Durham Region
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Durham Region
High School
Football Web Site
Local Media
Nov. 30, 2011We wish to acknowledge and thank
News Durham Region, The Toronto Star, Rogers Television and SPORTSNET 590 The Fan
for their continued support of High School football in and around the Durham region.
Source: http://www.durhamregion.com/sports/article/1254022--wilson-s-best-step-up-in-metro-bowl-victory
Shawn Cayley
TORONTO -- Members of the 2011 Donald A. Wilson Gators will forever be etched in the history books.They will long be talked about on school grounds, immortalized even, after capturing the Metro Bowl senior football championship Tuesday night at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, downing the St. Andrew's College Saints of Aurora in a thrilling 21-14 overtime final.
On a stage larger than any one of the 28 players on the Gators roster have ever played on, the championship game saw a little bit of everything. From highlight plays on offence, to some staunch work on defence and big hits on special teams.
But the difference in the end, at least for the Gators, was that their best players were just that.
Quarterback George Papadakos threw two touchdown passes, one in the fourth quarter and another in overtime, while running back Chivon Gallagher was Mr. All-Purpose once again, hauling in both Papadakos touchdown passes and rushing for another, while kicking all three converts, returning kicks and collecting at least one shared sack on defence.
Speaking of the defence, aside from the two major scores against, as a group they allowed very little to St. Andrew's and came up large on the final three plays of overtime to preserve things.
Individually, Nikita Starchenko snuffed out one drive in the first half, intercepting a pass deep in the Wilson zone, while Keldyn Ahlstedt came up huge late in the fourth, picking off another inside the final 30 seconds of the fourth quarter to kill the Saints' attempt at a last-minute win.
"It was such an intense game and we had to stay focused right to the end," said a relieved Wilson coach, Adam Papadakos, during the post-game celebration. "Our kids dug down deep to take it into overtime. With the amount of kids we've got and the heart they have, it's just phenomenal. Absolutely phenomenal."
Phenomenal is a more than adequate word to describe Gallagher's contributions to Wilson's first ever Metro Bowl win.
Simply put, the guy is an iron man, hardly making his way off the field no matter which side the ball is on.
And when the game was on the line late, he had a little extra incentive to come through for his teammates.
He and many others were playing in their final high school game and Gallagher claims that sense of urgency is what allowed them to battle through a fourth-quarter deficit, which included what could have been a very costly fumble by the usually sure-handed back.
"We wanted it more," he said when asked what made the difference in the tight game. "We were upset that we were kind of like failing ourselves. Most of us know this was our last game, so we just brought it together when we needed it."
Papadakos -- the quarterback -- is one of the few on the roster who will have a chance to return and defend Wilson's title in 2012, but he wasn't quite ready to look ahead. Rather, he couldn't help but revel in the feeling of proving all the doubters wrong.
"Everyone doubted us. Everyone said we were going to lose by this much, or we're going to lose in this round or that round, to this team or that team," Papadakos explained. "We've only got 28 guys, but all 28 guys worked their butt off all season and now, it pays off right here."
The doubters were provided with even more fuel last week when star running back Omar Williams was arrested in connection with two alleged robberies and forced out of the semifinal and final games.
Speaking of paying off, Papadakos was money on his two touchdown passes, finding Gallagher wide open on the right from 25 yards out with just over two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter to tie the game, and again in the overtime as he dropped a perfectly placed pass between two Saints defenders and into the welcoming arms of the diminutive Gallagher, who, not surprisingly, was awarded game MVP honours.
Meanwhile, for Papadakos the coach, he has run the Wilson program since its inception seven seasons ago and has seen them come relatively close to accomplishing their goals before. Now, having finally achieved it, the feeling is something to behold, he admitted.
"It's just an outstanding feeling. To have a program for seven years, compete for LOSSA for six of those years, two Metro Bowl (games)," he said referring to Wilson's first bowl appearance in 2008, where they were pasted by St. Mike's. "We used that experience from '08 and built on it. A couple of the kids here were quoted as saying we're going to win this for the guys in '08. And they did."
Nov. 29, 2011
Chivon Gallagher scored all three touchdowns, including the game winner in overtime, as the Gators defeated the St. Andrew's College Saints 21-14 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto.
The eventual game-winning score came on Wilson's first possession of the overtime shootout as quarterback George Papadakos dropped a perfectly placed pass in between two defenders to the awaiting arms of Gallagher from 19 yards out.
St. Andrew's then had their shot to tie, and after moving the ball inside the 20, the Wilson defence stepped up and stuffed them on three straight plays to preserve the victory.
The Metro Bowl win is Wilson's first in the school's seven-year history.
Gallagher, one of many Gators playing in their final high school game, forced overtime with a 25-yard receiving touchdown with just over two minutes to go in the fourth quarter and had the other Wilson score on a 10-yard run in the second quarter, closing out a drive that started inside their own 20. Not surprisingly he ended up taking home the game's most valuable player award.
Meanwhile, as key as he and Papadakos were to the Gators offence, on the other side of the ball, the club was just as sound, forcing pressure on the Saints quarterback all evening and even coming up with a pair of interceptions, one by Nikita Starchenko deep in the Wilson zone in the first half and other by Keldyn Ahlstedt inside the final minute of the fourth as St. Andrew's attempted to engineer a game-winning drive.
Nov. 28, 2011Source: http://m.torontosun.com/2011/11/28/ofsaa-football-eyes-on-gallagher?noimage
Frank ZicarelliThere will come a moment in the hours leading up to the Metro Bowl kickoff when Chivon Gallagher will reflect on a time and place that will suddenly come to an end.
For the last time Tuesday night, Gallagher will strap on the shoulder pads as a high school athlete, sharing the spotlight with a select group of teammates who will no longer represent Whitby’s Donald A. Wilson Gators.
The sense of finality hasn’t been lost on Gallagher, who is trying to balance what’s in front of him and the road taken in reaching this point.
“If you think too much about it, it’ll make you sad,’’ the dynamic Gallagher said on Monday. “You’re aware that this game will be the last game and I’m sure the guys who are playing in their last game will all get together.
“We can use it as inspiration. You want to remember your last game with a win. It’s why you want to go out with a bang.”
For those unaware of Gallagher and his unique playing skills, Tuesday night at Rogers Centre represents the final opportunity to witness his extraordinary traits on the high school stage.
There’s a little bit of Chad Owens’ fearlessness, Pinball Clemons’ elusiveness and Doug Flutie’s magic all wrapped in Gallagher’s 5-foot-6 frame.
As a fifth-year senior, Gallagher is one of the leaders on the Gators, a team that will battle St. Andrew’s College in the 30th annual Metro Bowl, the night capper on a full slate of football that kicks off in the morning.
Geoff Williams, Patrick Stewart, Brian Martin, Matt Channon, Keldyn Ahlstedt, Devontee Cormier-Grubb and Travis Gonsalves-Akers will join Gallagher in a moment of reflection, all fifth-year players who are among the best at this level.
“We know what’s at stake,’’ Gallagher said. “Our focus has to be on this game, but part of us will look back. I’m sure we’ll all get together.”
Tuesday has been designated school colour day at Donald A. Wilson with the student body asked to wear blue and orange as a show of support.
