After dismissing the Montreal Royals 48-6 on opening day of the 2017 season, the Chateauguay Raiders served notice that they will be serious contenders for the championship trophy this season by defeating the reigning champions the South Shore Jr. Bruizers 37-3 this past Sunday, September 3.
The Raiders quickly had a chance to score the first points of the game when they started their initial drive from their own 11-yd line and with two quick passes gained a first down at the Bruizers 29-yd line. However, the next two plays were incomplete passes and they had to settle for a 37-yd field goal attempts. Unfortunately, Remi Hort’s kick was wide left and Vincent Hamel was able to run the ball out of the end zone.
The Bruizers punted on the ensuing possession and Serge Pilon appeared to score a touchdown on the return but the score was called back because of penalties and the Raiders had to start their second drive just one yard outside their own end zone. However, after two more incomplete passes, they chose to concede a safety to give the Bruizers a 2-0 lead.
After an exchange of punts, near the end of the first quarter the Bruizers appeared poised to increase their lead when they started a steady advance towards the Raiders end zone but they fumbled the ball at the Raiders 35-yd line, Jevin Richards recovered it and then returned it to the Bruizers 40-yd line. After a penalty was assessed against the Bruizers, the Raiders went on offense just 25 yards away from the end zone. Once again, the only two plays were incomplete passes and Remi Hort had to attempt a 32-yd field goal. This time the kick was on target and the home team took a 3-2 lead that they would never surrender.
After that, the Raiders defense kept the Bruizers offense on their own side of the field for the rest of the first half while their own offense started to move the ball more consistently.
Ryan Forest increased the Raiders lead to 9-2 with a 1-yd TD run and Serge Pilon increased it to 16-2 just a few minutes later with an 84-yd punt return touchdown (Remi Hort convert kick).
In the second half, while the Bruizers could only put one more point on the scoreboard with a rouge, the Raiders used big plays to score points quickly. In the 3rd quarter, Dan Mancini scored a TD on a 71-yd catch-and-run play and he followed that up with a 55-yd version of the same play in the 4th quarter. Alex Pilon finished the scoring with a 23-yd TD catch near the end of the game to make the final score 37-3.
Photo information:
1 – Serge Pilon returning a punt
2 – Michael Petit blocks a field goal attempt by Remi Hort
3 – Ryan Forest carries the ball to score the first TD of the game
4 – Daniel Mancini makes a catch before running for a TD
5 – Mario Porreca throws one of his 19 passes
6 – Serge Pilon makes an interception
