Chatham-Kent Cougars First Annual Alumni Classic a Hit
Chatham-Kent Cougars JV Football vs Twin Cities - Photo by Ian Kennedy
With fireworks going off following each Chatham-Kent Cougars touchdown, there was a lot of fire in the sky Sunday afternoon. The first ever Chatham-Kent Cougars Alumni Classic was held Sunday at the CK Athletic Complex, and featured two Cougars wins out of the three games held during the day.
To kick things off, the Bantam Chatham-Kent Cougars clinched secured a playoff spot after the downed the Huronia Stallions 29-27 for their third consecutive win. Offensively, Ethan Smith had 11 carries for 100 yards, Jermaine Caldwell carried 10 times for 26 yards, and Robbie Wright contributed with 4 carries and 21 yards. Wright also had a catch for 7 yards. Justin Stevens carried the ball 5 times for 19 yards but also went 2 for 2 throwing the pitch pass for 53 yards. One was a 30 yard touchdown strike to Jake Anderson.
Anderson had two other catches for touchdowns – one for 25 yards and the other for 20 yards. Playing injured, Anderson was limited in playing time but managed the 4 catches with 3 touchdowns for 98 yards. Quarterback Kelton Evans went 3 of 17 for 43 yards with 2 touchdown tosses. Owen Dorssers kicked a pivotal field goal from 32 yards, the key points needed down the stretch to win the game, and went 2 of 4 on extra points.
Defensively, the Cougars were challenged early and often, but shut down the Stallions offense when needed. Zack Kaniecki had an interception early that he took back 70 yards for a touchdown. Spencer Pugh had a fumble recovery and Mark “Keno” Kellet had an interception on a 2 point conversion attempt late in the game.
The Chatham-Kent Cougars continued their winning ways as the JV Cougars took to the field in the sweltering heat of the day and defeated the Twin Cities Predators #2 team 57-7.
Tanner Emery ran for 126 yards and made it in the end zone 4 times, while Anthony Cunha ran for 158 yards with 2 touchdowns. Mitch Anderson took a punt return 50 yards for a touchdown and Max Fantuz caught a pass from Cole Herman to run it in for another.
On defence, the Cougars were fired up with Eric Demars and Zack Goetghebeur being the lead tacklers with 7 each, and Kameron Rylett-Ward and Cody Miller each blocking a punt. Rylett-Ward had 2 interceptions with gains of 77 yards total and also had 5 tackles. Goetghbeur and Max Fantuz both had a quarterback sack.
In the final contest of the evening, the Varsity Chatham-Kent Cougars were downed by Twin Cities 37-22. Chatham-Kent will travel to Kitchener-Waterloo to take on this same foe next week as league playoffs kick off.
Kyle Ross threw 2 touchdowns in the game to Lee Purnell and Clark Green kicked 2 field goals. Defensive standouts, Connor Martin, who had 3 sacks, and Larry Vandenberg and Graham Smyth with 8 tackles each.
Overall the first annual Chatham-Kent Cougars Alumni classic was a hit with several alumni returning to take in the day’s events, as well as a successful result on the field.