Peewee Cougars Summary from Sunday June 11th game


The Peewee Cougars went to Sarnia to put their undefeated streak on the line Sunday with a shorthanded team. Two defensive players, Sean Harris (leg injury) and Jake Anderson (broken thumb) were questionable to play let alone start the game. However, come game time both started and had key tackles early in the game to shut down a Sarnia offence that was moving the ball well in the first quarter. Offensively the Cougars entered the game missing two starters including their quarterback, Kelton Evans but the team showed their depth and desire coming away with a 40 - 0 win.

Nolan Hakr opened the scoring late in the first quarter for the Cougars returning a partially blocked punt for a touchdown. This seemed to ignite the Cougar offence which had been struggling with their timing up to that point in the game. Nolan Ball starting his first game at quarterback this season found his groove in the second quarter as the offence rallied around him. On the next possession for the Cougars Ross Krieger scored on a 31 yard run that had been set up by his own pass reception from Ball. The next offensive series the Cougars put together an impressive drive on the outside running of Brady Pataki and Liberty Rountree. Ball capped it off calling his own number on a bootleg and running it in from 19 yards out. Later in the game the Cougars called the same play but this time on the bootleg the quarterback hit his receiver Clayton Shreve in the end zone for the touchdown. Shreve scored his second touchdown of the game on an 18 yard reverse and capped the Cougar scoring with his third touchdown on a punt return when he appeared to confuse the Sarnia team as he let them all get close to him before picking up the ball, darting outside and down the sidelines to the end zone.

The Cougar ground attack was led by Pataki who had 6 carries for 71 yards, Rountree had 5 for 43 yards, Shreve had 4 for 51 yards, and Krieger 3 for 58 yards. Ball was 3 for 4 in passing. Offensive coach Doug Ball praised his offensive tackles (Hunter Migwans and Conner Walsh) for having strong games. "When we needed them to step up their game they did. They sealed Sarnia's defensive ends in allowing our backs to get to the outside." Coach Ryan Shreve added, " Once we got outside our receivers Trent Scaman and Chris Vercauteren also made key blocks to spring our guys for some big runs."

Defensively the Cougars were led by the play of birthday boy Jordan Church who led the team in solo tackles and had his best game of the season, and Spencer Pugh who knocked down several Sarnia passes and intercepted one late in the game. The Sarnia offence came out running a lot of misdirection plays and attempted to pass the ball more than any other team the Cougars had faced so far. As a result the Cougars had to play a very disciplined "stay at home" style of defence. Coach Kevin Pugh indicated that Sarnia had did their homework and remembered our previous meeting as his excellent defensive end’s Quentin Forgie and Austin Miller were double and triple teamed all game. This left linebacker Tanner Shuian and defensive tackles Zach Nicholson and Nicholis Mellilo to shut down the Sarnia offence Owen Dorssers and Alex Formossa stifled Sarnia‘s persistent attack outside. The result was the Cougars defence again not allowing a point, bringing it to all 6 games this season posting shut outs.

The Cougar's punt return team accounted for two touchdowns in the game for the second time this season. Special teams coach Pete Rountree was pleased with that and had high praise for his field goal kicker Owen Dorssers who kicked 4 converts on the day. "Owen has become an excellent and very consistent kicker for us", said Rountree.

The Cougars final two games of the season will be at home the next two Sundays against much improved teams from Mississauga and Oakville.