DALHOUSIE WINS 30-28, BUT NO!

It was another exciting classic Dal Tigers versus the UNB Reds football game!  Earlier in the season at Wickwire Field, the Reds came away with a 23-20 OT victory.  Saturday’s game outcome could have decided the AFL final standings and which team would have home-field advantage for the playoffs.  One thing it did decide was the winner of the Alumni Cup. 

This cup is given annually to the two biggest universities whose football programs date back to the late 1940s.  The team that accumulates the most total points in the home and home, wins the Cup which was initiated by UNB.  The fans were treated to a crazy fourth Q, with the Tigers defeating the Reds, 30-28.  But UNB won the Cup, 51-50.  WOW!

I am reminded of the old ABC sports show which started with the words, “the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat”.  The Black and Gold had the thrill of victory, but also the agony/disappointment by not winning first place in the AFL outright. 

Both teams now enter the final week of play with identical 4-1 records. UNB heads to PEI to play the Hurricanes and Dalhousie is at home to the Saint John Falcons.  If the Tigers triumph over the Falcons and the Reds defeat the Hurricanes, UNB will capture first place and home field advantage. BUT NO!  The Black and Gold could overcome the 51-50 tie breaker if the Islanders defeat the Reds. GO HOLLAND! 

Game Summary:

Now to the details of Saturday’s titanic struggle.  The Tigers opened the scoring when speedy Ethan Lord streaked the sidelines for the score on a long punt return.  Liam Masner made the PAT.  The Reds replied with a Jonah Rawlines TD pass to Jace Taylor which Justin Remillard converted.  Score 7-7.  UNB took the lead with Rawlines connecting with Remillard for 6 and the PAT was good.

Both D’s played an extremely high intensity, hard hitting style.  The Reds held Dal’s talented Caden Quong to just 83 yards on 21 carries.  Quong scored the Tigers’ second major on a one yard plunge.  Masner made the convert and a FG to put the Tigers ahead 17-14 at the half.

The Black and Gold’s ever stunting and blitzing D, sacked Rawlines eight times in the game.  Logan Steeves led the Tigers with 3, David Arevalo had 2 and 4 tackles, Ewen MacKeen one and 3 ts, Cam Grover 1 sack and 2 ts, Evan Collins 1 and 1, while  Oranye Egbuna had 3 ts and one INT.  Sam Martin had 8 tackles, Julian McCarty 6 and Matt Irvine 5, were relentless and everywhere.

3rd Quarter

The third Q saw a turnover by each team.  Dalhousie recovered a Reds’ fumble but couldn’t capitalize as they missed the ensuing FG.  A Tiger INT gave UNB the ball back and Rawlines completed a TD pass to Nick Parker, but a Dal D standout Logan Steeves, blocked the PAT, making the score Reds 20, Tigers 17.  A huge kick return by Nick Tarnogorski helped to allow a FG by Masner, evened up the score a 20 each at the end of the 3rd Q.

Next came one of the longest and weirdest 4th Qs in AFL history. The Tigers took the lead on a two yard major from Dante Gabrielli and Masner’s convert gave Dal a 27-20 lead.  A rare punter’s knee down on the field turned the ball over to the Black and Gold. Quong eventually scored a TD which was negated by off setting penalties.  Dal ended up settling for a point, on a missed FG at the 10:35 mark, making the score 28-20 for the Tigers.

UNB was now marching, but a huge sack by Steeves terminated it.  The next Reds’ punt saw another good return by Lord.  Plays later, a second interception by Anderson.  His stats for the game had him 12/22 for 179 yards with two INTs.  Lord was his main target catching 8 balls for 113 yards.

With 3:22 remaining in the 4th Q, Rawlines again connected with Parker for a 6 and a two point convert failed.  But the Tigers received another penalty on the play, allowing the Reds a second chance, which was called good after what seemed to be a long consultation with all of the refs.  During the game Dalhousie was penalized 12 times and UNB 5.  The score was now tied at 28-28.

Decisions to be made?

Play strategy in a football game is like well thought out moves in the game of chess. Commentators in the press box were going through a lot of scenarios, among them the chance of OT.  On the Tiger’s next possession, after two short gains, they decided to punt on third and three with 2:30 remaining on the clock.  The punt served the purpose of pinning the Reds deep in their own end.  The vaunted Dal D kept them there.

It was now major decision time for the UNB coaching staff.  What would come next?  The result to many, was a surprise, as the Reds gave up a safety, giving the Tigers a 2 point lead.  Why? “You play the game to win”, is a famous quote given by NFL coach, Herm Edwards, and sometimes seen on sports shows.  Coach Sturgeon was obviously thinking of a bigger win and letting his D hold the Tigers in their own end.  And this is where it got exciting!

Last minute excitement

With Dal on their own 30 and with 1:47 remaining, the Reds needed to stop the Black and Gold. The Tigers had a short gain and then were penalized for a weird, illegal procedure penalty.  A short pass went incomplete and then another Anderson pass is not good, but the Reds are penalized for too many men. 

With 1:19 left the penalty gives Dal a third and one, which they convert to a first down.  Lord next makes an incredible catch for a 35 yard gain putting the Tigers on the 49.  Three plays later Dal gives up the ball on downs with 21 seconds remaining.

As an armchair QB, I am thinking the game is over and the Reds will down the ball, happy to have won the Alumni Cup and very possibly first place in the AFL.  But I was mistaken and UNB airs it out.  The first pass is complete and Rawlines’ second aerial is long and is intercepted by Dal’s Egbuna with 15 seconds remaining.  Now, the Tigers go to the air.  Dal completes one and on the 2nd completion, time expires, with the final score remaining 30-28 for Dalhousie .

WHAT A GAME!  WHAT A RIVALRY!  Hope to see this intense COMPETITION at the AFL Championship on November 1?

BUT YES!  GO TIGERS!