“onthesideline”
Wilson 45, St. Michael’s College 0
Two years ago, Ryan Dixon led the Gators to the title with an outstanding performance in which he carried gained over 470 yards rushing to lead the Gators to their first Ontario Regional Junior Championship as they defeated St. Michael’s College.
On Saturday playing against St. Michael’s College, Andrew Smith, put on a first quarter display that the Kerry Blues once again had no answer for. Smith broke lose for a 65 yard touchdown when the game was less than two minutes old and Malcolm Branton added the convert. Less than five minutes later, it was Smith again carrying the ball forty-five yards for what appeared to be a touchdown. The officials generously ruled him down at the one and his diminutive backfield partner, Jordan Grimes, took the ball in on the next play to up the margin to 13-0. The margin would grow to 19 before the first quarter was over as George Gonsalves-Akers would intercept a Kerry Blue pass and take the ball back 80 yards for a major. The Gator offense was relentless in the second quarter adding three more majors, first Smith on a 12 yard run then Grimes, who added a two pointer on Smith’s touchdown, with carries of 12 and 10 yards to give the Gators a commanding 39-0 half time lead.
The second half saw only one scoring play and that was recorded by Phillip Leszczynski who ran the ball in from fifteen yards out in the third quarter.
Game MVP awards were presented to Doug Brown from St. Michaels and Jordan Grimes.
The Gators now advance to play the pass orientated Brantford Assumption College Lions in the championship on Wednesday, November 30th with kick off scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at St. Michaels.
Brantford Assumption College 28, Burlington Assumption 2
The Lions, representing Brant County, advanced to the final (versus Wilson) with a convincing 28-2 victory over Burlington Assumption in the second half of the semi-final doubleheader. Andrew Toic (9 yards) and Blake MacDonald (45 yards) both recorded first half touchdowns via passes while Douglas Jamieson added a third quarter major with a five yard run. Jamieson’s major was complemented with a two point convert by Ben Crocock. Toic added a 20 yard field goal, two converts and a rouge on a missed field goal attempt to finish the game with twelve scoring points. Frank Madia closed out the scoring when he forced a Crusader out of bounds in the end zone for a two point safety in the final quarter. Terry Giangregorio picked up both Crusaders points with a 43 yard punt single and a rouge from a 38 yard field goal attempt on the final play of the first half.
Game MVP honours were awarded to Levi Jamieson (Assumption College) and Terry Giangregorio.
Burlington Assumption 34, Holy Trinity 13
Turnvovers proved to be very costly to the Holy Trinity Titans as they were eliminated by the Assumption Crusaders in a quarter-final game played in Burlington. While Assumption basically played error free football, the Titans perhaps showing a disdain for the weather dropped the football on the carpet no less than seven times. Four of those fumbles resulted in turnovers. Two other times, the Titans turned the ball over on downs. The end result was the defense simply spent too much time on the field and a talented running back, Jordan Lyons, inflicted all the damage.
Following a scoreless first quarter, the Titans opened the scoring when Quarterback Chris Waldinsperger called his own number from the one yard line. Dan Lay’s convert was good. The Crusaders immediately answered with a four play drive, which culminated with a nine yard touchdown run by Lyons. Terry Giangregorio’s point after tied the game at seven. Less than two minutes later, the Crusaders struck again with Lyons taking the ball to the house from five yards out and Giangregorio adding his second convert. The Titans had the ball deep in the Crusader red zone as the half drew near however they came away without any points as they elected to try for the six pointer in lieu of a field goal on the final play of the half. Assumptionβs defense held firm and stopped the gamble.
The Crusader combination of Lyons and Giangregorio would strike twice in the third quarter to put the game away. Lyon’s picking up both touchdowns on runs of 1 and 63 yards followed by successful converts. Lyon’s would record his fifth major of the match in the fourth quarter as he carried the ball in from the one. The Titans would close out the scoring in the final minute as Nathan Jones scored from the three.
Wilson 20, Northern 17
With much appreciation to Durham Region News, who wrote the following report for the Metro Bowl semi-final game.
Source: [URL]http://www.durhamregion.com/sports/article/1251218–wilson-gators-off-to-metro-bowl
All that was missing from Chivon Gallagher’s equipment Thursday was a cape.
Gallagher, in his final year at Donald A. Wilson Secondary School, led the Gators senior football team to a 20-17 win over Toronto’s Northern Red Knights, sending the Whitby school to its second Metro Bowl final in four years.
Playing, as always, well beyond his five-foot-five, 170-pound frame, Gallagher was key in every facet of the game, and fittingly kicked the winning field goal from 17 yards out with 2:46 remaining.
He admitted afterward to being tired, but pointed out that he wasn’t the only player on the small 28-player roster who played every minute of the game.
“It’s been like this since the school opened, Gator football,” he said. “Some people can’t take our practices, our coaching and our harshness, but this is what you’re really left with: champions.”
Gallagher was pressed into even more duty than usual, called on to carry the bulk of the ground game in the absence of star back Omar Williams, who was arrested this week in connection with two robberies.
Gallagher didn’t disappoint, making several important first down carries and scoring from one-yard out to put the Gators up 17-7 late in the third quarter.
He also booted a 14-yard field goal late in the first half, sending the game to the break with Wilson trailing 7-3, and converted both touchdowns.
He wasn’t the lone Gator to turn in a tremendous performance, however.
Quarterback George Papadakos had a solid and mistake-free game, completing several key passes, while Nikita Starchenko, Travis, Gonsalves-Akers and Keldyn Ahlstedt were among the others who showed versatility and stamina by playing offence, defence and special teams.
“We pride ourselves on having good team players,” said coach Adam Papadakos after the game. “Kids are well-rounded on both sides of the ball.”
Starchenko turned the tide of the game early in the second half, fielding a terrible Northern punt and running it in from about 15 yards out to give Wilson its first lead, 10-7 after the convert. He also stopped Northern’s final drive a yard short with a nice tackle on defence, giving Wilson the ball back to run down the clock.
Ahlstedt shouldered some of the running game and had the only two interceptions of the match.
The Gators will now face the St. Andrew’s College Saints 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Roger Centre, where they will be searching for their first Metro Bowl title.
“I know absolutely nothing about St. Andrew’s College, nothing,” Papadakos said of the Saints, who had defeated King City 22-15 in overtime in the earlier semifinal. “In our program’s history, we’ve never played them before.”
Advocating for football prospects one story at a time.
Season Preview: Tommy Douglas DL Fleury chasing redemption and respect
