The Sault Sabercats turned a first half whimper into a second half roar by rallying to nip the Cambridge Lions.
The Sabercats improved to 2-2 in the Ontario Varsity Football League with the 22-21 victory in the humid heat at Rocky DiPietro Field on Saturday afternoon.
Overconfidence was apparent in the first half as an unemotional and low energy Sabercats group allowed the Lions to jump to a 21-7 lead. In three previous games, the Lions had only managed to score 22 points.
But the Sabercats managed to creep back into the game with a late first half score, more intensity in the second half and a career game for Dan Swystun.
"I think we were overconfident and our guys felt that they could beat anybody. But anybody can also win at any time in this league so you can't take anybody lightly and that's what we did and it almost cost us," said Sabercats head coach Ross Viotto.
"(Cambridge) came in here hungry for their first win and we went out there and gave them confidence which is what we didn't want to do. But we came back to win and our defense came out hungry in the second half and gave us the confidence to come back."
The Sabercats opened the scoring in the first quarter on Swystun's two-yard touchdown run and convert. Cambridge then took control of the game with three consecutive touchdowns before the Sabercats began to rally.
Frank Farkas scored on a two yard run with 23 second left in the half to cut Cambridge's lead to 21-13 at the half.
Dan Kennedy opened the second half scoring with a rouge, a punt single, from 45 yards out to avenge Swystun's blocked convert on Farkas' touchdown. Swystun then followed with another single on a missed 26 yards field goal attempt.
Ron Kelly completed the comeback with 2:29 remaining in the game on a 28-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Ryan Maunu. Swystun's convert put the Sabercats ahead 22-21.
Kelly's score was set up by the running of Jeff Maki. Maki powered his way to runs of nine, eight and 11 yards to open the drive and quickly become the Sabercats featured back in the series.
"We told Jeff Maki that he needs to run hard and keep his head in the game and he stuck with it today and he ran hard when we needed him to. Dan Swystun was big for us too and we needed those two guys to step up today," said Viotto.
Swystun led the Sault's rushing attack with 88 yards on 19 carries while Maki finished with 39 yards on eight attempts. Maunu completed eight of 15 passes for 140 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Swystun caught four passes for 85 yards to lead the receivers while Noah Rushon hauled in three passes for 25 yards.
In all, Swystun accumulated 230 all-purpose yards, including 24 yards in punt returns and 33 kickoff return yards to go with his rushing and receiving totals, and scored nine points.
Defensively, Elliott Corston-Pine recorded three quarterback sacks and a tackle to lead the Sabercats. Gavin Cond recorded eight tackles and a sack, Dan Kennedy made 5.5 tackles and a sack while Eric Vallee recorded 5.5 tackles.
The Sabercats played without running back Mark Palombi and offensive/defensive lineman Gary Knox, who were serving a one-game league suspension for objectionable conduct in last week's game against Essex. The third game of the Sabercats home stand will be played on Saturday at Rocky DiPietro Field against the Lambton Lions from Sarnia. Kickoff is 7 p.m.