Red Bombers knock off Hurricanes in AFL play

Sports digest Published Monday October 31st, 2011

In one of the most exciting games of the Atlantic Football League season, the UNB Red Bombers knocked off the previously unbeaten Holland College Hurricanes 28-26 in Charlottetown Saturday. FL season, The UNB Red Bombers Football team defeated the unbeaten Holland College Hurricanes by a score of 28-26 at PEI on Saturday. The win for the Bombers (3-3) leaves them in second place, while the Hurricanes (5-1) had already secured a first- place finish.

The Bombers were down quickly, trailing 14-0 four minutes into the game, but they tied it up before the end of the quarter on a 32-yard pass from quarterback Brendan Cornford to slotback Pat Forbes after a UNB interception, and a five-yard TD pass from Cornford to Eric Smith.

A Phil Lanthier field goal allowed the Hurricanes to take a 17-14 lead into the half. Bombers were hemmed deep in their own zone following a wide Lanthier field goal attempt in the third quarter. They conceded the safety to fall behind 19-14. But a 12-yard strike from Cornford to Cody Stewart and a missed two-point convert attempt left the Bombers with a 20-19 lead. Hurricanes struck back with a touchdown from quarterback Humsley to Jeff Hillier covering 47 yards to make it 26-20 for the ‘Canes entering the fourt quarter.

In the final two minutes, Cornford and company drove the ball deep into Holland College territory but the drive was snuffed out by a Patrick LeFrank interception. Holland College conceded a safety and kept the ball, leading 26-22. Bombers got the ball back and Cornford connected with Forbes on a 30-yard TD pass with 56 seconds to play. Bombers rattled the convert off the upright.

Holland College marched up the field and got to within field goal range for one final attempt, but the field goal attempt was short, giving the Bombers the victory and home field advantage for the AFL semifinal here Nov. 11 at 1 p.m.