Playoff fever swept Norfolk County as high school football teams clashed in Friday’s electrifying semifinals, with only the strongest surviving to advance to the final.
In the first showdown, the undefeated Simcoe Sabres faced off against the determined Pauline Johnson Thunderbirds. Just a week earlier, the Sabres beat the Thunderbirds 29-7 in Brantford, but this rematch delivered a nail-biter no one saw coming. The Thunderbirds flew out strong, leading 14-13 at halftime, setting the stage for a second-half thriller. Both offences traded blows in a back-and-forth scoring frenzy, keeping fans on the edge of their seats.
With mere seconds left, the Thunderbirds trailed 38-36, but miraculously recovered an onside kick and reached field goal range. The last-second kick appeared good, but in a dramatic twist, the head referee overturned it, sealing the Sabres’ unbeaten streak and breaking the hearts of Thunderbirds fans.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Raiders beat the McKinnon Park Blue Devils, cruising to a 35-6 victory. With this win, the stage is set for a Mud Jug rematch, as the Sabres and Raiders prepare to battle for the championship in what promises to be a thrilling finale.
Written by Jeremy Hall