The Charlottetown Varsity Privateers have had a rough season, but turned it all around with a major upset of the top-seeded Cornwall Timberwolves in the playoff semi finals 20-7 Saturday night in Cornwall.
Both teams had mirror image regular season records going into the game, with Cornwall at 5-1 and Charlottetown at 1-5. Cornwall had swept the season series.
Privateers running back Kalin Holonics broke a scoreless tie with a 16-yard run score in the second quarter, the extra point gave the Privateers a 7-0 lead going into the half.
Facing a third down with 16 yards to go early in the third, Privateers quarterback Taylor Thorne found receiver Isaac MacEachern for a 40-yard-gain.
This gave them some much-needed offensive life and they proceeded to march down the field, capping off the drive with a 21-yard-touchdown pass to Andrew Simmons from Thorne, which put the Privateers up 14-0
An interception deep in the Timberwolves' end by defensive back Coady Carr-Boulter gave the ball back to the Privateers with a short field. Thorne ran in a score from four yards out to put the Privateers up 20-0.
A late touchdown by Timberwolves running back Cody Keenan was little consolation in the end, and the Privateers moved on to the Potato Bowl for the second time in three years.
Charlottetown Head Coach Mike MacNeil said the win was even sweeter because of personal reasons.
"My son has been on this team for four seasons. It's going to be his last game. Him and I shared a moment at halftime and it was very special. This kind of game doesn't come along very often. We're going to enjoy Sunday."
MacEachern was impressed with how his offensive team mates overcame obstacles to come out on top.
"We were backed up in our end in the third quarter, but the right plays were called and we pulled through together as a team and we really shared something there.
All our hard work from the season paid off today."
The Privateers move on to the Potato Bowl next weekend in Cornwall, while the Timberwolves will host for the Lobster Bowl game.
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