The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net Sparked by a group of players from the Bahamas led by dynamic and versatile playmaker Demetrius Ferguson, the 2011 Holland College Hurricanes have returned football to prominence in Prince Edward Island, Canada. In the Atlantic Football League championship game on Saturday, the Hurricanes captured the first collegiate football title for a Prince Edward Island team in over 50 years when they blanked the University of New Brunswick Red Bombers 28-0. Before a home crowd of nearly 3,000 spectators at MacAdam Field, the Hurricanes captured the Moosehead Cup with a pair of scores from Ferguson on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. On the opening possession, a 30-yard reception by tight end and fellow Bahamian Leslie Green set up the Hurricanes' first score. Two plays later, Ferguson took a direct snap in the Wildcat formation and scored on a nine-yard run for a 7-0 Hurricanes lead. In the second quarter, Ferguson caught his sixth interception of the season and, after bypassing a slew of defenders, scored on a 63-yard return for a 14-0 lead. Robbie Tufts caught a two-yard pass from quarterback Nick Hunsley for a touchdown with 48.1 seconds left before half-time and the Hurricanes added another score to take a 21-0 lead into the half. In the second half, it was the Hurricanes' league-leading defense that controlled the game as the Red Bombers failed to reach the red zone throughout the entire game. The Holland College defense recorded three interceptions, a sack and blocked a punt. Ferguson was named the APM Construction Services offensive player of the game for his two touchdowns on offense, defense and special teams. "We played a great game. We made history, Holland College made history...the first ever championship held at home and we won it. I must say hard work does pay off...went hard all summer and I came out a champion. It feels great, trust me, it does," Ferguson said. "In all, the game was great, I played really well, scored twice both on offense and defense." The Hurricanes currently boast several Bahamians on its roster, including Jason Mitchell, Alfredo Cornish, Joshua Bethel, Mark Barrett, Leslie Greene, and Edwardo Humes. "Me and my fellow Bahamians represent the Bahamas all day everyday. We all did it together and made it through a very hard year. Leslie played half back, Alfredo Cornish played wide receiver and Mark Barrett played defensive end. I played various positions all year, captain of the team, starting safety, kick returner, punt returner, also wide receiver but not as much this year because I had a cast on my wrist all season but that still didn't stop the show from happening," he said. "We can all say we're champions now, and will come home this Christmas very proud to be a Bahamian." It was the third year for the AFL, and the second for the Hurricanes programme. Holland College won the regular-season title with a 5-1 record and defeated Dalhousie 38-7 a week ago in the semifinals. In their inaugural season last year, the Hurricanes finished with a 2-4 win loss record, good enough for fourth in the division. The Hurricanes had several key players from this season's championship team, including Ferguson, Clark and middle linebacker Marcus Dunphy. The Hurricanes have looked to the Bahamas in the past to bolster its roster and could possibly do so again based on the success of Ferguson and others. In an effort to scout more Bahamian talent like the current seven on the Hurricanes' roster, the team hosted a mini-camp in New Providence last December led by head coach Tex MacDonald and Michael O'Grady, university vice president of innovation, enterprise and strategic development. The vice president said the relationship between his institution and the Bahamas will continue to grow on the athletic front with the advent of the football club.