Tier One Senior
Championship
Saturday, November 12th
Wilson 18, Holy Trinity 7
The Tier One Championship game opened with a single point being scored as the Gator kick off (by Chivon Gallagher) bounced through the end zone. This was certainly not a surprise as the two teams had combined for seventy-seven points during their regular season meeting (won by Wilson 49-28).
However that opening point single would stand up through the first half as both the Gator and Titan defenses rose to the occasion forcing fumbles and turnovers on downs through half time. In the third quarter, Gallagher split the uprights from 18 yards to move the Gators in front by four points. That lead held until the final play of the third quarter when the Titan’s Nathaniel Allen scored the opening touchdown of the game with a four yard run. Joe Mastromarco’s convert gave the defending champion Titans a 7-4 lead entering the final quarter. The Gators appeared to have turned over the ball on downs with nine minutes remaining when a pass fell incomplete, however a roughing the passer call enabled the drive to continue. Gallagher attempted a 43 yard field goal to tie the game however the kick was no good and the margin remained at three. Holy Trinity, sticking to the ground, worked the ball for a first down however Allen went down with an injury and, without their workhorse on the field, the Titans failed to pick up an additional first down forcing them to punt. The Gators quickly went to work completing a thirty-five yard pass and run from George Papadakos to Travis Gonsalves-Akers. Shortly thereafter, Omar Williams would punch the ball over the goal line from the three yard line to restore the Gator lead with just over three minutes on the clock. Unable to move the ball, the Titans once again found themselves defending on their side of the field. With one minute remaining Gallagher scampered thirteen yards to seal the victory for the Gators. Including his two fourth quarter converts, Gallagher, who was recognized after the game as the league MVP, finished the game with twelve scoring points. The title was the fourth in five years for Donald A. Wilson, who will now advance to the Metro Bowl semi-finals on Thursday, November 24th where they will meet the City of Toronto champions (Agincourt or Northern).
Game MVP’s selected by the coaches were as follows:
Offense: Omar Williams, Nathaniel Allen
Defense: Keldyn Ahlstedt (Wilson), Mike Kashak (Holy Trinity).
Tier Two Senior
Championship
Friday, November 11th
Paul Dwyer 26, Sinclair 13
The Saints capped off a tremendous season with a 26-13 victory over the Sinclair Celtics to capture the Tier Two Championship. With the victory, Paul Dwyer became the first Oshawa based school to win this championship, which was formally introduced in 2008. The Celtics can take solace in that the 26 points they allowed and 13 that they scored were the best totals against the Saints this year. Following a scoreless opening quarter, during which the Celtic defenders forced two turnovers in the red zone, the Saints were finally able to put points on the scoreboard when Jordan Duncan, with his first of two touchdowns, scored from the one yard line. Aaron Champagne’s convert made the score 7-0. The Celtics replied when Kyle Parker scooped up his short punt and took the ball 34 yards for a touchdown late in the second quarter. Matt Gynn’s convert sent the teams to the dressing room at the half squared at seven. Duncan’s 15 yard carry in the third quarter provided the Saints with a lead that they would never relinquish. Jake Radford would add two touchdowns (runs of 6 and 11 yards) in the final twelve minutes (with Champagne adding his second convert of the game) to extend the Saint lead to 26-7 before Chris MacKey would close out the scoring with a 25 yard pass reception with just under two minutes remaining.
Game MVP awards were presented to: Offense: Blaine Webster (Paul Dwyer) and Parker; Defense: David Gledroc (Paul Dwyer) and Josh Brown (Sinclair)
During the game, the league MVP award for 2011 was announced and awarded to Morgan Humes (Ajax).
Semi-finals
Tuesday, November 8th
Sinclair 13, Uxbridge 2
Kyle Parker with a punt single and a touchdown on a 25 yard pass reception in the final minute of the first half accounted for all the Celtic points in the opening half as the Celtics eliminated the Tigers 13-2. The Tigers, who lost their quarterback to an apparent upper body injury in the second quarter, were never able to get untracked offensively against the solid Celtic defense. The second half saw both defenses take control with the only points recorded being a third quarter 55 yard touchdown by Cole Belec, who picked off a Tiger pass, and a fourth quarter safety (credited to Dustin Shreeve) with just over three minutes remaining as the Celtics opted to take a knee and concede the two points for better field position.
