Winnipeg High School Football League Championship
November 13, 2017 by admin
Filed under Provincial and Territorial News
Junior varsity football champions crowned
By: Jason Bell
The Oak Park Raiders scorched the turf at wintry Investors Group Field on Tuesday night — and now are the 2017 Winnipeg High School Football League’s junior varsity champions.
Relentless on both sides of the ball, the Raiders scored early and often, cruising to a 44-6 triumph over the St. Paul’s Crusaders in the Home Run Sports Bowl on a chilly evening in Fort Garry.
Stadium staff loudly scraped snow from the stands during the game, preparing for the CFL’s West Division semifinal between the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Edmonton Eskimos on Sunday. But the gridiron kids from Oak Park were the early stars of a huge week for the WHSFL, which holds its championship games Tuesday through Thursday.
It’s the Raiders’ third title since 2010 for players in Grades 9 and 10.
“It’s fantastic. This is a really, really dedicated group of kids,” said head coach Stu Nixon, whose team was 5-1 during the regular season. “They all work very hard, they’re kind of mature for their age. They earned it.”
Running back Rhyland Kelly scored a pair of first-half touchdowns, while Devlyn Kilmister scampered for a 68-yard major just 30 seconds into the second half and added two more TDs before the final whistle. Niall Reid also scored a touchdown on a short run.
After surrendering two early TDs to Kelly and a safety, the Crusaders rallied with a pair of solid drives resulting in field goals and trailed 16-6 at half.
Kilmister said he wanted to be a difference-maker in the second half.
Just two plays in, he busted through the line and sprinted from his own side of centre field and headed for the house, leaving a crew of Crusader defenders well behind.
“I really wanted to break out on a big run. We changed up our formation a little bit and I guess I caught their defence off-guard,” Kilmister said. “Once I cut back to the right side, I saw nothing but open field.
“This was a great game for our entire team, offence and defence. They had no touchdowns scored on our D, so that’s really what got us going.”
Linebacker Brendan Allan’s fumble recovery at the St. Pauls’ five-yard line set up Kelly’s first TD. After a quick two-and-out by the Crusaders, Oak Park struck for another major less than three minutes later when quarterback Oliver Spencer orchestrated a fake field goal and tossed to Kelly from just one yard out.
Allan said it was mission accomplished for the defence.
“It’s us as a unit, we have great chemistry. We all care about each other and have each others’ backs,” Allan said. “I don’t think we were going to let this slide. We wanted this so badly.”
Isaiah Hirst kicked the field goals for St. Paul’s, one from 23 yards out and another from the 18-yard line.
jason.bell@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @WFPJasonBell Read more by Jason Bell .
St. Paul’s cap unbeaten season with dominant defeat of Dakota in ANAVETS Bowl
St. Paul’s Crusaders Michael O’Shea takes the ball through the Dakota defence Thursday evening.
A lot changed for the St. Paul’s Crusaders this season – but in the end things stayed exactly the same.
Despite going through a massive personnel overhaul, the Crusaders remained the powerhouse they’ve been for a decade, capping an unbeaten 2017 campaign by winning the ANAVETS Bowl – the showcase game of the Winnipeg High School Football League season – Thursday at Investors Group Field.
St. Paul’s successfully defending its crown on a bitterly cold night in Fort Garry, defeating a plucky but overmatched Dakota Lancers crew 35-0 in the final of the AAA John Potter division.
In the early game at IGF, the Oak Park Raiders kicked their offence into high gear and rolled over the Vincent Massey Vikings of Brandon 47-14 in the CTV Bowl.
This was pegged as a rebuilding year for the Crusaders, who had just 11 returnees from a dominant 2016 team and had to replace 28 players. But the St. Paul’s football factory keeps churning out remarkable young athletes.
“Last year felt awesome, and this year it’s even better to share that feeling with the new guys,” said defensive end Collin Kornelson, a key veteran who had two quarterback sacks and four tackles in the final. “We had to rebuild. Together we just formed a good group of guys and were able to do what we wanted to.”
