Huskers stun Trojans in triple-overtime thriller
- SportsKlub Staff
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
Scott Oliver led Mara's Nook to dramatic triple-overtime victory over Wagner Lawn Care while Rick Grant Landscaping stays perfect
With just one week remaining in the Sunshine Superwash SportsKlub Football regular season, the playoff picture became significantly clearer Sunday night at the West Orillia Sports Complex.
The Rick Grant Landscaping Blues celebrated another convincing victory over the Synergy Healthcare Augies, the CMF Automotive Silver Bombers punched its ticket to the postseason with a high-scoring win over the McLean & Dickey Thunderbolts, and the Mara's Nook Huskers kept its championship hopes alive with a dramatic overtime triumph over the Wagner Lawn Care Trojans.
The three Week 9 contests featured more than 150 combined points and still two playoff berths still up for grabs entering the regular-season finale.
Facing what was essentially a must-win game, the Huskers rallied from multiple deficits before completing a thrilling 32-25 triple overtime victory. The marathon tied the record for the longest game in SportsKlub Football history.
The Trojans appeared poised to secure its Power Bowl playoff berth after building a 25-19 lead late in regulation, but Huskers quarterback Lucas Di Mattia responded with several clutch throws for 227 yards and 2 touchowns. In the extra frame, Daniel Scavuzzo connected with Scott Oliver for the game-winning touchdown, sending the Huskers sideline into celebration and keeping the team's Power Bowl hopes alive.
Connor Woodbeck found Vince Pitines and Hayden Woodbeck for first-half touchdowns in the Blues 34-19 victory over the Augies, before Tyler Richard added two scoring strikes in the second half.
Pitines finished the day with 120 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns, placing him second on the season amongst receivers. He is now over the 1,000 yard mark for the season, a benchmark he has hit in all three of his seasons in the league.
Blake Cruise popped off for 131 receiving yards and 3 total touchdowns, but it wouldn't be enough for the Augies to dent the Blues quest for perfection.
Earlier in the evening, the Silver Bombers locked up its postseason berth, erupting for 480 yards of offence in a 48-25 victory over the Thunderbolts.
CMF's offence was nearly unstoppable throughout the evening. Quarterbacks Jesse Bremner and Colton Thompson combined for 447 passing yards and 6 touchdown passes while completing 12 of 16 attempts.
Ethan Phillips delivered one of the most explosive performances of the season, hauling in three touchdown receptions and 153 receiving yards, including a spectacular 95-yard score that broke the game open in the second half. Walker Armatage added two receiving touchdowns and 79 receiving yards.
The Thunderbolts refused to go away quietly. Mitchell Hurtubise threw for 3 touchdowns and added another receiving score, Percy Thomas scored twice, and Colby Shaw found the end zone as the Thunderbolts stayed within striking distance through three quarters.
The Silver Bombers, however, pulled away in the fourth to improve to 6-5 on the season. The victory officially clinched a playoff spot for the Bombers and keeps them in contention for second place entering Week 10.
The Week 9 results created a fascinating Power Bowl playoff race heading into the final week of the regular season.
While the Blues and Silver Bombers have already secured playoff berths, the battle for the final two postseason spots will come down to the final week of the regular season.
The Augies and Trojans are tied with 10 points, but the Dawgs currently hold the tiebreaker thanks to its five regulation victories compared to the Trojans four. The simplest path remains the same for both teams, earn a point and clinch a playoff berth. A win or overtime loss would guarantee a postseason spot for either club.
The Huskers enter Week 10 with 9 points and face a must-win showdown against the Augies. A loss would eliminate the Huskers from Power Bowl contention, and would place them against the Thunderbolts in a consolation game the following week.
while a victory would throw the playoff race into chaos. Should the Huskers defeat the Augies in regulation, the door would open for the winner to leapfrog one of the current playoff teams depending on the Trojans result against the Thunderbolts.
As a result, Sunday's Huskers vs Augies matchup at 7 p.m. effectively serves as an elimination game, while the Trojans will be looking to take care of business agaisnt the Thunderbolts at 7 p.m., removing all doubt from the playoff equation. On Sunshine Superwash Prime Time at 8 p.m., the first-place Blues look to cap off its undefeated regular season against CMF Automotive.
Week 10 promises to be one of the most important regular-season nights in recent SportsKlub Football history. By the end of the night, the four-team field for the Power Bowl 39 Playoffs will be officially set.
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