Here is a look at the 10 Bowl finalist schools that will be playing in Tuesday’s Ontario Bowl games. Files are from “onthesideline” with some added info from CFC.
Game Schedule – All games Tuesday, November 29th @ Rogers Center
Northern Bowl Final
8:30 a.m. – Superior Heights vs. Sir Winston Churchill
Golden Horseshoe Bowl Final
11:15 a.m. – St. Paul’s vs. Nelson
National Capital Bowl Final
2:00 p.m. – Frontenac vs. Crestwood
Western Bowl Final
5:00 p.m. – Lucas vs. Northern
Metro Bowl Final
8:00 p.m. – St. Andrew’s vs. Donald Wilson
(Top Picture: Herman Griffins – last year’s top Ontario team as ranked by CFC)
A. B. Lucas Secondary School, London
CFC WEEK 12 RANKING – #22
2011 Western Bowl Finalist
Nickname: Vikings
School Opened: 1963
Approximate enrollment: 1750
Principal: Mr. Tom McLeod
Head Coach: Mr. Michael Hayes
League: TVRA Central(Bowl record: 5 wins, 3 losses)
Athletic Association: Western Ontario Secondary Schools Athletic Association(Bowl record: 5 wins, 3 losses)
OFSAA Classification: AAAA
2011 record: 9 wins, 1 loss, 370 points scored, 95 points allowed
League play: Finished first in the Tier One Smith Division
Game breaker player: Eric Guiltinan
Football Achievements
TVRA Central Champions
TVRA Challenge Cup Champions
Western Bowl Finalists 2003
Background
The Vikings, who have reached the London City finals five times in the past nine years, captured their fifth London City championship and first since 2003 this year. They were also City champions in 1971, 1977 and 1981.
The TVRA Central league split into two Tiers for the 2011 season. Within Tier One, there were two divisions, each with five teams. Eight of the ten teams advanced to the league playoffs.
Although the Vikings finished first in their division, they did suffer one set back to Catholic Central 14-10 during week two of league play. Since that defeat, the Vikings have won eight straight games to reach the bowl championship with their most recent win being a 44-0 Challenge Cup victory over Parkside (TVRA South-east champion).
The Challenge Cup victory gave the school their second trip to a bowl game. In their only previous appearance, they were defeated 27-4 by Sandwich (SWOSSA) in 2003.
TVRA teams have won five bowl championships, led by Mother Teresa and Catholic Central with two wins each. St. Thomas Aquinas, who fell to the Vikings 39-24 in the league championship game, have won once.
Their opponent will be Sarnia’s Northern Collegiate representing SWOSSAA. The two athletic organizations have met in six previous bowl games and WOSSAA based schools are currently enjoying a three game winning streak with wins in 2005 (Catholic Central over Windsor Sandwich), 2007 (Mother Teresa defeated Holy Names) and 2009 (Mother Teresa defeated Sarnia Northern).
Crestwood Secondary School, Peterborough
2011 National Capital Bowl Finalist
CFC WEEK 12 RANKING – Honourable Mention
Nickname: Mustangs
School Opened: 1963
Approximate enrollment: 905
Principal: Mr. James Rielly
Head Coach: Mr. Shane Oldfield
League: Kawartha Football League(Bowl record: 2 wins, 4 losses)
Athletic Association: Central Ontario Secondary Schools Association (Bowl record: 3 wins, 4 losses)
OFSAA Classification: AAA
2011 record: 9 wins, 2 losses, 312 points for, 93 points against (points for and against missing one game vs. Norwood as score was not available)
League play: Tied for first in the East Division with Adam Scott each with five wins and one loss. Held tiebreaker advantage over Adam Scott.
Game breaker player: Brandon Wilson
Football Achievements
COSSA AAA Champions for the sixth consecutive season
Kawartha football league finalists in 2011
National Capital Bowl Champions 2010, 2004
National Capital Bowl Finalists 2009, 2008, 2007, 2003
Background
The Mustangs have dominated the Kawartha Football league and prior to this year had reeled off fourteen consecutive league championships between 1996 and 2010. The league did not operate in 2000.
