The Sault Steelers put an end to a tough season by grinding out a 13-0 win over the Sudbury Spartans.
Backed by a solid defensive effort, the Steelers win improved the team's record to 3-5 as the Northern Football Conference regular season came to a close on Saturday night at Rocky DiPietro Field.
With hopes of returning to the championship game for the second straight year, the Steelers fell on hard times this season but will look to regroup for next season with a solid core of veteran players.
After losing to Sudbury last Saturday, the Steelers were hungry for a victory in the season closer in order to avoid a sweep by their arch rivals.
Quarterback Rob Filmore provided all the offense the Steelers would need by running into the endzone from nine yards out late in the first quarter. Filmore would boot the convert on his own touchdown.
Tim Higgins, who had a solid all-around game, electrified the crowd with a dazzling 115 yard return off a missed field goal attempt. Higgins broke through what appeared to be two sure tackles and scampered up the left sideline to go the distance.
Mike Prentice led the receiving corps with two catches for 29 yards which put the veteran tight end into top spot all-time on the Sault Steelers receiving list.
The two catches gives the veteran 113 catches to pass the previous record of 112 receptions by Otis Dolan and Lewis Casola.
Toby Traveson, who is coming off the offensive player of the week honours, led the Steelers rushing attack with 104 yards on 26 carries while Keegan Franklin added 63 yards on 12 rushes. Last week in Sudbury, Traveson rushed for 158 yards on 25 carries.
Brandon Lewis led the defense with nine tackles, two batted balls and a blocked kick. Brian Kraft added 5.5 tackles and Seth Robinson five. Interceptions were recorded by Jason Giosa, Quintino DiLabio and Jason Brunetti.
*** NFC PLAYOFFS:
The NFC quarterfinals will take place on Saturday with first place Oakville receiving a bye in semi-final action.
Second place Oshawa will entertain seventh place North Bay, third place Milton will host the sixth seeded Sudbury Spartans while fourth place Mega City have home field advantage over Tri-City.
In a four-way tie for third place between Milton, Tri-City, Mega City and Sudbury at 5-3, positions in the standings were determined by fewest points allowed.
Semi-final action will be played on Aug. 14 while the championship game will be held Aug. 21.
*** FINAL STANDINGS:
(wins-losses-OT losses-points)
Oakville 7-1-0-14 Oshawa 6-2-0-12 Milton 5-3-0-10 Mega City 5-3-0-10 Tri-City 5-3-0-10 Sudbury 5-3-0-10 North Bay 3-4-1-7 Sault Steelers 3-5-0-6 Quinte 1-7-0-2 Markham 0-8-0-0