NSAAF defending champion, #CFC50 Citadel Phoenix

Imposing atop a massive green hill, Fort Citadel was built to protect the Royal British Fleet, and the city of Halifax. The Fort was never challenged mainly due to it’s superior design and embattlements.

The  legacy of the forts impenetrable walls lives on thru the two time NSAAF defending champion, #CFC 50 No. 36 the Citadel Phoenix. Citadel was defending their championship against the Sir John A Flames, a rematch from last years final. The teams met in the regular season at the Turkey Bowl, Citadel beat the Flames 31-7.

Recent wins over an opponent, especially with high school athletes,  isn’t always a good thing.

“We practiced well all week. We were on the turf when it rained to get ready for this, they worked hard, we didn’t want to get too confident coming in, that was a concern”, reflected Citadel’s co-head coach Mike Tanner.

In discussing the Turkey Bowl’s victory, Coach Tanner stressed the significance of the Flames missing defensive stand out, Josh Pinfold, “he’s a difference maker on defense”.

“This is a good rivalry”,  stated Coach Tanner, “when you have the final two teams left, in a game like this, it’s hard to not be up for it”.

Coach Moore, Sir John A

With high school football, a rematch rarely has the same kids playing. Both squads lost over a dozen players from last years final, making it back to this game proof of solid programs.

“We lose 15-16 players a year, that’s normal for us” commented Paul Moore, Sir John A’s co head coach.

When asked what the difference between this and last year’s team Coach Moore said, “We’re more loose, more confident, and more determined than last year”.

As for game plans, schemes and top secret play books to combat Citadel’s prowess, Coach Moore stated the they weren’t going to change anything for them, that “we’re playing our game”.

Jason Warren, director of football Nova Scotia, was present at Saint Mary’s home field for the game and spoke proudly of both teams.

“Regardless who wins, this is so good for football Nova Scotia, it’s good for Nova Scotia. We’ve got a lot of our players (provincial) on both teams. There’s a lot of brilliant players here. Amazing athletes and coaches with great minds.”

Both benches were backed with faithful fans who up until kick off flowed into the stadium. The Huskies field glowed under a perfect November sky. The day brisk but sunny. With his face to the heavens, Coach Tanner remarked, “Someone up there likes football”.

Citadel took first possession, and faced with a 3rd and 15 deep in their own end took their first of four knees on the days campaign.

Sir John A was ahead 2-0 before their offense got on the field.

The Flames first possession was a quick 2 and out.

On third down Sir John A punter, Jarrett Saumure, launched a mortar,  giving the Phoenix brutal field position for their second possession.

The Flames defense swarmed and attacked Citadel, again leaving Citadel perilously close to their own endzone on 3rd down.

Citadel sacrificed another 2 points taking their second safety making the score 4-0 for Sir John A.

#33 Jacob Morgan

The game was being controlled by both defences. Neither offensive unit was able to move the ball with any consistency. Flames defensive back, Ryaan Dalloul, and linebacker, Donald Blue, played with unrivalled passion and aggression. While Phoenix linebacker, Jacob Morgan (#33), was the mortar in Citadels defensive fortifications.

“You don’t wear #33 for us unless you’re the best player on defense” said Citadels Coach Tanner of Morgan.

With less than three to go in the half, and the Flames up 4-0 , it felt like an upset was a possibility.  Citadel seemed flat, if not aloof to the game. Despite not scoring their own points, the Flames seemed to be gaining momentum.

Clear skies had turned an inky grey. The harbour’s haze and gloom began settling over the stadium.  Intermittent gales of mist doused the Flames long enough for the Phoenix to rise from their ashes with their best offensive push of the game.

On the goalline with 2:49 remaining in the half, Citadel deployed a tank named Matthew Mendes, who pounded his way into the endzone.

Fans traded sun hats for extra blankets at halftime, with Citadel ahead 7-4.

Flames punter, Saumure

As with the first, the second half saw both offenses struggle to get any rhythm or consistency. The Flames defense and punter, Saumure, kept the Phoenix confined behind their half of the field for most of the third quarter.

Halfway through the third, beneath the shadow of their own uprights, Citadel gave the Flames surrendered 2 more points, making the score 7-6.

Motivated by a 1 point deficit, the Flames pushed down the field with their most successful series yet. On a 3rd and short, with 9:00 left in the game, Saumure put the Flames ahead 9-7 when his kick split the uprights.

Some teams work best under pressure and some players rise to challenges on their own.

Citadel returner, Noah Laing, gave his team their best field position of the day, dashing close to the Flames 40. Already in striking position an unnecessary roughness call against Sir John A put the Phoenix on the Flames 30.

Citadel’s Jack Campbell ran inside and outside the Flames savage defense, inching closer to the security of the endzone. On a 3rd and 2, on the Flames 8 yard line, Citadel kicker Ben Hadley put his team ahead 10-9.

6:14 is a lifetime and the blink of an eye in a game like this, but that’s all that remained in the game.

Flames O-line

The Flames returned to the field more confident and determined than they had been all day. Their offensive line attacked Citadel’s front wall with relentless pursuit. Running the middle they exposed a softness to Citadel that hadn’t shown all day. Sir John A pushed and fought against Citadel with everything they had, but it wasn’t enough. Citadel dug in, and when it was their turn to have the ball, they also stepped out of the trenches, launching a savage attack on the Flames.

Citadel’s Tyrique Bowden

Exhausted from their own push, Flame defenders fought back, losing small chunks of yards from Tyrique Bowden’s steady bombardment up the gut.

Play calling was crucial all day, never more so than on the next call. Phoenix QB Monecko Clayton pitched the ball to Bowden who swept toward his bench before cutting hard toward the endzone, sprinting past the Flames sideline.

Bowden was tackled on Sir John A’s 20.

On a  2nd and 6 Bowden charged up the middle where he was hammered for a loss by Anderson Rector.  It was 3rd and 7, on the Flames 13 with 1:21 left to play.

After a timeout Citadel’s kicker ran onto the field. The snap, pin and Hadley’s kick were perfect, putting the Phoenix ahead by 4 with a score of 13-9.

The game ended how it began, with the ball in the defending champions hands, taking their fourth and final knee on the game, as the last seconds disappeared off the game clock.

As time expired players collapsed on the turf. Flames players no doubt agonizing not over defeat, but how close they came to beating the Phoenix. Citadel players and fans went nuts, and rightfully so, they earned this win.

At the end of the day, the Flames showed Citadel, but also themselves that no fort is immune to the fury that this game can bring.

 

About Canadafootballchat.com

Canadafootballchat.com (CFC) is the number one national amateur football website (source: ComScore.com) and most respected source for high school and recruiting news in Canada.  CFCs mission is to promote players, coaches, administrators, teams, & leagues from coast to coast. Powered by 40+ local reporters, CFCs content driven network covers Canadian NCAA & CIS recruiting, and high school players & teams like no one else.

About CFC Insider

The ‘CFC Insider’ section is for the fan, player, coach, parent, looking for MORE. The mission of this exclusive membership section is to give more recruiting news, exclusive rankings and multi-series stories as well as coach-player instructional videos. To become a CFC INSIDER member, CLICK HERE!