Team Ontario kicked off its title defense at the 2025 Football Canada Cup in dominant fashion, cruising to a 36–8 victory over host Nova Scotia Monday night in Antigonish.
The Under-18 squad looked sharp on both sides of the ball, led by a pair of athletes from St. Thomas who were named Ontario’s Game 1 MVPs — wide receiver Gage Lincoln and linebacker Carter McBurney.
Lincoln made his presence felt early, hauling in two touchdown passes from quarterback Hayden Buczek, including a 51-yard bomb that helped Ontario pull away in the third quarter. He finished the game with 6 catches for 101 yards and two majors.
On defense, McBurney was a force — racking up a team-leading 8 solo tackles and an assist to anchor a lockdown defensive unit that allowed just 31 rushing yards all game.
With the victory, Ontario improves to 1–0 and stays in the hunt for back-to-back national titles after winning it all in 2024.
Written by: Kennedy Freeman