When Gallagher went to class last Friday, a day after leading the Gators to their semifinal win over Northern, the football buzz was in the air.
“I think everyone knows what’s happening,’’ he said. “It’s why we all want to win so badly. It’s not just for us, but for the guys who lost (the 2008 Metro Bowl), for the community, our coaches, our school.
“You don’t want to remember your last game with a loss.”
The players who suit up for the Gators are as unique as Gallagher’s skill set.
The team is not deep in numbers, forcing many to play virtually the entire game.
But when one watches the Gators, one sees a very resilient team that plays fast and is very resourceful in how plays get called and schemes planned.
In a tense game against Northern with Wilson forced to scrimmage from the shadow of its end zone, the Gators ran a pitch and hitch that would see the ball end up in Gallagher’s hand.
It evoked memories of the famous hook and ladder the Miami Dolphins ran way back in the day during an epic playoff meeting against San Diego.
His low centre of gravity and quickness make Gallagher tough to bring down.
When he isn’t running the ball or making plays as a receiver, he’s lining up at linebacker on defence, returning punts and kickoffs and handling both the punting and kicking.
The kid does it all and he does everything well.
“My break is at halftime,’’ said Gallagher, who was born in Cambridge, Ont., before his family moved to the Whitby district.
Earlier this year, Gallagher helped Toronto Thunder claim the OVFL title.
Some of Gallagher’s athleticism is traced to his soccer roots.
So accomplished was Gallagher on the soccer field that Manchester United extended an invitation to audition for its youth academy, only to have the plans fall through.
When one watches Gallagher punt, one will easily see the soccer connections.
And when one watches the Gators, one sees a team that will embrace both the past and the present.
Metro Bowl (8 p.m.)
Donald A. Wilson (Whitby) vs. St. Andrew’s College (Aurora)
Skinny: Gators made it to this game in 2008, only to lose to St. Mike’s, which plays in the same independent league as St. Andrew’s; Saints carried a comeback win over rival UCC into last week’s triple overtime semifinal win over King City; SAC has won two bowl titles.
Key Players: George Papadakos; Yannick Harou.
Nov. 24, 2011
Source: http://www.durhamregion.com/sports/article/1251218--wilson-gators-off-to-metro-bowl
NORTH YORK -- 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 fourth Metro Bowl final in five 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."
Nov. 17, 2011
After racking up the points in a 49-28 regular season win over the Titans, the Gators mustered only a single point in the first half of Saturday's tier one championship game at Civic Stadium, but that was still good enough for a 1-0 lead in a defensive struggle.
It opened up a bit in the second half, and Wilson needed to come from behind to manage an 18-7 victory, avenging a close loss last year that interrupted a three-year reign from 2007-2009.
"It was just a fantastic football game," said Wilson head coach Adam Papadakos. "They're a great program, so it was a thriller right to the end.
"I think we played well on both sides of the ball and played a full four quarters, which sometimes we haven't done this year," he continued. "We just battled right to end."
Chivon Gallagher put the Gators on the board on the opening kickoff, which bounced through the end zone for the single point.
It wasn't until the third quarter that Gallagher upped the Wilson lead to 4-0 with a field goal from 18 yards out.
Holy Trinity's Nathaniel Allen scored the game's first touchdown with a four-yard run that gave the Titans a 7-4 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Allen, the Titans' workhorse, was injured in the fourth quarter, though, and Holy Trinity had trouble moving the ball as a result, enabling the Gators to dominate the final quarter.
Shortly after a 35-yard completion from George Papadakos to Travis Gonsalves-Akers, Omar Williams punched the ball over the goal line from three yards out to give the Wilson an 11-7 lead with three minutes remaining.
Gallagher scampered 13 yards for another touchdown to seal the victory for the Gators with a minute left.
Gallagher, who also had both converts, was recognized after the game as the league MVP. Game MVPs were Williams and Allen on offence, Keldyn Ahlstedt (Wilson) and Mike Kashak (Holy Trinity) on defence.
The Gators advance to the Metro Bowl semifinals on Thursday, Nov. 24, against the Toronto champion (Northern or Agincourt) at Esther Shiner stadium in North York. Wilson is still looking for its first Metro Bowl title, a feat accomplished by Holy Trinity last year.
Tier Two Senior
Oshawa's Dwyer Saints also had more trouble than might have been anticipated, but still capped off a tremendous season with a 26-13 victory over Whitby's Sinclair Celtics to capture the tier two senior championship.
The Celtics gave Dwyer by far its stiffest challenge of the season, as Dwyer's closest previous encounter was a 35-0 win over Sinclair to start the season.
Following a scoreless opening quarter, during which the Celtic defenders forced two turnovers in the red zone, Jordan Duncan finally put the Saints on the board with his first of two touchdowns.
Sinclair sent the game to halftime tied 7-7, however, as Kyle Parker scooped up a short punt and took the ball 34 yards for a touchdown late in the second quarter.
Duncan's 15 yard carry in the third quarter provided the Saints with a lead they would never relinquish. Jake Radford added two touchdowns, runs of 6 and 11 yards, in the final 12 minutes to extend the Dwyer lead to 26-7 before Sinclair's Chris MacKey closed out the scoring with a 25-yard pass reception with just under two minutes remaining.
Game MVP awards went to Blaine Webster (Dwyer) and Parker on offence, David Gledroc (Dwyer) and Josh Brown (Sinclair) on defence, while the league MVP award went to Ajax High School's Morgan Humes.
Sinclair defeated Uxbridge 13-2 in the semifinals, while Dwyer downed Pine Ridge 47-8 to reach the final.
Accompanied by a congregation of Gator teammates and with the Holy Trinity Titans still on the sidelines, Smith strolled that distance for a key touchdown in a 35-27 Wilson win at Civic Fields.
To set the scene, Holy Trinity had just successfully kicked an 11-yard field goal, by Dan Lay, to pull within seven, trailing 28-21 with 11:47 remaining.
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 major of the game.
Smith and Jordan Grimes, with two TDs, had staked the Gators to a 21-6 lead by the midpoint of the second quarter, but the Titans fought back with a touchdown on a short run by Wyatt Roeloffzen with less than a minute until the half.
A one-yard keeper by Chris Waldinsperger in the third quarter cut the deficit to 21-18, the difference being three successful converts by Malcolm Branton and none for the Titans.
John Stewart, on a keeper of his own, gave the Gators a 28-18 lead entering the final quarter.
Holy Trinity's Derek Cyr closed out the scoring with his second touchdown of the game with just under four minutes remaining, but the Titans could not complete the comeback.
Game MVP trophies went to Smith and Cyr, while Dryden Ferjal, from Wilson, and Roeloffzen earned the defensive game star awards.
Both teams move on to the Ontario regional junior football championship.
Tier Two Junior
In a match between undefeated teams, Oshawa's Eastdale Eagles retained their tier two junior championship as league MVP Riley Palmer scored majors in each of the second and third quarters to lead the Eagles to a 16-7 win over the Ajax Rams.
The Rams, who were unable to get their offence moving with success until the final quarter, picked up a fourth-quarter major on a 25-yard run by Matthew Williams, but they were unable to score again against the stingy Eagles defence.
