The Sault Sabercats fell victim to a barrage of penalties, which now has the team scrambling for their playoff lives.
The Sabercats fell to 2-3 after a 19-7 loss to the Lambton Lions in Ontario Varsity Football League play at a wet Rocky DiPietro Field on Saturday night. Lambton, also battling the Sabercats for playoff position in the Adam division, improved to 3-2.
Flagged for 165 yards in penalties on 22 calls, the penalties did not allow the Sabercats to maintain any momentum on offense while sustaining drives for the Lambton offense.
While the Sabercats defense was drawn offside several times by the Lambton offense, the Sabercats were also hit some objectionable conduct penalties that the team felt were undeserved.
"We had all those offside penalties and block in the backs that really hurt us," said Sabercats head coach Ross Viotto. "But the objectionable conduct penalties were ridiculous and we still can't figure out what they were for. We fill in a referees report game 24 hours after the game and we will let the league take care of it from there."
"I think our kids played a decent game and defensively we were solid but they were on the field way too much. We were able to run the ball effectively on offense but they weren't on the field enough."
Mark Palombi opened the scoring for the Sabercats on a one-yard run in the first quarter. Dan Swystun kicked the convert.
Lambton scored the game's final 19 points beginning in the second quarter on a Jon Bettridge two yard touchdown reception. Jon Gooding kicked a 28-yard field goal and Vince Sutton recorded a safety to put Lambton ahead 12-7 at the half. Gooding, who kicked both converts, scored on a 61-yard run to close the scoring in the third quarter.
Palombi led the Sault offense with 107 rushing yards on 20 carries. Quarterback Ryan Maunu completed six of 14 passes for 80 yards with receiver Ron Kelly catching four of those passes for 75 yards.
Defensively, the Sabercats turned in a good performance led by Ian Hazlett's nine-tackle effort. Kurt Morrison made 6.5 tackles and Eric Vallee six while Dan Kennedy and Gavin Cond made five each. Steve Tarachuk and Jon Day recorded sacks.
At three losses, the Sabercats cannot afford another one and will need some help. The team will play their final home game of the year on Saturday against Halton at Rocky DiPietro Field beginning at 2 p.m. The Cats close the season with road games in Brantford and Hamilton.
********************************* STEELERS HAMMER BULLDOGS: The Sault Steelers remain as one of only two unbeaten in the Northern Football Conference after whipping the previously undefeated North Bay Bulldogs 37-3 in North Bay on Saturday night.
The Steelers, now 4-0, were led by Keegan Franklin's three touchdown runs.
In other reported scores around the league, Tri-City beat Milton 49-7. Oakville remained undefeated at 5-0 after beating Markham 51-0 on Friday night.