The second encounter of the season between the upstarts Montreal Royals and the veterans Chateauguay Raiders proved to be just as close and hard fought as the first one. In the end, the Royals’ inability to kick a convert proved to be their downfall.
The Raiders took an early lead in the game when they put together an impressive 10-play, 80-yd drive on their second possession, methodically moving the ball down field and finishing with a 5-yard TD run by Ryan Forrest to go in front 6-0 (convert kick failed).
After both teams punted on their ensuing drives, the Royals then started the first drive of the second quarter from their own 23-yd line and they used a mix of six runs and two passes to score a TD on a 3-yd run by Dynell Pierre and tie the game at 6-6, which stood up until the half time break (convert kick failed).
In the third quarter, both teams played cautiously and all seven possessions, four by the Raiders and three by the Royals, ended with punts.
At the start of the fourth quarter, the Royals appeared poised to score some points with a 3rd down and eight at the Raiders 30-yd line but instead of attempting to kick a 37-yd field goal into a strong wind, they went for it but came up less than a yard short and turned the ball over on downs.
Mid way through the 4th quarter, the Raiders used that wind to their advantage and took a 7-6 lead when Remi Hort punted the ball 65 yards through the Royals end zone for a rouge. However, the Royals responded immediately with a 6-play, 75-yd drive that finished with a second touchdown of the game by Pierre, this time on a 40-yd run, to take a 12-7 lead with 2:54 left to play (convert kick failed).
The Raiders then got the ball at their own 42-yd line and it looked like their chances of winning were gone when they went for it on 3rd and 10 and the play was an incomplete pass, but they got a new lease on life when the Royals were called for too many players and instead of turning the ball over, the Raiders had a new set of downs near mid field. Three plays later, they were faced with a 3rd and two at the Royals 36-yd line but Ryan Forrest took the handoff from Mario Porreca and ran for six yards and a first down. On the next play, Porreca delivered a perfect pass to Daniel Mancini in the back of the end zone to put the home team back in front 14-12 (Hort convert kick).
The Royals offense then went back on the field starting from their own 18-yd line and 0:58 left on the clock and they were able to get to the Raiders 43-yd line, but on the last play of the game, a pass by Dynell Pierre was intercepted by Jevin Jordan Richards and the game was over.
Attendance – approximately 60-80
| Chateauguay Jr. Raiders – TD, Ryan Forrest 5-yd run (convert kick failed) 12:43 |
| Montreal Royals – TD, Dynell Pierre 3-yd run (convert kick failed) 7:20 |
| pas de pointage / no scoring |
| Chateauguay Jr. Raiders – Rouge, Remi Hort 8:54 |
| Montreal Royals – TD, Dynell Pierre 40-yd run (convert kick failed) 12:06 |
| Chateauguay Jr. Raiders – TD, Daniel Mancini 30-yd catch (Remi Hort convert kick) 14:02 |
Photo information:
1 – Jean-Philippe Frenette kicks one of his eight punts
2 – Jelani McLaren returning a punt
3 – Brandon Hart and Jeff Gay go after a fumble
4 – Ryan Forrest on his way to scoring the first TD of the game
5 – Dynell Pierre makes a diving catch