Game MVPs were Palmer and Williams on offence, Cody Dale (Eastdale) and Alfred Green (Ajax) on defence.
In the semifinals, Ajax advanced with a 35-6 win over Paul Dwyer, and Eastdale shut out St. Stephen 36-0.
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 and an eventual 16-7 victory over Ajax.
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 defence.
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: Offence -- Palmer and Williams; Defence -- Cody Dale (Eastdale) and Alfred Green (Ajax).
Things went much smoother in the semifinals as 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 hoped to duplicate their 2008 championship. Brad Till chipped in with 11 scoring points on a touchdown, four converts and a single, while Trey Humes scored one major.
In the other semifinal, Eastdale blanked St. Stephen's 36-0.
Nov. 10, 2011
This is not expected to be a battle of two juggernaut teams, at least not as far as Titans coach Fred Zinkie is concerned.
"Wilson is going to be really hard to beat," admits Zinkie, who's team fell 49-28 to the Gators in their lone regular-season match-up. "I mean they beat us pretty handily during the regular season and their offence has been known to score a lot of points. I think it's going to be hard to keep up with them and at the same time even harder to shut them down."
Much of that vaunted offence revolves around running back Omar Williams. Paired in the backfield with Chivon Gallagher, Williams ran roughshod over the league in three games this year, finding the end zone nine times before posting another three majors in last week's LOSSA semifinal victory, 55-14 over the St. Mary Monarchs.
Three of the nine regular-season scores Williams managed came in the win over Holy Trinity, and Zinkie believes that having been run over in such a manner, while tough to take at the time, could serve his team well on Saturday.
"It's good for some of our new starters this year to have gotten a first-hand look at some of their starters," he says. "You can watch someone play on film, but there is no substitute for trying to tackle someone and trying to keep up with someone. I think that could help us a lot on Saturday."
So too, he says, will the fact that for the first time all season long, the Titans are a healthy unit.
"I think we played better last week than we have previously this year," Zinkie notes in pointing back to their LOSSA semifinal triumph over Pickering, 21-13. "We're definitely healthier. We dealt with injuries a lot throughout the year. Last week was actually the first time we were fully healthy for the start of a game and I think that showed."
Over at Wilson, meanwhile, despite Zinkie's assertion that his club is a big underdog in this game, the Gators aren't about to take the Titans lightly, says defensive co-ordinator John Kaspar.
"Anytime you play Holy Trinity you have to prepare for a hard-hitting football game. And it's going to last all four quarters. They work really hard and they are a good football team," he says. "We'll just try to prepare the best we can to be in a competitive football game for all four quarters."
Returning just 20 players and some five starters from last year's Metro Bowl winning team, the Titans will be relying on the likes of Tyler Ganhao, who was one of the heros from last year's Bowl game, Nathaniel Allen and quarterback Steven Courtney.
Kaspar's defence will be more than ready for the task as they take to the field in their sixth straight LOSSA final.
"I think that we take a lot of pride on defence. We have a strong tradition of solid defence at Wilson and I think each year the kids want to carry on that tradition and this year is no different," explains Kaspar. "We have kids that work really hard. We're tackling well and they've been buying into the schemes each week."
While the senior game, which kicks off at 3 p.m., will serve as the main attraction at Civic Fields in Oshawa on Saturday, both the Titans and Gators junior teams have a big day on hand as well.
Holy Trinity booked its spot in the final after a 40-6 dismantling of Pickering in the semis, while Wilson did the same in a 62-12 win over St. Mary.
"I think it's going to be a fun day for both schools. You've got us against Wilson in both games and we're two schools that put a lot of work into our football programs. It will be nice to see, for a lot of the teenagers that have been going to football practice everyday for two months now to get rewarded and have a chance to play in the final," Zinkie says of having both games involve the same two schools.
The junior game kicks off at noon.
Nov. 3, 2011
The Courtice school reached the ultimate height in the sport a year ago, not only winning its first LOSSA senior title, but also claiming the Metro Bowl championship, the first Durham team to do so since Pickering High School's 2005 victory.
With the LOSSA semifinals set to go today -- Holy Trinity faces Pickering in both junior and senior -- the Titans have a bit of a different feel this season, having graduated so many of those star players onto post-secondary pursuits.
But, even shy of the type of talent the program boasted a year ago, the Titans are never sold short on effort and teamwork, elements that are perhaps best exemplified by the Akeson brothers.
Remarkably, there are four of them -- Eddie and Robbie on the senior team, Giovanni and Mikey on the juniors -- who are all starters this season, surely a first in these parts.
None of them would be considered superstars, but rather good, solid players who have earned everything through perseverance and hard work.
"These guys are kind of what high school sports are really all about," says Fred Zinkie, head coach of the senior team. "It's really a unique situation, just the odds for a mom to have four boys, no twins, over five years, and for them all to be able to play football for a school that actually does have cuts to their football team."
In fact, the four football-playing Akesons comprise only half of the kids of Greg and Finuzza, who live on a farm just north of Enniskillen, and annually treat the junior team to a spaghetti meal.
Eddie, at 17 the oldest of the high school kids, had only just earned his first starting job this season, at defensive back. He came back for a fifth year, in part, to keep playing football and experience the thrill of having his three siblings wearing the same uniform.
"It's great really. Some people think you'd get tired of them, but I love my family and it's just awesome being able to play some sports with them because normally in hockey and other stuff, you're split up and you never really get to play with each other," Eddie explains. "So it's a great, great experience to actually get to play on the same team."
There is some football background in the family, with both parents having played some, but Eddie, the third oldest overall, set the trend in high school for the others, picking up a sport he had not even tried previously.
The smallest of the four, Eddie didn't start his first two years at junior and was cut from a very deep senior team in Grade 11, but never once grew discouraged.
"This is his first year as a full-time starter so he's someone who has really stuck with it every year," says Zinkie.
Robbie, 16, is a defensive tackle on the senior team, while both Giovanni, 15, and Mikey, 13, are linebackers on the junior team, which is coached by Zinkie's best friend, Mike Lyons. The two teams spend plenty of time together on the practice field, which suits the brothers just fine.
"It's really fun because you can talk with them, you can joke around, you can chirp," says Robbie. "It's just a great time, really."
"It's hard to explain," adds Giovanni. "It's a big bonding thing for me. It just brings us even closer together than we already are."
Zinkie says that, while they're all unique, they're all similar in one very important way.
"Giovanni's the quiet one, Robbie the jokester, Eddie's like the leader, the older one, the mature one, and they all say Mikey's the cocky one, but I don't know if that's just brothers being brothers," he says, adding, "They're just the nicest kids."
Oct. 27, 2011
Source: http://www.durhamregion.com/sports/article/1233069--shutouts-all-around-in-lossa-football-action
DURHAM -- Shutouts seemed to be the name of the game in LOSSA football action last week.
Port Perry, Paul Dwyer and Sinclair all posted shutouts against their opponents in tier two senior play, while in tier two junior, Dwyer and Pine Ridge turned the trick.
Here is a complete list of results from the week that was:
Tier II senior
Uxbridge 15, Ajax 8
Lee Cowie's five-yard run with 1:18 remaining enabled the Tigers to preserve their perfect season with a 15-8 win. Cowie had all 15 points for Uxbridge.
