Hurricanes lose close game

Holland College, UNB Fredericton will play a third straight game Saturday with a berth in the Atlantic league final on the line

The Holland College Hurricanes football team suffered another loss to the UNB Fredericton Red Bombers Sunday at UPEI Alumni Canada Games Place in Charlottetown.

The ’Canes lost 14-12 Sunday after dropping a 30-16 decision the previous week in the New Brunswick capital.

UNB made it an uphill battle for the ’Canes Sunday as Red Bombers quarterback Greg Brown hit Micah Hesman for a 75-yard touchdown catch early in the first quarter.

Hurricanes linebacker and team veteran Alex Rose picked off the Red Bombers QB with about four minutes left in the quarter, but the ‘Canes were unable to capitalize.

Brown added another touchdown in the second quarter, this time running it in on the keeper with about five minutes to go in the half to make it 14-0.

Holland College’s defence picked up the Hurricanes first two points with a safety with just under a minute and a half left in the half. The ’Canes had an opportunity to close the deficit but missed a field goal as the score remained 14-2 at the break.

The Hurricanes got down in UNB territory in the third quarter before having a field-goal attempt blocked. Holland College’s defence grabbed another interception, which led to a field goal to cut the Bombers lead to 14-5 and Brady Crowe scored a major on the quarterback sneak to make it 14-12 after the defence forced a UNB punt.

Holland College’s offence stalled a bit in the fourth, with Crowe throwing two picks, but was able to set up a field-goal attempt with 1:20 left in the game. It wouldn’t make a difference, as UNB blocked a second field-goal attempt and walked away with the victory.

In spite of the blocked kicks, head coach Ross Young still has faith in his kicker.

“(Connor) Cruichshank is a good kicker, he just needs blocks, and we are going to work on that,” he said.

Young also kept it simple when it came to major things the squad needs to work on before Saturday’s 1 p.m. rematch with the Bombers in the semifinal in Fredericton.

“We have to score more points.” Young is convinced his team has what it takes to avoid a third straight loss to UNB Fredericton.

“When we play 60 minutes of football, we can beat anybody. We played 30 minutes today and won the half,” he said.