The Crusaders were 7-0 during the regular season and racked up three more playoff victories. Remarkably, the St. Paul’s squad has stowed away five championships over seven years, while winning 68 of 70 games. They’ve been in the AAA final 10 straight years.
“All credit to St. Paul’s. Congrats to them for winning 11 years or whatever it is,” said Dakota quarterback Reid Vankoughnett, in a surprisingly upbeat mood despite the defeat. “Good for us to get to the final. It was a good season. I love all the guys.”
St. Paul’s Crusaders Collin Kornelson leads the victory charge onto the field after the team routed the Dakota Lancers in the ANAVET Bowl Final Thursday evening.
Head coach Stacy Dainard said while there was plenty of uncertainty at some positions, the Crusaders began the season with stability on their defensive line.
And the heavy horses totally shut down the Lancers.
“We felt like the line of scrimmage was going to be key and turnovers. Thankfully, we didn’t turn the ball over and our (defensive) line played outstanding,” said Dainard. “Some of those guys back were our starting D-line and it really helped us. They were the solid foundation of our defence and we had to plug in some pieces on offence. It took us a while to figure it out but guys came a long way.”
Brody Lawson, a Grade 11 student, is one of those impactful, first-year performers who, once again, flashed the leadership skills he’s demonstrated all season long. Named the bowl game’s most valuable player, he made good on 12 of 16 pass attempts – three for touchdowns – for 129 yards.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” said Lawson. “I haven’t won a championship since I was, like, 11 years old. This group of guys, I’d do anything for them. I’m just so glad we could end our season on a note like this. Amazing season… couldn’t have ended it any better.”
He connected with receivers Noah Dornn, Michael O’Shea – son of Blue Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea – and Michael Asabil.
“I wouldn’t be half as good as I am if it wasn’t for them,” Lawson said, heaping praise on his receiving corps. “They just go up and make plays for me. They make me look a lot better than I actually am.”
Dornn and O’Shea each had four receptions, while running back Nic Peters carried the ball 11 times for 85 yards and one touchdown.
“It’s awesome. We’ve been working for this all year and it’s paid off,” said O’Shea, who climbed into the stands to receive congratulations from his famous father. “Everyone just meshes well and they just give 100 percent. Everyone wanted this. They just worked hard to get it.
“Everyone became a leader by the end of the year. Everyone figured out what we needed to do and everyone realized Crusader values and everyone’s a leader on our team.”
St. Pauls back-up quarterback Te Jessie pushed in from just one yard out for major score.
The Lancers, who trailed 19-0 at the half, took a mammoth step this season under head coach Ray Jarvis. They won only three games during the 2015 and ’16 campaigns before going 5-2 this fall and then upending Sturgeon Heights Huskies and Sisler Spartans in the playoffs.
Raiders 47 Vikings 14
Quarterback Charlie Ringland tossed three touchdown passes to energize Oak Park, including a pair to his favourite target, Benjamin Boyko. Ringland also ran for a major score.
Running back Erick Rivera-Ospina was a one-man wrecking crew for the winning side, rambling for three TDs. He was named the game’s most valuable player.
Raiders’ receiver Chris Alexander hauled in a TD strike from Ringland, while placekicker Presley Solar Mackay made good on five of seven converts.
Vikings all-purpose performer, Joel Hardy, scored two touchdowns on the ground, while Fernando Chorro Huezo was two-for-two in extra points.
jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @WFPJasonBell Read more by Jason Bell.
West Kildonan wins a squeaker over St. Norbert in WHSFL Bowl
Turnaround season for Daniel McIntyre capped with Canad Inns Bowl victory
By: Mike Sawatzky Posted: 11/8/2017 7:06 PM | Last Modified: 11/9/2017 8:12 AM
Kildonan East coach John St. Cyr gets the Gatorade baptism as his team defeats the Maroons on Wednesday night.
