Sabercats struggle against Ravens

A very slow start led to a long afternoon of football for the Sault Sabercats.

The Sabercats fell behind 7-0 just under three minutes into the opening quarter and trailed 42-0 at halftime en route to a 60-0 loss in their home opener at Rocky DiPietro Field. Kyle Quinlan threw for three touchdowns while the Ravens ran for five more in the win.

It’s been typical of the last four games,” said Sabercats coach Cale Krezek. “We just keep digging ourselves deeper and deeper into a hole and we can’t seem to get out of it. It’s just one of those things. We’re not doing the little things right. There not things that we can’t correct but we haven’t.”

Quinlan opened the game with touchdowns passes of 75-yards to Brad Fochesato and 99 yards to Derek Easter in the opening quarter and added a 25-yard touchdown pass to Luke Wilson late in the opening half. Mixed in were touchdown runs from Matt Chick (20 yards), two from Dave D’Aliasi (four yards and one yard) and Conrad Mohoney (one yard and 10 yards), along with a field goal by Adrian Pecile from 25 yards out.

The Sabercats struggled offensively all day. The locals used four quarterbacks over the course of the afternoon. Veteran John Mullin got the start but left early in the second quarter with an injury. He finished the day three-for-10 passing with an interception. He was taken to hospital and early reports were that he was suffering from abdominal pains. Mike Tassone took over for Mullin and did not complete a pass and also threw an interception. Cory Wensley had the toughest day at quarterback throwing for three interceptions in the loss. Young Max Cicchillo got some work in late and was the lone Sabercats pivot without an interception.

“That’s tough, but that’s what happens when you don’t have your starting quarterback in there,” Krezek said of his teams turnovers. “On those reads, four of them are to linebackers. I can guarantee that is John is in the game that’s not going to happen. Those interceptions specifically. Not to say the results would be but it gives us a little bit more of a chance.”

Jon Widgett led the Sabercats receiving with 67 yards on five catches while Peter McGonagal ran the ball for 53 yards on 14 carries to lead the locals rushing attack.

Next action for the Sabercats will be on June 23 when they host the Brampton Bulldogs in a 1 p.m. start at Rocky Dipietro field.