The stage was set for a marquee match up between to LOSSA heavyweights on Thursday, and for the most part it lived up to it’s name being close for three quarters; where the lead was never more than 10 points. Though the game would get away from Holy Trinity in the fourth the 20-8 score does not accurately tell the story of the battle between these two teams. The game was more or less, to use a boxing analogy, a series of body punches wearing the other team out, with no clear knockout blow coming until midway through the fourth quarter.

The first quarter started out with a strong defensive efforts by both teams, forcing punts throughout. In the preview we spoke of special teams being a key factor in this game, and they were as they got the Titans on the board in the first quarter.  A booming punt by Johnny Codrington would pin the CFC #38 St. Mary’s Monarchs in the shadows of their own goal post, where the Titan defence would force a quick two and out. The Monarchs would concede a safety to play field position. A punting match would then ensue, where Johnny Codrington would score a rouge to put the Titans up 3-0 heading into the second.

Early in the second quarter the Monarchs would answer with a touchdown by Kenan Clarke to put St. Marys up 7-3. The Monarchs would then again show why they have the best offence in LOSSA as two minutes later Josh Henry would find himself in the endzone. A botched PAT attempt would leave the Monarchs walking away with only a ten point lead and a score of 13-3. The game would then revert back to a defensive stalemate  for much of the second quarter. Holy Trinity’s special teams would break the stalemate with another great punt by Holy Trinity’s punter would go into the endzone, where the returner would take it out. The Titans center would then force the returner back into the endzone where he would be tackled by Branden Bressette for a safety. The referee would then give the ball back to the Monarchs in controversial fashion.

The third quarter would open up with the defence dominating an extremely prolonged quarter. About midway through a defensively dominated quarter Holy Trinity defensive back Mitch Vanschyndel would go down with a back injury and would be taken away via ambulance; Mitch is okay and expected to play next week. Later in the third Holy Trinity would get points through Dan Lay and a field goal with two minutes left in the third. The game would go into the fourth 13-8 and be anyone’s game.

The fourth quarter was as predicted the most important one and both teams battled hard to win it. Defences tightened up and ‘batted down hatches’ in a five point game that would all but seal first place in LOSSA.  Mid way through the quarter however the Monarchs would battle their way into the Titans red zone. The Titans defence would hold them to third down but a fake field goal would prove potent as it got the Monarchs back into the endzone with a touchdown reception by Alonzo Addae making the score a back breaking 20-8.

Both Defences played outstanding, the Monarchs keeping their season average of 8 points per game and the Titans holding the top offence in LOSSA (34 points per game) to a modest 20 points. The Monarchs (4-0) have virtually clinched first place in LOSSA only needing to win one of their last two games to officially clinch; looking at their last two games a loss looks very improbable given the size and talent the Monarchs posses. The Titans could clinch second place with a win against Pickering this week and will undoubtedly be looking to do so.