Steelers move into first-place tie thanks to home opener win

After opening a new season in a new league with a pair of games on the road, the Sault Steelers returned to the cozy confines of Rocky DiPietro Field on Saturday night.

The Steelers opened the home portion of their 2024 Power 5 Football League schedule Saturday with a 21-7 win over the Sarnia Imperials.

The Steelers got on the board first as quarterback Ryan Yost hit Michael Reid with a pass and the latter ran the ball in for the locals on an 80-yard pass-and-run to open the scoring. Brady Smith hit the extra point on the play to make it a 7-0 game.

Sarnia answered back as Imperials quarterback Spencer Bollman ran the ball in from two yards out and proceeded to hit the extra point to even things up.

The Steelers took the lead for good thanks to a four-yard touchdown run by Steven Hiiemaa and extra point from Smith to make it a 14-7 game.

Brock Hoover capped off the scoring on a 25-yard touchdown pass from Yost. The ensuing extra point from Smith helped seal the win for the Steelers.

Offensively for the Steelers, Hiiemaa had 143 yards rushing on 23 carries in the victory while Hoover added 118 yards on 12 carries.

As a group, the Steelers ran the ball for 309 yards in the win.

Yost finished the day completing three of eight pass attempts for 117 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception for the Steelers.

Bollman completed 12 of 27 pass attempts for 252 yards and had an interception for the Imperials.

Kurt Neilsen ran the ball foe 70 yards on four receptions for Sarnia while Nicholas MacKenzie had 67 yards rushing, also on four catches.

Jackson Smiley ran the ball nine times for Sarnia and had 29 yards rushing.

Darien Belkosky had four tackles and a sack for the Steelers defensively.

Andrew Batman and Joseph Eshkibok also had four tackles each for the Sault while Matt Gauthier had three tackles, an interception, and shared a quarterback sack with Fred Cassleman.

Sarnia’s defence combined for three sacks, three fumble recoveries, and an interception in the loss.

Bradley Gibson had eight tackles and a forced fumble for Sarnia.

The Steelers and Imperials now sit tied atop the Power 5 Football League standings with the Tri-City Outlaws. All three teams come out of week three play with records of 2-1.

The Steelers and Imperials renew acquaintances on July 6 as the teams are set to meet in Sarnia following a league bye for the Canada Day weekend.

Last week, the Steelers dropped a 21-9 decision on the road against the Tri-City Outlaws.

Tri-City got a pair of touchdowns on punt returns in the victory.

Jack Archelaus returned a punt 85 yards for a major while Anthony Powless ran the ball back 52 yards for a touchdown in the win.

Powless also caught a 38-yard pass from quarterback Pat Wright for the other Outlaws touchdown.

Cooper Blundell hit all three extra points in the victory.

Reid had the lone touchdown for the Steelers in the contest, returning a punt 54-yards for the visitors. Smith kicked the extra point on the play.

The Steelers also had a safety to round out the scoring.

In week one, the Steelers opened the season with a 22-6 win over the Sudbury Spartans in Sudbury.

Reid had a pair of touchdowns for the Steelers, scoring on a six-yard run and an 87-yard kickoff return.

Liam McFayden had the other touchdown for the Steelers on a nine-yard pass from Ryan Yost.

Brady Smith kicked a trio of extra points for the Steelers, who also scored on a rouge in the victory.