Steelers Close Out 2023 Regular Season with a Loss at Home to the All Stars

Author of the article:Jay Houslander | Sault Sports
Posted On: July 23, 2023

At Rocky DiPietro Field, the fifth place (3-2) Sault Steelers took to the field to host the 2022 NFC Football champions, the GTA All Stars in NFC action on Saturday, July 22nd under the lights to close out the 2023 NFC regular season.

At 12:35 of the opening quarter, GTA quarterback Esson Hamilton fires a 30 yard pass to Trevonte Ivey to run for a 16 yard carry to give the All Stars a 6 – 0 lead. Ovi Coca convert was blocked by the Steeler defensive line to keep the lead to 6 – 0. 21 seconds before the ten minute mark of the first quarter, Esson Hamilton runs for GTA second major of the game with a 21 yard carry to bring the lead to 12 – 0. With a two point conversion by the All Stars was unsuccesful. With 49.3 left in the first, George Baiden tackles Steeler Alonzo Clarke in the Sault endzone for a rouge to give the 2022 NFC champions a 13 – 0 lead. Esson Hamilton finds Kevin Walsh in the Steeler endzone with a 20 yard pass to increase GTA’s lead to 18 – 0. Baiden kicked the extra point on the convert to bring the lead to 19 – 0. At 7:43 of the final quarter, Steeler quarterback Ryan Yost evades three tackles to fire a 20 yard pass to Brady Smith on the Allstar six yard line to carry to Sault’s only points into the GTA endzone with a six yard run. Brady Smith adds the extra point with a Steeler convert in the Sault’s 19 – 6 loss in Sault Ste Marie.

The Steelers will head back into NFC action to open their 2023 postseason at Chinguacousy Park in Brampton, Ontario to face the GTA All Stars on Saturday, July 29th.

Original Article

Spartans battle despite NFC defeat

Author of the article:Jeff Giffen | The Sudbury Star
Published Jul 24, 2023

Junior Labrosse has never been one to shy away from ripping into the performance of his players if the situation warrants, but the head coach of the Sudbury Spartans men’s team had little to criticize on Saturday night.

The traditional hard hat for player of the game went to all 25 guys, who battled for every inch in a 42-21 loss in North Bay to end their regular season in the Northern Football Conference.

The Spartans finish with a record of 0-6, which in most seasons would mean missing the playoffs, but a combination of the Toronto Phantom Raiders taking a leave of absence and the Oakville Longhorns being an even worse 0-6 team than Sudbury, with far more points against, means the locals will squeak into the post-season with absolutely nothing to lose.

They will visit the 5-1 Tri-City Outlaws on the road this coming weekend.

Work commitments and the injury bug left the Spartans seriously short-handed for the game against the Bulldogs, but Coach Labrosse was impressed with the attitude of those 25 guys.

“The guys battled … holy jeez … the entire game,” he said with pride. “We just ran out of gas, but we were able to play with them. Running backs played well, our passing game was there, we were able to score points — something we’ve struggled doing all season — and our defence came up with a few turnovers here and there, so all in all I’m really proud of the guys that went down (to North Bay).”

The Spartans surprised the Bulldogs, who finished second in the NFC, by jumping out to a 7-0 lead and it was a bit of a slugfest at the beginning with the teams going back and forth on offence. It was 14-14 after the first quarter and 28-21 at the half.

But a short bench eventually took its toll, with some guys having to play all three positions — offence, defence and special teams.

“It just comes down to war of attrition, our numbers aren’t there, injuries happen during the game and you’re looking at the bench and the guys know it’s next-man-up mentality,” said Labrosse, who admits it’s easy to say, but a lot harder to do. “For a person that hasn’t practised or played defence, to say OK, you’re going to go in and you’re going to play defensive back, you’ve got to cover this guy and learn the defensives schemes on the fly. And the same thing, wide receiver goes down, you’ve got defensive backs (filling in). You don’t know the passing tree, you don’t know the plays, but you know you’re going to grind it out, you’re going to listen and you’ve got to do it.”

It’ll be a tall task for the Spartans against the league’s top team next weekend. The Outlaws beat Sudbury 37-7 on July 15, and their points for and against on the season were 246-64.

But you never know.

“If we can come out like we came out (on Saturday in North Bay), if we come out like we did the first quarter against Tri-City (in the regular-season matchup), anything can happen,” Labrosse said of what appears to be an uphill battle. “It’s going to be tough, just because of the lack of numbers, guys get gassed. We’ve got to hope that a couple of injured guys are going to be good to go, that could prop up the numbers.”

While the whole team earned the hard hat on Saturday, Labrosse was impressed with Victor Paajanen’s two interceptions, some excellent receptions by Tyler Bell and the ability of quarterback Nick Rideout to move the ball with his arm and his legs.

