Bulldogs Invaded by Ottawa in Home Opener

Rookie Safety Ben Johnson (#7) makes his second Interception of the day in front of teammate Dustin Crowder (#30). Photo by Jason Pichette.

Story by Damian Dorschner

The North Bay Bulldogs found some offense, but were beaten at their home opener by a talented Ottawa Invaders team 28-13 at the Trojans Alumni Complex on Satruday evening.

The Invaders move to 2-0 in their inaugural season. Despite being a new team, they have many talented players from university football and even former CFL players.

The game opened with Bulldogs QB Matt Gordon throwing an interception which started a touchdown drive for the Invaders. The drive was capped by a nice catch while falling down by Invaders slotback Kevin Kavanagh. It was the first of two TD passes thrown by Invaders QB Vikta-Paulo Bainomugisha.

The game looked to be going downhill fast for the Bulldogs as the Invaders were threatening to score again before a key interception by Ben Johnson ended the drive. The Bulldogs then faked a punt for their first of only two first-downs in the first half.

"We saw on the game film that they bail on punts, so we had it as an option and we said if it feels good, do it," said Co-Head Coach John Smales.

The Bulldogs offense sputtered during the first half, but were kept in the game by a strong and confident defense. The game seemed to be following the same script as the week before in Toronto where they lost 13-2 until the fans were woken up on the last play of the first half.

Bulldogs QB Matt Gordon threw into double coverage towards the left sideline and the ball was caught brilliantly by WR Kwadwo Adusei who was then able to cut to the inside and found only grass and goalposts in front of him for a 68-yard half ending TD. The extra point was botched, and the half ended with the Invaders leading 7-6.


The second half started much like the first with the Invaders scoring on a 2-yard run by RB Mo Collette. Collette then turned into the provider as he threw to a wide open WR Nigel Couchman on a flea-flicker play to make the score 21-6.

Meanwhile, the Bulldog offense was beginning to show some chemistry. Early in the fourth quarter, the fans were jolted to life again. After QB Matt Gordon left the field with what turned out to be a broken finger on the previous play, Andre Landry's first snap of the game under centre turned out to be a 70-yard TD pass to Nick Graham. The Bulldogs were back in the game down 21-13.

The Bulldogs then threatened again, but Matt Gordon had a pass tipped straight into the air that was intercepted by Invaders defensive lineman Chad Bellerdine. The lineman rumbled down to the Bulldogs 2-yard line. Coach Smales admitted that re-entering Gordon into the game was an error.

"Quarterback Matt Gordon broke his finger. We thought he was good enough to go back in, but it was a bad call on our part."

The Bulldogs responded with an interception of their own by CB Kory Benoit. But still deep in their own territory, Matt Gordon threw his third interception of the game to Invader DB Eric Faucon who returned it for a touchdown. That made the score 28-13 and was the hammer blow to any comeback aspirations for the Bulldogs.

The teams exchanged two more interceptions, including Bulldogs' Ben Johnson's second of the game before the final whistle.

When asked about his thoughts on another solid game by his defense, Coach Smales was full of praise for his veteran middle linebacker Brad Kerr.

"You get a guy like Brad Kerr, who didn't play last week, come back with a force like that. He doesn't look like he hasn't played football in a while. He had a phenomenal game."

The Bulldogs (0-2) travel to Kitchener to face the Tri-City Outlaws for their next game.