For the first time since 2004, the Kawartha Football League was structured so that A/AA and AAA schools played together. Each school played six games with the top four from both the East and West divisions advancing to post season. The Mustangs lost one regular season game to Fenelon Falls and were then defeated 19-17 by Adam Scott in the league championship game. Adam Scott advanced to AA post season play.
Crestwood captured their ninth COSSA AAA championships in the past ten years as they prevailed over Belleville Centennial 27-13, which advanced the Mustangs to the National Capital Bowl semi-finals. They followed up their COSSA championship with a 10-8 victory over the previously undefeated Barrie North, a member of the GBSSA, in the National Capital Bowl semi-final game.
The Mustangs, who are the defending National Capital Bowl champions, are making their fifth consecutive trip to the bowl championship. This also marks their seventh appearance in the final and hold two bowl titles. No other team from the Kawartha Football League has ever qualified for a AAAA Bowl championship game.
Three of Crestwood’s five bowl appearances have been against teams from KASSAA and they hold a record of one win and two losses. Both losses were against their 2012 opponent (Frontenac) however their last meeting against a KASSAA based team was twelve months ago when they defeated Sydenham 16-13 in overtime.
With a win, the Mustangs would level the COSSA bowl record at four wins and four losses as COSSA based Belleville Centennial has made one bowl appearance (a win over Ashbury College, Ottawa).
Donald A. Wilson Secondary School, Whitby
2011 Metro Bowl Finalist
CFC WEEK 12 RANKING – #20
Nickname: Gators
School Opened: 2004
Approximate enrollment: 1250
Principal: Mr. Warren Palmer
Head Coach: Mr.Adam Papadakos
League: Durham Region Football League(Bowl record: 2 wins, 6 losses)
Athletic Association: Lake Ontario Secondary Schools Association (Bowl record: 2 wins, 6 losses)
OFSAA Classification: AAAA
2011 record: 6 wins, 0 losses, 173 points for, 73 points against
League play: Finished first with a 3-0 record.
Game breaker player: Chivon Gallagher
Football Achievements
LOSSA Champions
Metro Bowl Finalists 2008
Background
Donald A. Wilson, known by many as Pickering East due to the fact that the school has many ties to their neighbours to the west, has only been open for eight years and they have only fielded a Senior team for seven seasons, during which time they have played in the league final six times. They have captured the league championship four times in the past five years. This will be the second bowl appearance for the Gators.
The school principal was a member of the Pickering Trojans football teams in the early 1980’s and their Head Coach formerly coached at that same Ajax based school which is where he tasted his first Metro Bowl post season play off experience.
The Tier One Division of LOSSA consisted of only four teams this season. A single round robin schedule was played with regular season games scheduled every second week. Teams were encouraged to arrange exhibition games outside the loop during their off weeks. All four teams qualified for post season play.
Wilson qualified for this year’s Metro Bowl championship with a narrow 20-17 victory over the City of Toronto champions from Northern Secondary School which is the same school that they defeated in semi-final play in 2008.
The Gators will be attempting to bring the Metro Bowl back to Durham for the second consecutive year, as Holy Trinity won the 2010 game. This will be the fifth trip in the past seven years for a LOSSA based team. The league has a record of two wins and six losses in bowl games. The leagues other bowl win was in 2005 by Pickering High School.
Donald A. Wilson has never played their opponent, St. Andrew’s College in bowl playdowns. Wilson did lose to a CISAA team (St. Michael’s College) in the 2008 Metro Bowl. The Gators will be attempting to be the first team to defeat a CISAA based team in a Bowl Championship game.
Frontenac Secondary School, Kingston
2011 National Capital Bowl Finalist
CFC WEEK 12 RANKING – Honourable Mention
Nickname: Falcons
School Opened: 1957
Approximate enrollment: 1065
Principal: Ms. Diane Sackfield
Head Coach: Mr. Mike Doyle
League: Kingston Area Secondary School Athletic Association(Bowl record: 4 wins, 3 losses)
Athletic Association: Eastern Ontario Secondary Schools Athletic Association (Bowl record: 5 wins, 4 losses)
OFSAA Classification: AAA
2011 record: 9 wins, 1 loss, 284 points scored, 83 points allowed
League play: Finished second with a league record of five wins and one loss.