Original Article

NOTE: This article was published before the NFC announced the Playoff Picture. Sudbury forfeits the quarter final game

Bulldogs look for ‘special’ finish against Spartans

North Bay regroups from Ottawa comedown, shores up onside kick strategies
Author of the article:Greg Estabrooks | North Bay Nugget
Published Jul 21, 2023

The Bulldogs men’s team tasted defeat for the first time this season in the Northern Football Conference when they coughed up a 21-0 lead and fell in Ottawa 35-33 to the Sooners.

North Bay should have an easier time at home this Saturday when they host the winless Sudbury Spartans in a game once again played at Cundari Field because their usual home, Mike O’Shea Field, is being used for a soccer festival.

What really hurt the Bulldogs last week was the play of the special teams. Ottawa recovered two onside kicks which gave them great field position and kept the Bulldogs offence on the sidelines. So, guess what they were working on at practice this week?

“100 per cent going to be addressed this week,” says quarterback and offensive coordinator Jordan Heather.

“Moving forward it has to be a focus for our team. We cannot leave special teams until a Friday (walkthrough practice) when we do not have the numbers out. We need to focus on what we must do and make it a priority.”

Would that mean using different players on special teams?

“Somewhat,” says Heather. “We must even it out, have a few more starters in there, guys who really know football that have played and know that situation. It is a scheme thing, and we do not practise it enough.”

The Bulldogs are playing a team that already handled pretty easily on the road and now they get them at home. If North Bay gets off to a big lead, they can give their backups some much needed playing time with the playoffs around the corner.

“Anytime we can get guys playing time that is the goal,” says Heather, who passed for five scores and more than 400 yards in a losing effort last week.

“Everyone pays to play here so we want to make sure we can get guys in and if we are up by a few touchdowns, it allows us to do that,” says Heather.

The Bulldogs’ loss really hurt as they were the only team in the Northern Football Conference without a defeat. Now at 4-1, North Bay is tied with two other teams with that record.

Head Coach Marc Mathon knows there are a lot of variables out there, but mission one is to win the game they are playing.

“The position could really change this weekend with Sarnia (3-2) playing Tri-City (4-1) and Sault Ste Marie (3-2) is playing the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) All-Stars (4-1) at home,” says Mathon. “We could end up in first if Sarnia beats Tri-City.”

First things first, says Mathon. “We got to do what we have to and win, and the chips will fall wherever they may.”

The kickoff is Saturday night at 7 pm.

Original Article

‘Pass protection has been the issue’: Steelers looking to get passing game in gear, host GTA All Stars

With four quarters remaining in the regular season, Bujold is hoping things turn for the better but hope isn’t something the team wants to rely upon in the weeks ahead.
Author of the article:Gordon Anderson | Sault Star
Published Jul 20, 2023

As the football season whittles down to its inevitable conclusion, the local semi-pro team is making inevitable personnel changes to jumpstart a struggling passing game.

The Sault Steelers conclude NFC regular-season play this Saturday night when the GTA All Stars come to town for a mid-summer Saturday matchup.

“What you are going to see more of now that we are in playoff mode, you are going to see less rotation on offence,” Steelers offensive lineman and GM Jon Bujold told the Sault Star. “We are leaning on the veterans, the guys with a little bit more experience who can adapt and adjust during the game.”

While the defence is, points allowed wise, third best in the league, surrendering just 60 points, the same can’t be said about the offence and its ranking, slotted seventh in the nine-team league with 59 points scored.

“Pass protection has been the issue,” Bujold said. “Teams like to throw a lot of disguise blitzes at us and you have to know how to audible out and pick a different assignment. That’s one thing we hope to do better, with the more experienced guys out there in the passing game.”

Bujold also acknowledges pass protection isn’t the only issue on the throwing side.

Quarterback Ryan Yost and his bevy of wide receivers need to fix what’s been ailing them through 20 quarters of ball.

Basically, all the facets of an effective air game need to display some fluidity.

“It’s just the hope (that Yost) and the receivers getting more crisp, running more refined routes and being in the right spots,” Bujold said. “We hope for this week we see that click a little bit.”

With four quarters remaining in the regular season, Bujold is hoping things turn for the better but hope isn’t something the team wants to rely upon in the weeks ahead.

“We are hoping the growing pains we have gone through this year lead to some sort of meshing of the offence as we head to the playoffs,” Bujold said. “We hope (the offence) will come together and click and we will see that on Saturday, if we are any closer to that happening. The regular season is where you are supposed to work on that stuff and it’s been a slow progress, if any, on the offensive side.”

However, Bujold is confident in the running game itself, featuring Alonzo Clarke as the primary ball carrier.

“Running the ball isn’t an issue as we have a big, athletic offensive line that like to get after it,” Bujold said.

And while 100 per cent accurate offensive stats aren’t always available, Bujold noted the team is safely in the top-five in categories such as rushing yards and rushing attempts.

“We are the best running team in the league by quite a margin so running the ball isn’t too much of an issue,” Bujold said.

Kick-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Rocky DiPietro Field.

Original Article