THUNDER BAY – Heading into a matchup against the city’s only other remaining unbeaten senior high school football squad, the defending champion St. Ignatius Falcons asserted themselves as the team to beat.
The Falcons’ record remains perfect after rallying for a 27-25 victory over the Churchill Trojans at the Fort William Stadium on Friday, boosting their record to 4-0 and gaining sole possession of the top spot in the SSSAA senior football standings.
The previously unbeaten Trojans fall to 3-1.
St. Ignatius running back Thomas Walser led the way for the offensively, catching one touchdown and adding two more scores on the ground, including the go-ahead major in the fourth quarter to retake the lead after the Trojans put up 14 straight second-half points.
“It shows our team’s resiliency. The coaches told us it was going to be a tough game going in and we knew that. Our guys stepped up,” he said. “It’s a testament to these guys and all the work they put in.”
St. Ignatius started strong, carrying a 21-10 lead into halftime.
The two teams traded majors after Falcons running back Nick Cull got into the end zone from one-yard out before Churchill answered with quarterback Tallon Morris connecting with Eric Warren for a 12-yard score.
Walser accounted for the next two touchdowns, completing a 76-yard catch-and run from quarterback Bryce Covello before finding pay dirt from 11 yards out in the second quarter.
Trojans head coach Mike Doromko wasn’t happy about the tone his squad set during the opening two quarters, perhaps still savouring last week’s trashing of the St. Patrick Saints.
“We didn’t play very well,” he said. “We came off a big win last week and kind of needed this kick in the butt. We came out (Friday) and I knew it wasn’t good. Everybody was kind of dazed. I don’t know what was going on but it wasn’t good from the get go.”
Churchill woke up in the third, going on a 14-0 run that briefly put them ahead by three points.
The Trojans offence moved the ball seemingly at will, with a drive capped by a 10-yard Braeden Prodnicki to get within a single score, followed by a march culminated by a two-yard Morris punch in to jump ahead.
Instead of being stunned, the Falcons showed their mettle and rebounded with a dominating, methodical possession that ended when Walser made a lunging dive over the goal line to finish an eight-yard run.
Walser, who insisted he be surrounded by his linemen for his postgame interview, said it was the big guys who made the difference.
“It all starts up front,” he said. “We get lanes, time to throw and we get time and space. We have talent all over the field.”
St. Ignatius head coach Tyler Dennis said it was a big sign for his group to rebound after giving back the lead.
“It was a bad third quarter for us. We didn’t move the ball well offensively and they made some good adjustments that got them moving the ball. Our guys just stayed strong and came up with plays when we needed to and fought to the end.”
The Trojans had chances to get back in the contest. Morris led a late drive, picking up 72 yards on three consecutive completions to get to the edge of the Falcons red zone. But a pass intended for Warren was batted in the air by Walser, who was playing both sides of the ball as a safety, and intercepted by Tanner Saarinen.
That should have been enough to clinch it, but the Falcons left the door open for a comeback. A flubbed Walser punt from the end zone gave Churchill seven seconds and 36 yards but Musa Aldresse was unable to hit a game-tying field goal on two chances after a St. Ignatius penalty gave him a second attempt.
Hammarskjold 51, Superior 6: Zach Hynna factored in on four touchdowns as the Hammarskjold Vikings (1-3) picked up their first win of the campaign. Hynna scored on runs of one and 54 yards, added a 58-yard pick-six and connected with Derek Pucci on an eight-yard touchdown.
St. Patrick 31, Westgate 14: The St. Patrick Saints jumped out to a 24-0 lead and didn’t look back en route to picking up their third win of the season. Kellen Steudle, Tyler Mathieu, Sebastian Foglia all rushed for a touchdown in the winning effort. Mathieu also hit Steudle for a 36-yard passing major.
