Steelers advance to semi-finals (updated)

The Sault Steelers have advanced to the Northern Football Conference semi-finals.

By way of a 30-6 victory over the Toronto Raiders on Saturday night, the Steelers are one step closer to the NFC championship berth. The victory allows the Steelers to have a second shot at defeating the Oshawa Hawkeyes next weekend. The Hawkeyes were the lone team to defeat the Steelers during the regular season and did so at Rocky DiPietro field. The return match next Saturday will also be held locally as the Steelers won the right to have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs by way of a 7-1 record.

In a penalty-filled affair that took over three hours to complete, the two teams combined for 320 yards in penalties and a pair of ejections, one of which was Steelers star Josh Gauthier. Gauthier was ejected late in the first quarter of the game.

The Steelers defence combined for five interceptions including a pair of picks which got returned for touchdowns. Matt Gauthier finished the night with 8.5 tackles and a 37-yard interception return for a touchdown. Nick Pederson also returned an interception 32 yards for a touchdown in the win. Tyler Belanger, Alanzo Clarke, and Wade Kraft had the other interceptions.

Travis McLean, who had 176 yards passing and ran for a touchdown. Kyle Gauthier caught a pass for a touchdown, who also kicked a field goal in the win.

As a team, Toronto had just 17 yards rushing on 16 carries while Brennan Lalonde and Brandon Nikiforuk combined to pass for 187 yards in the loss. The lone Toronto points came off a James Catton touchdown.

The two teams, who faced off in week eight of the regular season at Rocky DiPietro field where the Steelers took a 49-3 decision, combined for 13 turnovers in the game. The Steelers had five turnovers in the first half and six total, including four interceptions.

Next Saturday, Aug. 12, the Steelers will host the Hawkeyes in a 7 p.m. start at Rocky DiPietro field. A win will send the Steelers into the NFC championship, which would also be held locally against the winner of the other semi-final. The other semi-final, also set for Aug. 12, will see the Oakville Longhorns take on the Milton Marauders.

In other NFC playoff action from Saturday, Oshawa defeated the Toronto Maddogs 19-2 while Oakville topped Tri City and Milton topped Sudbury.