Game breaker player: Robbie Carnegie
Football Achievements
KASSAA Champions
EOSSAA AAA Champions
National Capital Bowl Champions 2008, 2007, 2002, 2001
National Capital Bowl Finalists 2006
Background
The school was originally named Collins Bay High School. Seven years later, there was a name change to Frontenac.
The Falcons, who are making their sixth National Capital Bowl appearance, compete within the Kingston Area Secondary Schools Athletic Association (KASSAA), which is comprised of nine teams. Six of the teams are classified as AAA while two have a designation of AA. For the first time in 2011, two separate champions were declared as the playoffs were conducted amongst those schools with the same classification. All nine schools qualified for post season play in their respective division. In the playoffs, Frontenac earned a first round bye, won their semi-final match and then avenged a regular season two point loss (16-14) to Sydenham with a convincing 27-2 victory.
As KASSAA is one of four leagues operating within the Eastern Ontario Secondary Schools Athletic Association, they also competed within that associations playdowns. The Lanark-Renfrew league did not have a AAA representative which gave Frontenac a bye to the final where they turned back a determined Thousand Island Secondary School team 6-0.
In the National Capital Bowl semi-final, the Frontenacs overcame an early 7-0 deficit to easily down the previously undefeated St. Peter Knights from Ottawa 46-20 to secure their sixth National Capital Bowl appearance.
EOSSAA based teams have played in nine previous bowl games and they have captured five titles including the 2003 title, which was won by Almonte representing the Lanark-Renfrew league.
KASSAA teams have a record of four wins and three losses in bowl games with Frontenac having secured all four wins.
This year will mark the third time that Frontenac will play Crestwood for the National Capital Bowl title. Frontenac has won both previous meetings by scores of 15-10 in 2007 and 36-1 in 2008.
With four previous titles, the Falcons can move into a tie with St. Mary’s College (Sault Ste. Marie) for the second highest number of bowl titles with five should they win. Overall St. Michaels College (Toronto) leads this category with seven titles.
Nelson High School, Burlington
2011 Golden Horseshoe Bowl Finalist
CFC WEEK 12 RANKING – #1
Nickname: Lords
School Opened: 1957
Approximate enrollment: 1500
Principal: Ms. Jacquelin Newton
Head Coach: Mr. Bob Stacey
League: Halton Secondary School Athletic Association(Bowl record: 6 wins, 3 losses)
Athletic Association: Golden Horseshoe Athletic Conference(Bowl record: 8 wins, 5 losses)
OFSAA Classification: AAAA
2011 record: 11 wins, 0 losses, 431 points scored, 89 points allowed
League play: Finished first with a league record of six wins and no losses
Game breaker player: Will Finch
Football Achievements
Halton Champions
Golden Horseshoe Athletic Champions
Golden Horseshoe Bowl Champions 2005
Metro Bowl Champions 1999, 1997
Golden Horseshoe Bowl Finalists 2002
Background
Nelson has won all eleven league and post season games this season as they have outscored their opponents by almost a five to one margin. All eleven wins have been by double digits with their narrowest win being 17-7 over Holy Trinity during week two of league play.
The Halton League has 21 teams, with six each in Tier One and Tier Two and nine in Tier Three. Tier One and Two played a partial interlock schedule with two of each teams seven games being against a team from the other Tier. Playoffs were conducted within the respective Tiers with all teams advancing.
According to the Lords website, Nelson has captured twenty-one Halton titles since 1960 with at least two championships in each decade.
This marks the fifth time that the Lords have advanced to a Bowl final and they will be seeking their fourth Bowl championship and second Golden Horseshoe title (their first two bowl wins were at the Metro Bowl).
HSSAA teams will be making their tenth bowl appearance (only the Toronto and Sault Ste. Marie league have made more appearances). The league has compiled a bowl record on six wins and three losses in these games. In addition to Nelson’s three titles, Notre Dame has two and Assumption one.
Halton league teams have played Niagara region teams four times with Halton holding a thee to one advantage in bowl games.
