The points the Sooners scored on defense last night would have been enough for them to win this game as Wesley Jean-Baptiste and Tom Harris each returned interceptions for touchdowns. I believe Harris’ interception was his fifth in only the third game of the season. Jean-Baptiste’s was one of two for him on the night.
Offensively, Jonathan Ryan threw touchdowns to RB Ricky Minault and WR Devon Sparman. The other two scores were on the ground; The Ottawa Citizen credits Sean Muprhy with one and Devon London with the other, but I do not have a player named Devon London on the game day line-up.
WR Kyle Kavanaugh scored Cumberland’s touchdown.
This sort of thing likely won’t get talked about in the papers, but I find the entire Sooners game day experience impressive. The people running the team treat it like a professional club on a smaller scale.
The team has its championship banners on display. There’s music and food available, cheerleaders, a mascot…but all the while retaining a personal touch, like the announcer encouraging the crowd to sing happy birthday to someone in the audience.
I know that not all these things were present in the past and I suspect that most junior clubs (here and abroad, I mean) do not go to such lengths to provide a fun gameday atmosphere.
I’ll add the Jr Riders score as it becomes available.
2 Comments
You should write about Cumberland Panther’s 19-17 loss against the Jr. Riders. Most epic game ever. The Panthers would have won if they had a few more seconds on the clock and had the time keeper properly kept time throughout the game. The panthers had a sick passing game.
You’re right that I should have, since I was at that one.
And a good one it was!
I was a little unsure about the clock thing at the end. If I recall correctly, the Panthers had about eight seconds left when they tried a pass to the right side of the endzone. Incomplete. I turned around and the clock said zero. No way did it take eight seconds to run that play.
I didn’t want to accuse someone of making a mistake with the clock unless I knew for certain but I’ve heard a couple of times now that it was mismanaged. I thought perhaps I hadn’t taken into account whistling the ball in or some such and assumed the mistake was mine.
Anyway, you’re right that it was as good a game as I’d been to all year. Hoping for a playoff rematch!