Ontario JR Championship: Nelson v Wilson wednesday (can wilson defend?)

At St. Michael’s College on Wednesday afternoon (1:30 start time *NEW TIME), the Wilson Gators will attempt to become the first school in the history of the Ontario Regional Junior Football Championship to successfully defend the title.

The Gators won both their quarter-final and semi-final matches last week, first prevailing over Belleville Centennial (35-7) on Tuesday then eliminating the host school (St. Michael’s College) 26-14 on Saturday.

Their opponents will be the Halton Region champions from Burlington, the Nelson Lords. The Lords have reached the finals following victories over St. Paul (Niagara Falls) 42-7 and Lakeshore Catholic (Port Colborne) 29-7.

Offensively and defensively, the Gators will be led by their ground attack tandem of Sanjay Francis and Andrew Smith. Smith, who is only in grade nine, has been drawing accolades all season long for his strong two way play in this his rookie year.

Both Francis and Smith, who line up on both sides of the ball, along with their team mates will face a significant challenge from the Lords, who have yet to taste defeat through ten games this season. Offensively, the Lords, are led by Quarterback Eli Pawliw (picture) and receiver Victor Fasullo, who accounted for all scoring in their semi-final win over Lakeshore Catholic. The Lords have been averaging 35 points a game offensively this season and have outscored their opponents 143-20 in four postseason games.

Ontario Regional Junior Championship – Semi-final
Nelson 29 Lakeshore Catholic 7

Nelson Q Eli Pawliw socred a touchdown on the ground and threw 3 TDs to receiver Victor Fasullo. Fasullo also kicked 4 converts and a rouge single.
The Lords outscored their opponents this year 352 to 62.

Ontario Regional Junior Championship – Semi-final

Donald A. Wilson 26, St. Michaels College 14
In a rematch of last year’s championship game, the Wilson Gators once again ended the Kerry Blues junior football season. The Gators would strike first early in the second quarter as Jerome Gonsalves-Akers kept the ball himself to open the scoring. Less than four minutes later, Sanjay Francis, on a 19 yard run, extended the Gator lead to thirteen. St. Michaels reduced the margin to six by the half as Charles Di Ilio would carry the ball one yard to the house. Following a scoreless third quarter, the teams would exchange fourth quarter touchdowns as both Francis and Di Ilio recorded their second majors of the game. Andrew Smith’s 18 yard touchdown run with 33 seconds remaining put the game out of reach for the Kerry Blues.
Wilson: Sanjay Francis 2TD, Jerome Gonsalves-Akers, TD, Andrew Smith TD; Malcolm Branton, 2C
St. Michaels College: Charles Di Ilio 2TD; Anthony Iafrate 2C

Ontario Regional Junior Championship – Quarter-final

Donald A. Wilson 35, Centennial (Belleville) 7
Deadlocked at seven, an errant snap on a punt attempt with only two seconds remaining until half time resulted in a safety touch that gave the Gators their first lead of the game and all the points that they would need to advance to the semi-finals. The Gators would add 26 unanswered second half points including three touchdowns in the final quarter. Dylan Misseri was credited with sixteen scoring points while Matt Macaskill returned an interception 26 yards for a major. Although Andrew Smith failed to record a scoring point for the first time this season, his running game played a major role in the Gator victory. Chase Peck, with a 42 yard pass and run touchdown, provided all the Charger points on the opening play from scrimmage.
Wilson 35: Dylan Misseri, 2TD, SFT; Matt MacAskill TD; Jerome Gonsalves-Akers TD; Sanjay Francis TD; Malcolm Branton 3C
Centennial 7: Chase Peck TD, C

Files from: OnTheSideline