Week Two Preview | Sabercats Dominate Season Opener, Set Sights on Clarington Knights Matchup -

On Saturday, May 17th, the Sault Varsity Sabercats opened their 2025 Ontario Summer Football League (OSFL) campaign with a resounding 35–1 victory over the Peterborough Wolverines. In a commanding road performance, the Sabercats set the tone early and never looked back, securing a win that showcased their depth, talent, and preparation across all three phases of the game.

The Sabercats (1–0) now turn their focus to week two, where they’ll once again be on the road—this time facing the Clarington Knights (0–1), who are reeling from a 50–0 loss to the Quinte Skyhawks. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 24th in Clarington.

Strong Start Highlights Depth and Execution

In their season opener, the Sabercats displayed an explosive and balanced offensive attack led by veteran running back Nathan Guizzetti, who powered into the end zone twice. Quarterback Matti Tucker orchestrated the offense with confidence, finding Nate Carter for a touchdown through the air, while Payton Melchiorre and Ethan Serrao added rushing scores of their own.

Carter also made his presence felt on special teams, converting three extra points and a two-point attempt. Defensively, the Sabercats impressed with a key play from Rene Levesque, who scooped up a fumble and returned it for a touchdown.

“Our execution was crisp, and we looked prepared in all three phases of the game,” said a team representative. “We’re proud of the team’s performance, but we know we can still improve our fundamentals, especially in blocking, tackling, and avoiding avoidable mistakes before and after the snap.”

Leadership and Focus Key to Continued Success

Coming off such a dominant win, maintaining focus for the next challenge is critical—especially with back-to-back road games. But according to the Sabercats’ leadership, that’s where the strength of their coaching staff and veteran core shines.

“It’s certainly not just me that tackles this task,” coach Jamie Antonello shared. “Our coaching staff and core players do a great job of keeping everyone on track each week. Our goal is to compete for a championship, and to do that, we need to go 1–0 every week.”

Travel is a reality for the Sault-based squad, and the team is no stranger to long road trips. “Living where we do, our athletes are used to this. Mentally, we’ll approach this week just like any other—prepare, study, and implement the game plan. Physically, we’ll build on our speed and depth at practice to be ready by Saturday.”

Key Contributors to Watch

Defensively, the Sabercats were led by a standout performance from Aiden Wonch, who notched four sacks in his varsity debut. He was part of a dominant front that included Ethan Carchidi, Grant Mathewson, Daikaden Gauthier, and Ashton Sawchyn.

On offense, quarterback Matti Tucker and receiver Nate Carter continued to build their strong connection, while Guizzetti paced the run game. Running backs Levesque and Melchiorre also contributed significantly, showing that the ground game will be a collective effort. Special teams and defense saw impact plays from young contributors like Marcus Spadafora and Maxx Clement, both in Grade 11, who stepped up and made key plays.

Preparing for the Clarington Knights

Looking ahead to Clarington, the Sabercats know they’ll face a team hungry to bounce back after a tough week one loss.

“Clarington is a team with size and a unique offense led by a talented running back. We’ll need to be disciplined to contain their ground game,” the team representative said. “Offensively, we’ll have to match up against their big defensive line and stay consistent with our game plan.”

With the team eyeing a 2–0 start, the Sabercats know the path to a championship isn’t built on a single win—it’s built one week at a time.

“We respect every opponent. The key is to stay focused, play our brand of football, and continue to improve.”

The Sabercats take on the Clarington Knights on Saturday, May 24th at 7:00 p.m. Fans can expect another intense road performance as the Sault squad looks to remain unbeaten in the early OSFL season.

Photo Credit: Jocelyn Kerr