The Rams had overcome an early 7-0 deficit as Brad Benedetto scored on a two-yard run with just over two minutes remaining in the opening quarter. Tobin Semple would add the point after to pull the Rams even at seven. A Semple single point off a missed 29 yard field goal attempt accounted for the other Ajax point.
Port Perry 26, Bowmanville 0
Arthur Strahl scored Port Perry's lone touchdown through three quarters before the offence erupted in the fourth, scoring three more times to lead Port Perry to its first win. Strahl had two of those additional majors, while Dylan Barkwell picked up the other. The Rebels added one covert with Kirk Bricknell converting a two pointer.
Paul Dwyer 55, O'Neill 0
Dwyer's domination continues. The Saints have now scored 222 points while allowing only six through their first four regular season games. Jordan Duncan led the way with three majors. Jake Radford, Bryce Macdonald, Gabe Burnside, Dillando Allotey, Matt Johanson added touchdowns. Radford had a two-point convert while Burnside booted four converts. Aaron Champagne also recorded a single point.
Sinclair 27, St. Stephen 0
The Celtics clinched second place in the East Division, while Daniel Wark, Kyle Parker and Xavier Ellis each recorded touchdowns in the win. Matt Gynn converted each one and added two field goals.
The Royals currently share the fourth and final playoff spot with Port Perry. Both have two games left, including head-to-head on Nov. 1, the final game of the season.
Denis O'Connor 19, Notre Dame 7
The Chargers kept their playoff aspirations alive with the victory. Scoring in a winning effort were James O'Brien and Kuwayne Moore with a pair, one on a 44-yard catch and the other on a 66-yard catch. Robbie Lena converted Moore's second score.
Notre Dame's points came off a Matthew Bogusz missed field goal and a 57-yard running touchdown from Ibrahim Frank-Banda.
Tier Two Junior
Paul Dwyer 31, O'Neill 0
The Saints leveled their season record at 2-2 with a shutout victory. Kicker Michael Fadalti had a field goal and four converts on touchdowns from Michael D'Annunzio, Tyran Patton, Keegan Brand and Mitch Mulder. The loss was the fourth in five starts for the Junior Red Hawks, who currently are two points out of the final playoff spot.
Ajax 33, Uxbridge 12
Ajax moved to 5-0 with the win. Touchdowns form Trey Humes and Brad Till and successful points after by Till put them up 14-0 early.
Uxbridge's Luke McMinn cut the lead to eight before the end of the quarter with an 85-yard gallop. Erich Milne's one yarder on the opening play of the second quarter pulled Uxbridge within two however that was as close as they would get. Marcus Simons from the one provided the Rams with a 21-12 half-time lead before Till and Humes added another score each.
Port Perry 51, Bowmanville 34
Port Perry's second consecutive win pulled them even in the standings with the Talons at 2-3. Elijah Bryan with three touchdowns and Trent Roy-Mugford had two and two point convert. Matt Field and Matt Reid each notched singles, while Tony Romagnuolo added a two pointer and Vernon Petty kicked three converts.
Kyle Kelly posted two majors for Bowmanville while Kyler Woodburn, Jake Gagnon, Will Dearsley added one each. Kyle Boudreau and Mitch Wilburn closed out the scoring with two point converts.
Eastdale 52, Richardson 20
Riley Palmer continued his assault on the end zone, scoring four touchdowns, bringing his season total to 20. Tyler Simpson added two majors and Cody Dale one. Ben Donnelly had seven converts, a single and a safety. The Storm received touchdowns from Jerrol Granston with two and Justin Elwood.
Pine Ridge 46, Dunbarton 0
Khoysa Henderson and Coree Russell combined for six touchdowns in the win. Henderson had four and Russell two. Oshay McLaughlin had a touchdown and a two-point convert.
NOTES: There were no tier one senior or junior games on the schedule last week.
Oct. 19, 2011
Source: http://www.durhamregion.com/sports/article/1228683--wilson-rolls-in-lossa-football-action
DURHAM -- While there were a host of winners during another week of LOSSA football action, the biggest of them all was the Canadian Cancer Society as the Wilson Gators and Holy Trinity Titans lined up for the Battle for the Cure.
All the proceeds from the event were donated to the charity.
Meanwhile, on the field, Wilson wasn't much in the mood for giving as evidenced by the 49-28 victory over the Titans.
Wilson wasted little time getting on the board, scoring on a Travis Gonsalves-Akers 71-yard reception inside the first minute. Chivon Gallagher followed with his first of five converts before the Titans replied with a Steven Courtney one-yard plunge for a touchdown. Joe Mastromarco added the convert.
From that point on, the Gators controlled most of the play, taking a 21-7 lead later on Nikita Starchenko and Keldyn Ahlstedt touchdowns.
Nathaniel Allen, with his first of three rushing touchdowns, scored for the Titans in the second, while Starchenko notched another receiving touchdown. Held out of the end zone in the first half, Omar Williams awoke in a big way, scoring three touchdowns on runs of 12 and five yards along with a 50-yard catch for Wilson.
The win allowed the Gators to pull even with Pickering atop the Tier One Division standings while the Titans find themselves tied with St. Mary with 0-2 records.
Pickering moved to 2-0 with a 15-12 victory over St. Mary.
St. Mary had held the lead entering the second quarter as Carmen Scala found the end zone with an 18-yard run in the final minute of the first.
That lead stood until receiving touchdowns from Brent Shepherd and Tristan Clough, along with two converts and a single from Mike Stobbart, put Pickering ahead to stay.
With just over ten minutes remaining, the Monarchs cut the Trojan advantage to three as Trystan Colaire scored on a 13-yard pass reception.
The Monarchs pressed late for another score, but an interception by Josh Small ended their hopes.
Tier Two Senior
Pine Ridge 42, Richardson 6
The Puma moved to 4-0 in the win, thanks to touchdowns from Jer-Ray Tomlinson and two each from Meschach Green and Imrad Mourad.
Mourad's pair of touchdowns were on interception returns, while Hunter Jennings had the other Pumas major. Sean Smith posted converts on all six Puma touchdowns.
Paul Jenkins closed out the scoring with a 26-yard pass reception late in the fourth quarter to provide the Storm with their only points of the day.
Sinclair 29, Bowmanville 0
The Celtics improved to 3-1 with a 29-0 victory over the Bowmanville Talons. Xavier Ellis paced the attack with a pair of touchdowns. Kyle Parker and Jonah Fullerton each recorded one major while place kicker Matt Gynn pitched in with a field goal and two converts.
Paul Dwyer 73, Notre Dame 6
The Paul Dwyer Saints rolled to their third consecutive win as they easily turned back the Cougars 73-6. The Saints were led by Jordan Duncan, who recorded five touchdowns, and Evan Jolicoeur, who picked off three Cougar passes and returned one for a touchdown. Closing out the scoring for the Saints were Jack Radford with three touchdowns as well as Bryce MacDonald and Chris Steenson, each with one. Aaron Champagne recorded seven converts.
The Cougars, winless in three starts, were the first team to record scoring points against the Saints this year as Kouvhan Dakin tallied a touchdown.
