The Spears scored on the opening drive, as quarterback Evan Burke connected with Jerimy Hipperson on a 28-yard TD pass. The Ravens quickly returned the favour however, as quarterback Kyle Quinlan launched an 82-yard TD bomb to Brad Fochesoto to knot the score at 7. The Ravens took a 14-7 lead on their next possession, as Quinlan capped an 81-yard drive with a 26-yard TD pass to Derek Easter. On the ensuing kick-off, an inadvertent whistle from one of the officials squashed Jon Quagliariello’s return and the ball was spotted at the Niagara 10-yard line. Essex took a 2-point safety on the very next snap, as Burke was taken down in the end zone. Linebacker Ryan Chmielewski set the tone early in the second quarter, sacking Quinlan deep in Ravens territory, forcing a fumble and falling on the ball. However, the Spears had to settle for a Julian Tropea 13-yard field goal, narrowing the Essex lead to 16-10. Essex kicker Cam McEwan regained the 9-point margin with a 25-yard field goal, but missed on a 44-yard attempt to end the half.

Halftime score: Essex 19 – Niagara 10.

The Spears dominated the second half on both sides of the ball, as running back Brandon Carrier narrowed the lead to 19-17 with a 5-yard rushing major. A perfectly executed fake field goal early in the fourth quarter sparked the Spears, bringing them deep onto Essex turf. Julian Tropea’s eventual missed field goal from 30 yards salvaged a single point, as Nick Coutu replaced injured Spears pivot Evan Burke. Coutu’s 39-yard connection with receiver Jason Gagnon brought the Spears back into Ravens territory with less three minutes remaining, and Niagara tied the game at 19 on a Tropea field goal miss from 25 yards out.

In the overtime shoot-out, Essex scored a TD on their first possession, courtesy of Michael Atkinson’s 1-yard plunge. Facing a long fourth down on the Ravens 21-yard line, the game looked to be over as Coutu, in the grasp of two Essex players and falling, managed to lateral the ball over to Hipperson, who alertly threw the ball to an open Gagnon in the end zone to tie the score at 26. The two teams traded field goals on their next two possessions, Tropea from 41 yards and McEwan from 35 yards out. On their third overtime possession, Essex pounded the ball into end zone on a 2-yard plunge by Eric Willson. Having to match the score, Niagara faced fourth down and two yards to go on the Essex 18, but came up a yard short.

Final score: Essex 36 – Niagara 29.

OFFENSIVE STATS – VARSITY
QB Evan Burke: 6/11 passing for 74 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT; 13 yds rushing on 4 carries
QB Nick Coutu: 1/6 passing for 39 yds
RB Jerimy Hipperson: 8 carries for 49 yds, 2 catches for 13 yds, 1 TD; 21-yd TD pass
RB Ricky Savage: 8 carries for 53 yds
RB Brandon Carrier: 11 carries for 45 yds
WR Jedd Gardner: 1 catch for 7 yds, 1 carry for 19 yds
WR Jason Gagnon: 3 catches for 86 yds, 1 TD
K Julian Tropea: 3/3 PAT, 2/4 FG (made from 13 & 41 yds, missed from 30 & 25 yds)

DEFENSIVE STATS – VARSITY
LB Ryan Chmielewski: 12 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 BB, 1 FR
LB John Surla: 9 tackles
DE Steve Cecchini: 7 tackles, 1½ sacks
DL Rob DelPriore: 5½ tackles, 1 sack
LB Tyler DeMoel 5½ tackles
DL Shane Baxter: 5 tackles
DB Sebastian Howard: 4 tackles, 1 INT
DB Jordan Duncan: 3 tackles, 1 BB
LB Adam Grilj: 3 tackles, ½ sack
DB James Savoie: 3 tackles