Sabercats' season comes to an end (Updated)

The Sault Sabercats saw a franchise best season come to a disappointing end.

Needing to win in order to get second place and a home playoff date or finish fifth and out of the playoffs with a loss, the Sabercats dropped a 28-17 decision to the Essex Ravens in their Ontario Varsity Football League regular season finale on Saturday afternoon at Rocky DiPietro Field.

Unable to contain the unbelievable rushing efforts of the Ravens' Daryl Townsend, the Sabercats finish the season with a 5-3 mark, their best season after back-to-back 3-5 campaigns.

Townsend rushed for 383 yards on 42 carries and scored three touchdowns. In the process, the powerful rusher broke his own league mark for most yards in one game and broke the OVFL record for most yards in one season, by three yards.

Jon Day, with a 95 yard reception, and Matt Premo, with a six yard catch, scored the Sabercats touchdowns from quarterback Ryan Maunu. Dan Swystun added a field goal and Anthony Orazietti added a two-point convert.

Brad Radbourne led the Sabercats rushing efforts with 69 yards on 13 carries. Maunu completed 10 of 25 passes for 196 yards, two touchdowns and a pair of interceptions. Jon Day finished with 105 yards on two catches while Premo caught four balls for 34 yards.

Defensively, Kurt Morrison, who settled into the linebacker spot late in the season, recorded 12 tackles while fellow linebacker Adam Day added eight. Kevin Nanne, who moved up to the defensive line, and defensive back Joey Thorburn made 6.5 tackles each. Swystun and Adam Elliot added 5.5 each.

Swystun was coming off defensive player of the week honours in the OVFL after recording 16 tackles in last weekend's win over London.

Marc Palumbo made five tackles and recovered a pair of fumbles while Morrison and Adam Day also recovered a fumble each. Special teams leader Kofi Osei also blocked a kick.

In the Adam Division playoff picture, fourth place Lambton will visit Hamilton's Steel City Ironmen while third place London visits second place Essex this coming weekend.

The winners will meet on Aug. 14 with the eventual division champion advancing to the OVFL Championship game against the Wettges Division champion on Aug. 21 at Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton.

*** FINAL ADAM DIVISION STANDINGS:

(wins-losses-OT losses-points)

Steel City 7-0-1-15 Essex 7-1-0-14 London 5-3-0-10 Lambton 5-3-0-10 Sault Sabercats 5-3-0-10 Halton 4-4-0-8 Guelph 2-6-0-4 Cambridge 1-7-0-2 Brantford 0-8-0-0