O'Neill 23, Port Perry 6
In a rematch of last year's Tier Two senior championship, the O'Neill Red Hawks earned a measure of revenge as they turned back the Rebels 23-6. Scoring touchdowns for O'Neill were Trey Campbell, Dylan Hall and Matt Cox. Jeremy Alexander added two converts and a field goal.
The lone Port Perry score came on a four-yard run from Kirk Bricknell, proving the Rebels offence with its first scoring points of the year.
Uxbridge 25, Denis O'Connor 6
Andrew Edwards and Lee Cowie accounted for 22 of Uxbridge's 25 points, as Edwards recorded two touchdowns while Cowie produced a touchdown, three converts and a single on a missed field goal. Chris Gladney with a punt single and a team awarded safety rounded out the Tiger scoring.
Alex McIlmoyle replied for Denis O'Connor.
Tier One Junior
Pickering 30, St. Mary 0
An opening-minute fumble return for a touchdown was all the Pickering Trojans needed. Kamau Farrell-Burke rambled 40 yards for that major, while Patrick Henri fell on a teammate's fumble in the end zone for another score. Justice Johnson added his second convert before Novell Provo picked off an errant pass and returned it 59 yards for a major. Johnson added a two-point convert.
Provo scored again on a short four-yard pass and Alex Hatziniko increased the lead to 30 with a two-point convert. The game ended with ten minutes remaining after consultation between the officials and the coaches.
Wilson 56, Holy Trinity 28
The Wilson Gators scored seven consecutive touchdowns in a 56-28 victory. The onslaught started with 4:27 left in the first as Andrew Smith scored a major and convert. Over the next 30 minutes, Jordan Grimes recorded four touchdowns with 46, 29 and a pair of four-yard runs while John Stewart from one yard out and Smith with a 20-yard gallop vaulted the Gators to a 50-8 lead. Adam Perroni added another major later.
Scoring touchdowns for the Titans were from Jon Codrington, Wyatt Roeloffzen and Derek Cyr.
Tier Two Junior
Richardson 27, Pine Ridge 20
Jerrol Cranston's 25-yard pass reception in the final minute of the second quarter helped the Richardson Storm to overcome a 20-6 deficit en route to a 27-20 victory.
Khosya Henderson had given the Pumas a lead of 12-0 with two touchdowns. George Goudogianis cut the Puma lead in half at 12-6 with an 18-yard run early in the second quarter, however the Pumas replied with a 55-yard score by Henderson.
Justin Elwood's 38-yard pass reception in the third quarter with Goudogianis adding the convert evened the game at 20 after three quarters.
With 8:14 remaining, Goudogianis would put the Storm ahead for the first time in the game as he picked up his second major of the game.
Ajax 41, Dunbarton 0
The junior Rams rolled to their fourth consecutive victory, shutting out the Dunbarton Spartans 41-0. Matt McConnach scored three touchdowns. Marcus Simons contributed two and Brad Till had an 11-point day with a major and five converts.
Eastdale 27, St. Stephen 20
In a very entertaining game, the Eagles held off the Royals 27-20. Tyler Simpson staked the Eagles to an early lead with a 35-yard touchdown.
In the second, Riley Palmer picked up touchdowns 15 and 16 of the season on a nine-yard run and 80-yard punt return. The Royals replied immediately with two touchdowns to make it 19-13 at the half, one on a 63-yard run by Mitchell Reece, followed by a 20-yard catch by Darby Bradley.
The teams exchanged third-quarter touchdowns with Cody Dale scoring for Eastdale and Bradley for the Royals.
Port Perry 33, O'Neill 14
The Rebels won their first of the year, turning back O'Neill 33-14. Trent Roy-Mugford and Isaiah Douglas each contributed two touchdowns while Tony Romagnuolo scored one.
Colin Flamminio and Dan McNeaney replied for O'Neill.
Uxbridge 40, Bowmanville 28
Luke McMinn paced the Tiger offence with a four-touchdown effort. Both Chris Perry and Liam Knoll added majors.
Kyler Woodburn, two touchdowns and a two-point convert, accounted for half of Bowmanville's scoring. Kyle Kelly and Jack Gagnon added touchdowns.
Oct. 14, 2011
Source: http://www.durhamregion.com/news/article/1225281--ajax-s-benedetto-scores-two-tds-in-lossa-football
DURHAM -- The following is a summary of last week's LOSSA boys' football action in the tier II junior and senior divisions.Tier Two Senior
Ajax 31, Richardson 7
Brad Benedetto, with two touchdowns for the second straight game, led the way for Ajax. He opened with a three-yard run and closed with a 16-yard carry. Also scoring for the Rams were Morgan Humes on a 65-yard reception and Triston Smith on a seven-yard run.
Tobin Semple converted all three majors and added a 26-yard field goal.
Leigh Phillip accounted for all the Richardson points, hauling in a 24-yard pass and adding the convert.
St. Stephen 34, Bowmanville 0
The Royals notched their first win of the season in a 34-0 shutout of Bowmanville. Kyle Rideout hauled in a 21-yard pass to open the scoring while Cameron Gilmore scored his first of two touchdowns on a 64-yard reception soon after. Connor Vale's convert put the Royals up 13-0 at half.
From there Braden Labanovich called his own number on a one-yard plunge and Gilmore posted his second major on a 12-yard reception. Idahossa Yorke with a 12-yard catch scored the other major.
Pine Ridge 24, Ajax 21
Playing under the lights at Pine Ridge, the Pumas and Rams went down to the wire when a game-tying field goal attempt by the Rams went wide left, preserving Puma victory.
Both teams scored three touchdowns and three converts, however Sean Smith's successful field goal proved to be the difference. Scoring touchdowns for the Pumas were Meschach Green with two, and Curtis Innis. Replying for Ajax were Tristan Smith with two and Josh Wickens.
Sinclair 14, O'Neill 12
For the second consecutive year, the Celtics prevailed over the Red Hawks by the slimmest of margins. The 2010 game ended 1-0. This year, the teams posted three touchdowns with Xavier Ellis and Daniel Wark scoring six pointers for the winners. Scott Gunn replied with a major for O'Neill while Brendan Costello posted six points via a field goal and three singles.
The difference in the game proved to be the two converts recorded by Matt Gynn.
Richardson 13, Notre Dame 3
Leigh Philip, who also added a convert, and Trevor McGarrity each recorded touchdowns for the Storm. The Cougars were held to a single by Tyler Shapton and a two-point safety from Massimo Mauro.
With the win, the Storm currently occupy the fourth and last playoff position in the Western Division, two points ahead of both Denis O'Connor and Notre Dame, both of whom have two games in hand.
Uxbridge 27, Port Perry 0
The Shoppers Drug Mart Trophy, emblematic of North Durham football supremacy, is heading west as the Uxbridge Tigers prevailed 27-0 over the Port Perry Rebels. Presented first in 2005, the trophy is awarded to the team that prevails during their regular season meeting.
Chris Gladney with a 40-yard fumble recovery opened the scoring for the Tigers. A second-quarter run by Jacob Wilson extended the margin to 14-0. Following a scoreless third, the Tigers posted touchdowns from Andrew Edwards and on a fake punt by Gladney.
