Tigers lose a squeaker to the Saints

Roger Varley

Missing the extra point conversion on two touchdowns in the first half resulted in the Uxbridge Secondary School Tigers losing to the Paul Dwyer Catholic School Saints by one point last Thursday. The final result was the Saints 13, the Tigers 12.

With about 100 spectators on hand, the Tigers commanded the first half. In the first quarter, the Saints marched down the field to the Tigers' five-yard line but the defence kept them out of the end zone. Later, with Dwyer back in possession of the ball, Evan Burch intercepted a pass and ran in for a touchdown. The extra point was missed.

In the second quarter, a bad punt by the Saints put the Tigers in good field position. Quarterback Evan Couchlan threw to Reggie Kerford for a 16-yard pass-and-run TD. Again, the extra point was missed. As the end of the quarter neared, the Saints once again worked their way to the five-yard line only to be stopped by the defence again.

The third quarter started with the Saints receiving the opening kick-off and running it all the way back for a touchdown, which they converted. Late in the final quarter, the Saints completed another pass and run for their second touchdown, which they failed to convert. As the game wound down, the Saints were in possession and ran out the clock.

If the Tigers had won, they would have had a 4-1 record and a bye in the playoffs. As it is, the loss and their 3-2 record means the Tigers will face O'Neill Collegiate in the quarter-finals at 2 p.m. today (Thursday) in their last home game of the season. The last time the two teams met, the Tigers demolished O'Neill 48-6.