For the sixth time in the past seven years, the Golden Horseshoe Bowl will feature a game between schools representing GHAC and SOSSA. GHAC teams enjoy a five to one win advantage.
Nelson has only met one SOSSA school in a bowl final. That game occurred in 2005 when the Lords prevailed by a 14-9 score over Notre Dame, Welland.
The Lords easily advanced with a 44-7 victory over Our Lady of Mount Carmel (ROPSSAA) in the Golden Horseshoe semi-final game.
Northern Collegiate Institute and Vocational School, Sarnia
2011 Western Bowl Finalist
CFC WEEK 12 RANKING – #9
Nickname: Vikings
School Opened: circa1955? (first known football title 1959)
Approximate enrollment: 1150
Principal: Mr. Sean Keane
Head Coach: Mr. Craig Davies
League: LambtonSecondary Schools Athletic Association (Bowl record: 2 wins, 3 losses)
Athletic Association: South Western Ontario Secondary Schools Athletic Association(Bowl record: 7 wins, 6 losses)
OFSAA Classification: AAA
2011 record: 10 wins, 0 losses, 321 points scored, 57 points allowed (does not include results for regular season wins over Lambton-Central and St. Patrick)
League play: Finished first with a record of five wins and no losses
Game breaker player: Elliott Handy
Football Achievements
Lambton Division Champions
Lambton-Kent Division Champions
SWOSSAA AAA/AAAA Champions
Western Bowl Finalists 2009, 2002
Background
The Vikings have dominated the Lambton league for the past twelve years capturing eleven titles. In addition, they have won ten of the eleven Lambton-Kent league championships, which they have participated in over the same span of years. In total, the Vikings have captured 26 league titles (1959-62, 1966, 1971, 1973, 1975-79, 1981, 1985, 1989, 2000-04, 2006-11).
Their league is comprised of six teams and a round robin schedule is played with the top four teams advancing to league playoffs. The champion advances to the Lambton-Kent championship and that winner moves on to play the representative from Windsor for the SWOSSAA championship.
In the eight games for which actual scores are known, they have outscored their opposition by better than a five to one margin. Their closest game of the season was a three point victory over the defending Western Bowl champions (W. F. Herman) where they connected on a game winning field goal with 2.6 seconds remaining to earn the SWOSSAA championship.
The Vikings will be making their third appearance in a Western bowl final and they will be seeking their first win. Their second loss (two years ago) was to Mother Teresa, who competes in the same league as this years opponent (A. B. Lucas).
Only two Lambton teams have made bowl appearances. The other school was St. Patrick, who were the Lambton powerhouse during the early 1990’s and who captured two Metro Bowl titles in three appearances from 1993 to 1995.
This will be the sixth time that a SWOSSAA based teams will meet a WOSSAA representative. The two Associations have met six times previously for the Western Bowl championship. SWOSSAA teams won the first three meetings in 2000, 2001 and 2003 however they will now be depending upon Northern to curtail a current three game losing streak in bowl finals.
St. Andrew’s College, Aurora
2011 Metro Bowl Finalist
CFC WEEK 12 RANKING – #10
Nickname: Saints
School Opened: 1899
Approximate enrollment: 575
Headmaster: Mr. Kevin McHenry
Head Coach: Mr. Len Gurr
League/Athletic Association: Conference of Independent Schools Athletic Association(Bowl record: 7 wins, 0 losses)
OFSAA Classification: AA
2011 record: 7 wins, 1 loss, 273 points scored, 115 points allowed
League play: Finished in a three way tie for first with a record of four wins and one loss. Tie-breaker placed the school third.
Game breaker player: Jamal Kett
Football Achievements
CISAA champions
Golden Horseshoe Bowl Champions 2003, 2001
Background
St. Andrew’s College is an all boys school which has students from Grade 6 through 12.
The school is an original member of the Little Big Four and their football history extends back over 100 years. Historical records indicate that their first league championship was garnered in 1907. Since that year, they have captured nineteen more league titles (1909, 1913-14, 1921, 1923, 1925-6, 1939, 1945, 1962, 1975, 1978-9, 1986-7, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2011).