Tier Two Junior
Ajax 24, Richardson 0
The Rams built a 16-0 half time lead as both Alfred Green and Brad Till each scored rushing majors from 35 and seven yards respectively. Richardson also elected to concede a two-point safety.
Mitch Fowler picked off a Storm pass in the final quarter, returning the ball 83 yards for the final Rams touchdown.
St. Stephen's 55, Bowmanville 12
Mitchell Reece contributed four touchdowns to lead the St. Stephen's Royals. The three majors came on runs of eight and 76 yards and a reception of 68 yards.
Darby Bradley, Riley Adey, Taylor John and Donovan Delgrande also chipped in with six pointers for the Royals who have averaged 53 points a game through their first three games.
Kyle Kelly and Jake Gagnon had the Bowmanville majors.
Ajax 24, Pine Ridge 6
Matthew Williams with two touchdowns and Jeffrey Benedetto with one paced Ajax to the victory. Brad Till added two converts and the Rams defence was credited with two safeties. Ajax currently shares first place with both Eastdale and St. Stephen's as all three teams are undefeated in three starts. Aidan Thomas had the Pine Ridge score.
Eastdale 42, Paul Dwyer 6
Despite having two touchdowns called back due to penalties, Riley Palmer sliced and diced through the Saint defence in the final three quarters to post six touchdowns to lead the Eagles to their third win in three games. Through those three games, Eastdale has scored 14 touchdowns with Palmer scoring all but one.
Cody Daly successfully added the point after on all six majors. Michael D'Annunzio posted the lone Paul Dwyer touchdown.
Uxbridge 28, Port Perry 21
Touchdowns from Braeden Whitehead, Jason Simmonds and Lucas McMinn with two paced Uxbridge in the victory. Whitehead's major came in the final minute and broke a 21-21 tie.
Trenton Roy-Mugford scored all three touchdowns for Port Perry.
O'Neill 21, Dunbarton 0
Isaiah Wilson's two-touchdown effort in the first half was all the scoring that the Red Hawks would need in the win. Colin Flamminio, who converted all three O'Neill touchdowns, completed the scoring with a 72-yard touchdown carry.
Oct. 12, 2011
Source: http://www.durhamregion.com/sports/article/1223259--wilson-holy-trinity-look-to-tackle-cancer
OSHAWA -- If you were thinking about checking out a high school football game, Thursday's under the lights at Civic Stadium would be a great place to start.From a purely interest standpoint, the senior game between Whitby's Wilson Gators and Courtice's Holy Trinity Titans features two of the area's football powerhouses, and the two finalists from last year's LOSSA championship game.
So, it should be a good one.
But, there's much more to this game, as it's also being touted as Football for the Cure, a fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society.
The idea was conceived by Wilson coach Adam Papadakos and enthusiastically embraced by his counterpart, Fred Zinkie at Holy Trinity.
"That's a great thing for high school sports to support," said Zinkie, whose Titans dethroned the three-time champion Gators in a thrilling final a year ago and went on to win the Metro Bowl. "We just thought that the Wilson-Holy Trinity game, after last year's league final, is going to be a big game. There's going to be a lot of people there."
Although the teams have been staunch rivals on the field for the past several years, Papadakos says it was a no-brainer to play this game for a common cause.
"The battle is not on the field, really. The battle is off the field," said Papadakos, referring to cancer research. "It's fantastic that both schools are supporting this great event."
On the field, the two teams are part of only a four-team tier one league this season, joining Ajax's Pickering Trojans and Pickering's St. Mary Monarchs.
In addition to playing each other once in the regular season, the four schools have arranged exhibition matches to round out their season, prior to meeting again in the playoffs.
If their first LOSSA action is any indication, the Gators appear to be strong again, as they easily handled the Monarchs 42-0, while the Titans fell to the Trojans, 28-13.
Zinkie lost several key players from the Metro Bowl team to graduation and has a relatively young team this year, but expects to see improvement throughout the season.
But, regardless of how it all plays out, the two coaches have the proper perspective heading into Thursday's game.
"I think the programs are very similar," Papadakos said of the two schools, which are both relatively new. "We've both done things like play games in the hotbed of football in Ohio, and both programs have been successful. It's going to be a tremendous night for a phenomenal event."
"We both work really hard at it, the kids and the program work really hard at it, but it's high school football," Zinkie agreed. "It's a great thing to do and it develops teenagers, and that's terrific, but were talking about cancer research, talking about raising money for something that could save peoples' lives. It's something that affects a lot of people in both of our football programs."
Admission to the game, which kicks off at 7 p.m., is $5 for adults and $2 for students.
Oct. 06, 2011Source: http://www.durhamregion.com/sports/article/1220836--tier-one-football-season-underway
DURHAM -- The second week of high school football signalled the beginning of the Tier One senior and junior leagues.
Tier One Senior
Thursday, September 29
Wilson 42, St. Mary 0
Chivon Gallagher put on a clinic in the Tier One senior season opener. Gallagher, who plays on both offence and defence, contributed two key interceptions, a fumble recovery, a fake punt which he ran for a first down, a touchdown, five converts and an Earl Anderson-type leap as the Gators exploded for five touchdowns in just over one quarter of football. Omar Williams, with a 19-yard carry, broke the scoreless draw. Williams (10 yards) and Gallagher (four yards) would each add touchdowns prior to the half to increase the lead to 21-0. Williams, on a three-yard run and 21-yard pass reception, increased the margin to 35-0 by the midway mark of the third quarter. A last-minute touchdown by Williams on a nine-yard run, converted by Matt Channon, closed out the scoring.
Friday, September 30
Pickering 28, Holy Trinity 13
The defending league and Metro Bowl champions tasted defeat in their opening game of the 2011 season as they fell to the Pickering Trojans 28-13. The Trojans relied on the ground attack of Tristan Clough and Raekwon Grant as well as the arm of quarterback Jesse St. John, who connected for several long pass completions with his favourite target being the fleet-footed Evan Joynes. Clough, on short runs from the two- and one-yard line, posted both first-half touchdowns. Both touchdowns were converted by Mike Stobbart, who finished the day with a four-for-four effort. Jon Codrington with a booming 59-yard punt single that travelled through the end zone provided the only scoring point for the Titans in the opening half. The Titans struck in the third quarter when Nik Shymko found the end zone from 15 yards out, however, St. John immediately connected with Joynes for a 75-yard pass and run. The teams exchanged fourth-quarter touchdowns as Nathaniel Allen (from the one) and Raekwon Grant (two-yard carry) closed out the scoring.
Tier Two Senior
Wednesday, September 28
Paul Dwyer 59, Port Perry 0
The Saints displayed two different tactics to humble the defending Tier Two champions 59-0. In the opening half, the pinpoint passing of Eric Kimmerly picked apart the Rebel secondary as the Saints led by 25 at the intermission. With Kimmerly resting, during the second half, the Saints went exclusively to the ground game adding five more touchdowns. Posting touchdowns for Paul Dwyer were Jordan Duncan (carries of seven, four and 35 yards), Jake Radford (four- and 10-yard runs), Kimmerly (six-yard keeper), Aaron Champagne (13-yard pass reception), Dillando Allotey (48 yards) and Bryce MacDonald (40 yards). Evan Jolicoeur added one convert while Champagne contributed four point after kicks. The Saints, who have yet to be scored on this season, remain unbeaten through two games while the Rebels, playing in their season opener, are 0-1.
