Bulldogs drop another heartbreaker (updated)

It is starting to become a recurring nightmare for the North Bay Bulldogs. Play one of the best teams in the NFC tough for nearly an entire game, take the lead into the final minutes, and then get a penalty that cost you a chance to win. Last night the Bulldogs led the defending National Champion Oshawa Hawkeyes with less than two minutes to go yet found a way to lose the game.

With Oshawa driving late in the fourth quarter the North Bay Bulldogs defence, which has been great all year, came up big once again. The Bulldogs forced a Hawkeye fumble which seemingly would secure a 13-10 victory for North Bay; however a roughing the passer penalty on the Bulldogs negated the fumble and the Hawkeyes went on to score what would be the game winning touchdown in a 17-13 victory. After the game Bulldogs head coach Marc Mathon was understandably frustrated.

“We cannot forget this game,” said Mathon regarding the lessons learned in the defeat.

“If we don’t take anything from this game, then it’s just a waste of time. We would have had the ball on our own 45, but because of the penalty they had the ball on our 12. And there was nothing wrong with the call; I would have made the call if I was officiating. The player who took the penalty is not going to let his teammates down again.”

Mathon noted that a missed extra point and field goal earlier in the game proved costly. After Oshawa took the lead the Bulldogs drove down to the Hawkeye 20 yard line. Had the Bulldogs not missed their two chances earlier, they would have been within a field goal of either tying or winning the game.

The Bulldogs defence played another strong game, limiting the high powered Hawkeyes offence to only 17 points. After missing last week’s game, Anthony and Mike Gauthier returned with a vengeance. Anthony had six tackles and Mike chipped in with three tackles for a loss.

Although Mathon was upset with how the game was lost, he wants his players to see how good they really are and how close they are to being on top of the league. If a week one loss to Sarnia and the two tough losses against Tri City and Oshawa were reversed, the Bulldogs would be heading into the playoffs 7-1. It is because of this that Mathon feels his Bulldogs are one of the best teams in the league.

“We are equals to the best teams in this league,” said Mathon after the loss.

“We are one of the best teams; we can match up with any team in this league without a doubt. We just need to realize that in the position we’re in, we can’t take costly penalties and have to play perfect football. We are not far from being a championship team, and as a coach I have to make my players see that and understand that.”

Mathon followed up that statement with a rather bold prediction.

“The league champion will either be Tri-City, Oshawa, or North Bay. I truly believe that. Look at the way we played Tri City and Oshawa the last three weeks. We truly are one of the best teams. We no longer go into games as underdogs; we are a team to beat.”

Mathon and his team will have a chance to prove his prediction right next week when the playoffs begin. At this time it is not known who their opponent will be, as today’s contest between Tri City and Oakville has a major impact on the standings. A Tri City victory would mean North Bay would travel to Oakville; however with an Oakville victory, Tri City and North Bay would have a Mud Bowl rematch next Saturday. Check back to baytoday.ca later this week for a preview of the Bulldogs playoff opener.