The league is currently comprised of six teams and a round robin schedule is played with the top four teams advancing to the playoffs. The Saints were upended by St. Michaels College during the final week of the season and the loss resulted in the Saints being placed third. They avenged that final week loss with a 51-7 route over the Kerry Blues in the league semi-finals.
The Saints, who will be seeking their third bowl championship, advanced to the Metro Bowl with a triple overtime 22-15 victory over the 2010 Metro Bowl finalists, King City.
Schools representing CISAA have never lost a Bowl championship game as they have emerged victorious in all seven bowl games in which league members have participated. Those seven bowl championships include four Metro and three Golden Horseshoe titles.
A win by St. Andrew’s coupled with a Superior Heights loss in the Northern Bowl would move CISAA into a tie with NOSSA for the most bowl titles.
St. Andrew’s College holds a lifetime bowl record of one win and no losses against LOSSA teams as they defeated St. Mary (Pickering) in the 2001 Golden Horseshoe final.
Conference of Independent Schools have met LOSSA based teams in bowl championships four times and they have won each previous meeting. In addition to the St. Andrew’s win, St. Michaels College defeated Wilson in 2008 and Pickering in 2004 and 2006 in Metro Bowl finals.
St. Paul Catholic High School, Niagara Falls
2011 Golden Horseshoe Bowl Finalist
CFC WEEK 12 RANKING – Honourable Mention
Nickname: Patriots
School Opened: 1982
Approximate enrollment: Unknown (under 900)
Principal: Mr. Jeff Smith
Head Coach: Mr. Rick Oreskovich
League: Niagara Region High School Athletic Association(Bowl record: 2 wins, 4 losses)
Athletic Association: Southern Ontario Secondary Schools Association(Bowl record: 2 wins, 5 losses)
OFSAA Classification: AA
2011 record: 7 wins, 2 losses, 283 points for, 190 points against
League play: Finished in a three way tie for first with Notre Dame and Lakeshore Catholic. Tie-breaker placed the school first.
Game breaker player: Ryan Nieuwesteeg
Football Achievements
SOSSA champions
Background
This year, St. Paul will be the only school appearing in their first bowl final. In fact, they will be the first City of Niagara Falls based school to participate at an OFSAA Bowl Festival game.
Niagara Region football structured their league by school size in 2011 and the AAAA loop consisted of five teams. The schedule was a double round robin format. Formerly, the Tier One league was referred to as the Premier league.
The Patriots started the season slowly losing two of their first three games to Notre Dame by four and by three, in overtime, to Lakeshore Catholic. They would avenge both losses with wins over both schools later in the season. Those two wins provided the Patriots with the tiebreaker advantage to determine first place.
Despite being a AA classified school, St. Paul has managed to capture the AAAA/Premier league championship three times (2003, 2005, 2010). It should be noted that since 2001, the AAAA/Premier league has usually advanced the team that finishes first overall directly to the SOSSA football championship while the remaining teams compete for the league championship. St. Paul’s league titles were captured in years where this system was followed.
St. Paul advanced to the Metro Bowl with a 36-0 SOSSA championship win over the Hamilton Wentworth champion (Orchard Park), which was followed by a 37-27 come from behind victory over the 2011 Region of Peel champions (Notre Dame, Brampton). The Patriots posted 23 unanswered points in the final quarter to earn their ticket to the Rogers Centre.
Niagara Region based schools have competed in six previous Bowl championships and have captured two titles, both by Lakeshore Catholic (2003, 2008). SOSSA based schools (including Hamilton-Wentworth) have an overall record of two wins and five losses.
Sir Winston Churchill Collegiate and Vocational Institute, Thunder Bay
2011 Northern Bowl Finalist
CFC WEEK 12 RANKING – Honourable Mention
Nickname: Trojans
School Opened: 1965
Approximate enrollment: 1100
Principal: Mr. Steve Daniar
Head Coach: Mr. Mike Doromko
League: Superior Secondary Schools Athletic Association(Bowl record: 2 wins, 5 losses)
Athletic Association: North Western Ontario Secondary Schools Athletic Association
OFSAA Classification: AA
2011 record: 7 wins, 2 losses, 255 points scored, 113 points allowed
League play: Finished second with a record of five wins and two losses
Game breaker player: Cameron Claridge
Football Achievements
NWOSSAA champions
Northern Bowl Finalists 2009
Background
Sir Winston Churchill, commonly called SWC, will be making their second trip to Toronto in three years to participate in a bowl championship game.
