.”