Thursday, September 29
Sinclair 22, Richardson 0
The Celtics evened their record at 1-1 as they shut out the Richardson Storm 22-0. Kyle Parker was credited with the only points of the opening quarter as the Storm were trapped in their end zone for a safety. Midway through the second quarter, Kyle Lampaugh upped the margin to 9-0 with a six-yard touchdown run, converted by Matt Gynn, who finished the day with two converts. Mitch Laplaunt on a short run in the third quarter, and Chris Mackey with a 21-yard pass reception in the final two minutes closed out the scoring. The Storm fell to 0-2 with the loss.
Pine Ridge 27, Denis O'Connor 14
Pine Ridge has opened with two wins as they turned back the 0-2 Denis O'Connor Chargers 27-14. Complete scoring details were not available.
O'Neill 16, St. Stephen's 7
The Senior Red Hawks picked up their second win in two starts as they turned back the Royals 16-7. Greg Norris and Trey Campbell each recorded touchdowns while Brendan Costello notched his fifth field goal of the season along with a convert. Connor Vale replied for the Royals with all seven scoring points (touchdown and a convert). St. Stephen's remains winless through two games.
Friday, September 30
Uxbridge 8, Notre Dame 7
Chris Gladney's punt single in the opening quarter proved to be the difference as the Uxbridge Tigers edged by the Notre Dame Cougars 8-7. The win lifted the Tigers record to 2-0. Notre Dame were playing their season opener. Kouvhan Dakin opened the game with an electrifying kickoff return to give the Cougars the early lead. Brandon Dixon upped the margin to seven with the convert. Gladney's punt single reduced the lead to 7-1 later in the opening quarter. In the second quarter, Jacob Wilson (from one yard out) knotted the game at seven. Lee Cowie added the point after to close out the scoring in this tight defensively played game.
Tier One Junior
Thursday, September 29
Wilson 48, St. Mary 6
The junior Gators tallied seven touchdowns before the half as they won their Tier One season opener 48-6 over the St. Mary Monarchs. Leading the Gator attack was Andrew Smith who found the house three times on runs of 53, three and 23 yards. Also scoring rushing touchdowns were John Stewart with two and Jordan Grimes. George Gonsalves-Akers posted the final touchdown with a 21-yard pass reception. Malcom Branton kicked four converts while Adam Perroni added a two-point convert. The Monarchs had the only scoring play of the second half as quarterback Provo Raishaun scored from four yards out to avoid the shutout.
Friday, September 30
Holy Trinity 25, Pickering 0
The Holy Trinity junior team parlayed a long opening drive march for a touchdown along with two successful onside kicks into 24 minutes of ball possession to open the game. Finding themselves in a 12-0 deficit, the Trojans immediately turned the ball over on a fumble on their opening snap and the Titans struck for a third touchdown less than a minute later to up the margin to 18. With just over two minutes remaining, the Titans added a fourth touchdown on a 17-yard run by Derek Cyr. The first three Titan touchdowns were by Nathan Jones (12 yards) and quarterback Chris Waldinsperger with two one-yard keepers. Jon Codrington added a convert on the final touchdown.
Tier Two Junior
Wednesday, September 28
Paul Dwyer 38, Port Perry 28
The junior Saints overcame a 14-6 halftime deficit with a four-touchdown outburst in the second half to hand the Rebels their second consecutive defeat to start the season. Scoring touchdowns for Paul Dwyer were Michael D'Annunzio with four (17, 80, 83 and 36 yards) and Keegan Brand with two (38 and 35 yards). D'Annunzio also added two converts for the 2-0 Saints. The Rebels posted four touchdowns via the pass with Matthew Reid (21 and four yards) and Trenton Roy-Mugford (60 and 15 yards) picking up two majors each. Braeden Vavassori successfully converted all four Rebel touchdowns.
Thursday, September 29
Bowmanville 28, Dunbarton 12
The Bowmanville Talons recorded their second consecutive victory to start the season. In each of the two games to date, Kyler Woodburn has contributed 20 scoring points with three touchdowns and a two-point convert. Also scoring for the Talons were Kyle Kelly with a touchdown and Jake Gagnoc with a two-point convert. Adonis Martin posted both touchdowns for the Spartans who were playing their first game of the season.
Eastdale 21, Pine Ridge 6
The Eagles have opened the season with back-to-back victories as they downed the Pumas 21-6. With two touchdowns, Riley Palmer has now tallied seven majors for the season. Tyler Simpson also picked up a touchdown for the defending champions while Ben Donnelly was successful on all three convert attempts. Replying for the Pumas, who are winless after two games, was Khoysa Henderson.
St. Stephen's 63, O'Neill 13
The high-powered Royals offence posted a league-high 63 scoring points as they rolled to a 63-13 win over O'Neill. Mitch Reece with three touchdowns and Adam Bateman and Darby Bradley with two each paced the nine-touchdown attack. Also adding single majors were Sebastian Shearing and Cameron Asselin. Asselin completed the Royals scoring with a perfect nine-for-nine convert performance. Isaiah Wilson scored both O'Neill touchdowns while Colin Flamminio added one convert. Through two games, the undefeated Royals have tallied 104 scoring points while the Red Hawks, who are still seeking their first win of the season, have surrendered 101 points.
Sep. 29, 2011
Source: http://www.durhamregion.com/sports/article/1135764--lossa-football-tier-ii-results
OSHAWA -- The LOSSA football season got underway last week at the tier two level and it took no time for a few schools to generate some excitement on the gridiron.
Ajax 42, Denis O'Connor 7
The Ajax Rams, powered by four second-half touchdowns, downed the Denis O'Connor Chargers 42-7. At the half, the score was 14-0 on a couple of Morgan Humes touchdown receptions. Chris Hay scooped up a Charger fumble on the opening play of the second half and carried the ball 30 yards for another major. Alex McIlmoyle hauled in a 30-yard touchdown for Denis O'Connor's lone score.
Other Ajax scores came from Brad Benedetto with two touchdowns and Dougie Crawford with one. Crawford also converted all six touchdowns to finish the game with 12 points.
Paul Dwyer 35, Sinclair 0
Dilland Allotey and Jake Radford each scored two touchdowns as the Dwyer Saints opened with a convincing 35-0 triumph over Sinclair. Steve Laurie also recorded a major while Eric Kimmerly recorded a two-point convert. Also scoring for Paul Dwyer were Aaron Champagne with two converts and Paul Legacy with one convert.
Pine Ridge 34, St. Stephen's 14
Meschach Green scored two first-half touchdowns on receptions of 18 and 52 yards to lead the Pumas to a 20-point win over St. Stephen's. Sean Smith also delivered two majors while Hunter Jennings added one in the 34-14 victory. Smith added four converts. Royals touchdowns were scored by Kyle Rideout and Idahossa Yorke. Connor Vale converted both.