The Thunder Bay league is comprised of six teams and each team plays seven games schedule. The top four teams advance to post season play. For geographical reasons, the league champion has an automatic berth in the Northern Bowl.
The Trojans have strung together seven straight wins after opening the season with back to back losses. They posted a league high 63 scoring points in their league semi-final match and followed that effort up with a shut out of the previously undefeated Westgate Tigers. They captured the school’s twelfth Superior Secondary School Athletic Association (SSSAA) title to qualify for the Northern Bowl this year. Previous titles were earned in 1969, 1976, 1984, 1987-88, 1993-97 and 2009.
In their first bowl championship, they were defeated by Sir James Dunn 34-7. Sir James Dunn closed following the 2009-2010 season and the students who attended Sir James Dunn now attend Superior Heights, the school who will be the opposition at this years game.
North Western Ontario Secondary Schools Athletic Association schools have an overall record of two wins and five losses in bowl games. All bowl appearances have been in the Northern Bowl with their opponents representing NOSSA. Their two wins were by Hammarskjold in 2005 and Westgate in 2007.
This year marks the sixth meeting between teams from Thunder Bay and Sault Ste. Marie. Thunder Bay based teams have lost four of these five meetings.
Superior Heights Collegiate and Vocational School, Sault Ste. Marie
2011 Northern Bowl Finalist
CFC WEEK 12 RANKING – #23
Nickname: Steelhawks
School Opened: 2010
Approximate enrollment: Unknown (over 950)
Principal: Mr. Michael McCabe
Head Coach: Mr. Seth Cond
League: Sault Ste. Marie(Bowl record: 8 wins, 3 losses)
Athletic Association: Northern Ontario Secondary Schools Association(Bowl record: 9 wins, 4 losses)
OFSAA Classification: AAA
2011 record: 7 wins, 2 losses, 249 points scored, 138 points allowed
League play: Finished tied for second with a record of four wins and two losses. Held tiebreaker advantage over St. Mary’s College.
Game breaker player: Steve Hiiemma
Football Achievements
Sault Ste. Marie champions
NOSSA Champions
Northern Bowl Champions 2010
Background
Superior Heights opened in 2010 and the student population is a combination of two former schools: Bawating and Sir James Dunn. Last year, the school actually used the Sir James Dunn facility while construction on their new building at the site of Bawating was ongoing.
The Sault Ste. Marie league is comprised of five teams. In 2011, teams played each other once with a second game against one opponent to make a six game schedule. All teams advanced to post season play.
The Steelhawks have been a surprise champion from the Sault district in both years as they have yet to finish first overall. This year, they eliminated the St. Basil Saints, against whom they lost two regular season games, 35-28 with a thrilling fourth quarter come from behind victory where they scored three unanswered touchdowns in the final eighteen minutes to overcome a 28-14 deficit. The Saints must certainly feel snake bitten having been Championship Final bridesmaids for the past five seasons as they continue to seek their first league championship.
The Sault Ste. Marie football league is benchmark in Northern Ontario, a fact supported by the league domination of the NOSSA championship. In competition with both Bay and Sudbury, Sault based schools have captured the past fourteen NOSSA titles dating back to 1996 (there were two seasons where the game was not played). Since 2005, every game has been decided by a minimum of 18 points.
This will be the twelfth bowl game appearance for the Sault league and they carry an 8-3 record playing in both the Northern and (the now defunct) Central Bowl. The eight championships are the most by any league in bowl competition. St. Mary’s College has captured five bowl championships, Sir James Dunn two and Superior Heights one.
Superior Heights predecessor, Sir James Dunn, captured the Northern Bowl two years ago and several team members are seeking their third consecutive bowl championship.
Northern Ontario Secondary Schools Association teams have participated thirteen times prior to this year and they have a record of nine wins and four losses.
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