Sabercats claw out dramatic win (Updated)

The Sault Sabercats have served notice to the entire OVFL that they are a team that just won't quit.

For the fourth time this season, the Sabercats rallied from deficit and used a Dan Swystun 23 yard field goal with five seconds remaining to defeat the London Falcons 23-20 at Rocky DiPietro Field on Saturday night.

The win is the team's fifth in a row and moves the club to a third place standing at 5-2 with one game remaining in the regular season.

Despite the stellar record, the Sabercats have yet to secure their first playoff spot in the Ontario Varsity Football League's Adam Division.

With a log jam in the top five positions and only four teams qualifying for a post season berth, the Cats will need to win again against a very tough Essex Ravens team next Saturday at 1 p.m. at Rocky DiPietro Field.

The Sabercats did not receive any help as Lambton beat Guelph on Sunday afternoon. The locals could still get in with a loss if London losses next week.

If the locals lose and London wins, the final two playoff spots will go to a tiebreaking formula.

With the complicated ifs, ands and buts of the league's tiebreaking formula and next week's on field results, the Sabercats playoff chances range from home field advantage to being on the outside looking in.

Anthony Orazietti opened the scoring against London with a one yard touchdown run 4:19 into the game.

The Falcons answered late in the first quarter as Rob Mitchell, who rushed for 206 yards, scored on a 14 yard run. Chris Mamo kicked an 18 yard field goal on the first play of the second quarter to give London a 10-7 halftime lead.

The Sabercats took a 13-10 lead when Matt Premo hauled in a seven yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ryan Maunu in the third quarter.

On the next drive, Jay Taylor caught a 21 yard touchdown pass to put the Falcons ahead 17-13.

Two plays later, Kayvon Fatemizadeh rushed 75 yards for a major score to give the Sabercats a 20-17 lead after three quarters.

Mamo booted a 37 yard field goal to tie the score at 20-20 setting up Sywstun's game winning boot.

Fatemizadeh rushed for 137 yards on 12 carries while Premo led all receivers with five catches for 84 yards. Maunu completed 12 of 24 passes for 170 yards and a touchdown but was uncharacteristically intercepted four times.

Defensively, Swystun recorded a game high 16 tackles from the free safety spot. Kurt Morrison, who moved up to linebacker, added 11 tackles and an interception while Joey Thorburn added 7.5 tackles.

*** STEELERS ELIMINATED:

The Sault Steelers saw their Northern Football Conference playoff hopes dashed with a 31-30 loss to the Sudbury Spartans in Sudbury on Saturday night.

The loss drops the Steelers record to 2-5 with one game remaining against Sudbury next Saturday night at Rocky DiPietro Field.

North Bay has clinched the seventh and final playoff spot with seven points, three more than the eighth place Steelers.