Wildcats heading to finals(updated)

Wildcats linebacker Alain Pouliot (#57) recovers a late game fumble by Barons wide receiver Nick Bedard (#18) during Widdifield's 20-12 victory over Algonquin on Saturday afternoon. Photo By Lucas Punkari.

By Lucas Punkari

The Widdifield Wildcats battled through the damp conditions on Saturday afternoon, as they came away with a 20-12 victory over the Algonquin Barons. With the win, the Wildcats also gained a berth into next Saturday’s NDA Senior Football Finals - when they will host the West Ferris Trojans.

"Algonquin played us tough again but we knew that it would be a good game coming in," according to Wildcats head coach Sean Mullan.

"We came out a little bit flat early on, but once we got our legs under us, we came out much harder. So we’re very happy with the result."

Jordan Prudhomme was the hero for the Wildcats as he intercepted a pass from Barons quarterback Davin North, and returned it into the endzone for a touchdown with 9.9 seconds left on the clock, sealing the victory for Widdifield.

"I was hoping it would be a touchdown," Prudhomme said after the game.

"I saw guys chasing me down the sideline and I was just trying to avoid them and find the endzone."

Up until the interception North had led the team down the field with his arm, including a fourth down hook-and-ladder play to Jean Benoit to gain a first down and keep the drive alive.

Despite the close loss Barons head coach Mike Ohlman was pleased at the way his team performed during the contest.

"It was a very hard fought game. I was proud of the way the kids played today. They played hard all the way through. There were a few unlucky breaks for us there, so who knows, it might have gone the other way."

The Barons opened up the game with a long drive, concluding with a four-yard touchdown pass from North to wideout Nick Bedard for the game’s first touchdown. The point-after attempt was blocked leaving the score at 6-0.

The ensuing Wildcats drive didn’t end up much better as on fourth down, punter Mike Costello was forced to go for the first down after a high snap. Costello would be brought down by Alan Balfe forcing a turnover on downs.

In the second quarter it would be Costello on the other side of the special teams unit, returning a punt for 40 yards and a touchdown, giving Widdifield the lead 7-6 at halftime.

The Barons had a chance on offense with six minutes remaining in the third quarter. However, the Wildcats defense came up huge on a fourth and one when Prudhomme stopped fullback Devin McGirr behind the line of scrimmage, forcing a turnover on downs.

The Wildcats offense was able to capitalize on the next possession, with a long drive that was aided by a fifteen-yard penalty on the Barons for unsportsmanlike conduct following a third down incompletion. Chris MacDonald was able to pound the ball across the goal line for a two-yard touchdown to extend the lead. The point after attempt was botched leaving the score at 13-6.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Wildcats quarterback Tieler Gravelle was intercepted by Mathieu Desrosiers who returned it down the sidelines for a touchdown. The point after attempt went wide right, leaving the score at 13-12.

Following the interception the Wildcats replaced Gravelle under center with Pat Rideout. Coach Mullan said later that the change came about for two reasons.

"We just wanted to try and change the pace of the game, plus Tieler hurt his ribs a bit on the interception, so we decided to make the switch."

North would then fumble the ball away on a scramble during the next Barons drive, giving good field position to the Wildcats. However, Jonas Wacker’s field goal attempt from 21 yards out went right of the goal post keeping it a one point game.

The Barons were unable to get anything going on the ensuing possession, as Bedard fumbled the ball following a reception, which was recovered by the Wildcats Alain Pouliot. Widdifield then killed some time off of the game clock before putting the ball back to the Barons, leading to the game’s final drive.