Football Canada Cup, Day 2: Sask Green 40, Alberta 32

Many of the games in this tournament have not been competitive.  The one below started out that way, but give credit to Team Alberta for making it arguably the most exciting contest of the event.  Great way to close out the day.  The recap is from the Star Pheonix.

Saskatchewan Green built up a big lead and hung on to beat Alberta 40-32 in their second game of the Canada Cup under-18 football tournament Wednesday at Griffiths Stadium. 

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While Saskatchewan Green’s offence never got on track in the first quarter – a penalty that negated a long touchdown didn’t help – things turned around in the second. 

Led by Moose Jaw quarterback Sawyer Buettner, Saskatchewan scored three majors in the quarter to carry a 22-14 lead in the break. 

The course of the game changed, at least temporarily, when Saskatchewan found the end zone twice in the final minute. 

First, backup pivot Cordell Kadash scored his second rushing touchdown of the quarter when he dove in on a second-and-goal try. That play was set up by an unnecessary roughness of a defensive receiver penalty on Alberta. 

Then, following an interception by Benjamin Whiting, Buettner found Kade Belyk from five yards out. 

Buettner had completed all but one of his 14 passes in the first half for 177 yards. 

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Saskatchewan continued its sustained offence in the third quarter by scoring 17 points – a 30-yard field goal by Kristopher Calcutt and touchdowns by Ben Getzlaf and Kadash.
But Alberta narrowed the gap with a touchdown on the last play of the third quarter by Jacob Janke. 

A field goal and another major put Alberta within eight. 

Saskatchewan did its best to run out the clock, but a low snap on a punt attempt in the final minute led to a big loss. 

That gave Alberta the ball at midfield with 29 seconds left. A three-and-out gave Saskatchewan the win.

Get a load of the QB numbers.

MVPs
Sask Green: QB Sawyer Buettner - 18 of 22 passing 250 yards, two TDs.  6 carries for 90 yards.
Sask Green: DL Nathan Cherry - Three solo tackles and an assist, 1.5 quarterback sacks.

Alberta offense: QB Alex Basilis - 17 of 26 passing for 280 yards and 3tds.  Three carries for 21 yards.
Alberta defense: DL Dexter Da Silva - Two solo tackles and an assist, 1.5 quarterback sacks.