Paul Dwyer 47, Pine Ridge 8
The Saints, remained undefeated in 2011, as they posted their eighth consecutive victory 47-8 over the Pine Ridge Pumas. Six Saints each scored touchdowns led by Gabe Burnside with two while Eric Kimmerly, Trey Meers, Jake Radford, Jordan Duncan and Reshayne Nelson each had a touchdown. With the victory, the Saints advance to the Tier Two Senior championship. Aaron Champagne recorded five converts to close out the Saints scoring. Jer-Ray Tomlinson with a touchdown, which was complemented by a two point convert credited to Meschach Green, replied for the Pumas. For the second consecutive year, the Pumas fell one game short of reaching the championship.
Tier One Junior
Championship
Saturday, November 12th
Wilson 35, Holy Trinity 27
In his two years as a Junior, 2011 League MVP Andrew Smith has unleashed many long yardage touchdowns but none as easy as his 75 yarder in the fourth quarter as Smith accompanied by a congregation of eleven Gators strolled seventy-five yards for a touchdown. To set the scene, Holy Trinity had just successfully kicked an eleven yard field goal (by Dan Lay) to pull within seven trailing 28-21. Following the field goal, the Titans went to their bench while the Gators elected to take the ball at the 35 yard line. While the Titan players were still at the bench, with the coaches apparently unaware of the Gator decision, the official whistled in the play, Wilson snapped the ball and Smith took the ball down the field for his second six pointer of the game.
Smith and Jordan Grimes (with two) had staked the Gators to a 21-6 lead by the midpoint of the second quarter and appeared to be in control. To their credit, the Titans fought back with a touchdown on a short run by Wyatt Roeloffzen with less than a minute until the half and an one yard keeper by Chris Waldinsperger in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 21-18 (the difference being three successful converts by Malcolm Branton while the Titans went zero for three with two point convert attempts). John Stewart on a keeper of his own, along with Branton’s convert, gave the Gators a 28-18 lead entering the final fifteen minutes of play. With 11:47 to play, Trinity would post the field goal that would precede Smith’s 75 yard uncontested major. Derek Cyr would close out the scoring with his second touchdown of the game with just under four minutes remaining however the Titans, who turned the ball over three times on downs, in the first half, could not complete the comeback.
Offensive game MVP trophies were presented to Smith and Cyr, while Dryden Ferjal, from Wilson, and Roeloffzen earned the defensive game star awards.
Both teams move on the Ontario Regional Junior Football Championship. Wilson will travel to Belleville to play the COSSA champion Centennial Chargers (date unknown) while Holy Trinity will be travelling to the Halton region to play the yet to be determined Halton Junior champions on Tuesday, November 22nd..
Tier Two Junior
Championship
Friday, November 11th
Eastdale 16, Ajax 7
In a match between undefeated teams, the Eastdale Eagles retained their Tier Two Junior championship as league MVP Riley Palmer scored majors in each of the second and third quarters to stake the Eagles to a 16-0 lead through three quarters. The Rams, who were unable to get their offense moving with success until the final quarter, did pick up a fourth quarter major on a 25 yard run by Matthew Williams (his fourth touchdown in two games) however they were unable to pick up any additional scoring points against the stingy Eagles defense. The win gives the Eagles back to back Tier Two Junior titles. Ben Donnelly added converts after each of Palmer’s touchdowns while Brad Till converted the Williams touchdown. The final two scoring points were credited to the Eastdale team when the Rams punter conceded a safety in the third quarter. Game MVP awards were presented as follows: Offense – Palmer and Williams; Defense: Cody Dale (Eastdale) and Alfred Green (Ajax).
Semi-finals
Tuesday, November 8th
Ajax 35, Paul Dwyer 6
Matthew Williams paced the Ram attack with a three touchdown effort as Ajax downed Paul Dwyer 35-6. The win advanced the Rams to the league championship game for the second time in four years where they hope to duplicate their 2008 championship. Brad Till chipped in with eleven scoring points (touchdown, four converts and a single) while Trey Humes scored one major. Michael D’Annuzio posted the lone touchdown for the Saints.
Eastdale 36, St. Stephen 0
The Eastdale Eagles produced a 36-0 shut out over the St. Stephen Royals to advance to the league finals. Following a 27-20 Eastdale win over St. Stephen during the regular season and the fact that the Eagles league MVP candidate would not play, the final result was expected to be much closer. Ben Donnelly produced an eighteen point effort with two touchdowns, four converts and two singles. Ty Neubauer-Jacob matched Donnelly’s two touchdown performance while Drue Moore notched a touchdown. The Eagles will be attempting to pick up their second consecutive Tier Two junior title on Friday night.
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