O'Neill 24, Bowmanville 8
Brendan Costello booted four field goals to lead O'Neill in a 24-8 win over Bowmanville. Trey Campbell added two touchdowns for the Red Hawks. Replying for the Talons were Justin Leacock with a touchdown and Riley Johnson with a two-point convert.
Uxbridge 26, Richardson 18
Lee Cowie's big game led Uxbridge to a 26-18 win over Richardson. He opened the scoring with an eight-yard touchdown run and added another on a 28-yard scamper and a convert on the first major. Mike Boehm with a fumble recovery in the end zone following a punt and Andrew Edwards with a 25-yard carry also scored majors, while Graham Klammer delivered a 28-yard punt single. The Storm points were recorded by Jayden Massey with a pair of 75-yard touchdowns -- one on a kick-off return and the other on a run -- and George Gouoganis who went 84 yards on a pass and run.
Tier two junior
Ajax 29, Paul Dwyer 0
Brad Till, Mitch Fowler, Jeff Benedetto and Matt Williams each reached the house for the Rams. Till added three converts while the team was credited with a safety to complete the scoring.
St. Stephen's 41, Pine Ridge 18
Darbey Bradley and Mitch Reece had two touchdowns each while Adam Bateman and Riley Adey each scored one touchdown to power the Royals to a 23-point win. Cameron Asselin added five converts. Replying for the Pumas with one touchdown each were Coree Russell, Khosya Henderson and Joel Dash.
Richardson 13, Uxbridge 9
Two second-half touchdowns -- Justin Elwood on 80-yard run and George Goudogianis an 84-yard reception -- enabled Richardson to win their first junior football game since November 2007. Goudogianis added a point after on his touchdown. A first-quarter 83-yard fumble recovery by Curtis Petersen accounted for the only touchdown by Uxbridge. Callen Hageman added a single point and David Morrison had a safety.
Eastdale 36, Port Perry 13
Riley Palmer tallied five touchdowns as the Eagles opened defence of their 2010 junior title with a win. Cody Dale with two converts and two safeties completed the scoring. The Rebels scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns (Matthew Reid and Ethan Shields) with Braedon Vavassori converting one touchdown.
Bowmanville 38, O'Neill 32
Fielding a junior team for the first time since 2005, Bowmanville opened the season with a 38-32 victory over the Red Hawks. The Talons were led by Kyler Woodburn and Kyle Kelly, each with three touchdowns. Woodburn also added a two-point convert. Spenser Arnott also had a three-touchdown game for O'Neill. Other majors for the Red Hawks were scored by Isiah Wilson and Colin Flamminio, who added two converts.
Sep. 27, 2011With just 900 students, Holy Trinity Catholic Secondary School, near Courtice, has one of the GTA's most successful football programs. The Titans are defending Metro Bowl champions.
Source: http://www.thestar.com/sports/highschool/article/1059915--tiny-holy-trinity-boasts-titanic-football-program
Joseph Hall Sports Reporter
There’s five acres of corn turning harvest gold beside the football field and just to the south, a herd of cattle is grazing under a warm autumn sun.
And on the field itself, about a quarter of all the boys who attend Holy Trinity Catholic Secondary School on the outskirts of Courtice are pounding through a pre-season practice.
A community of 24,000 — way out past the point where Hwy. 401 narrows to six lanes — Courtice sits smack in the rural hinterlands of Durham Region.
But in a Hoosiers-style story of unlikely success, tiny Holy Trinity — with just 900 students — has cultivated what is arguably the best high school football program in the GTA.
In just the eighth year of existence — and with a young head coach who never played past high school — the Titans are the defending Metro Bowl champions, having played in their Lake Ontario Secondary School Association (LOSSA) finals two years earlier.
“We’ve made it our goal to improve every year,” says founding coach Fred Zinkie, whose two current assistants never put on football pads at any level.
And the key to their success?
Make football as much fun as it is physical, says Zinkie, 34.
“That (philosophy) has led to a lot of the teenaged boys wanting to come out and try it,” he says.
“If it doesn’t work out, if it’s not something you’re great at, then that’s okay, there’s no shame in that. But if you’re interested, try it.”
That give-it-a-go pitch will typically attract about a third of the school’s male students to tryouts in any given year, ensuring that Holy Trinity’s best boy athletes will at least attempt to be Titans.
“We really believe that at any high school, if you can get as many of your good athletes to take up the game and take it seriously and work hard, you’ll succeed.”
And Zinkie, who has about 50 students on each of the school’s senior and junior teams, says it is the feeder freshmen and sophomore squad that keeps the senior Titans rolling.
“We get strong numbers who try out in junior and we try from then on to keep them sticking with it,” he says.
“That means sticking with school, sticking with their grades, staying out of trouble at home.”
Zinkie describes his retentive junior program as a mix between hard-hitting football and a summer camp, where the work ethic that powers the senior team is nurtured in an atmosphere tuned to a 14- or 15-year-old’s fancy.
“They’ll sing songs, they get the music going in the dressing room, they’ll have a good time, but they’re more serious on the field,” he says.
The odd practice in a farmer’s pasture, movie nights, a big spaghetti spread or two, all keep most youngsters enthused enough to stay on the senior trajectory, Zinkie says.
“I’ll say to them, ‘You don’t have to be better than that kid at (Toronto’s) Central Tech or a school like that when you’re in grade 9. You just have to be better than him in Grade 12,’ ” he says.
“And if you get the good athletes to take up the game and take it seriously and work hard, then they can do that.”
Making it fun makes it more palatable for the next year’s returning players to work out an extra three weeks in June when the football programs at most other school’s have shut down, says Zinkie.
“That (extra spring work) is something that’s given us a little added bonus, that’s been something that helps us compete with bigger schools,” he says.
“That’s going to make you a better football player than maybe a guy at Pickering High School, who’s a little better athlete than you because they have more kids at their school.”
Still, the success of Titan’s program is most remarkable for the size of its recruiting area.
Unlike such Toronto powerhouses as Northern Secondary and Birchmount Park, which attract talent from across densely populated school boundaries, the Titans team is drawn almost exclusively from the small Courtice community.
“We’ve had a few kids bussed in, but most of them come from the suburb over there,” says Zinkie, pointing to a tidy cul-de-sac enclave beyond the diminutive school building.
The Titans have lost all but a handful of their starters from last year’s championship team, says Zinkie.
Yet while the lines are significantly lighter, the coach is confident this year’s squad, which plays its first LOSSA season game this week, will be competitive.
Indeed, the team already won an exhibition match against last year’s Metro Bowl opponent and perennial powerhouse King City in a bruising game earlier this month.
“We won 14-10, but I wasn’t sure how it would go because we had so much turnover,” Zinkie says. “So it was nice to see.”
Mike Kashak, a returning fifth-year guard who was a standout on last year’s championship squad, says the work ethic learned during the program’s more light-hearted junior years propels the senior team’s success.
“When you make it fun, the kids show up and they work harder than if you just have it as a boot camp every day,” says Kashak, who at 6-foot-1 and 250 pounds is looking to have a university career.
“And now, we just work too hard to fail. We work harder than other teams and it wasn’t a surprise when we came out on top in the end.”
Video Clip: http://www.thestar.com/videozone/1059914--holy-trinity-football-practice