THUNDER BAY – The St. Ignatius Falcons express keeps rolling along.
The junior Falcons scored four times on the ground and held the Hammarskjold Vikings offence to just 49 yards, forcing a fumble and intercepting quarterback Taylor Main once, en route to a 28-0 triumph that sealed a perfect 5-0 regular season.
Thursday’s win was the perfect way to hit the start of next week’s high school football playoffs, said running back Alex Iossa, who also had touchdown runs of 80 and 14 yards called back because of penalties against the St. Ignatius offence.
“The last game of the season, it feels pretty good to go 5-0, undefeated. That’s what we really wanted,” Iossa said.
“It’s important because we want to go into the playoffs prepared, ready and in good form.”
The Falcons, who outscored opponents 144-55 this season, are looking for their first junior championship since 2017, the last of six straight titles won by the north side school.
Iossa said they’re going to have to clean up the penalties once the playoffs start, the Falcons slated to take on the St. Patrick Saints next Thursday at 5 p.m. at Fort William Stadium, the third time the two teams will meet this season.
“It happens. The rest of the game they had good blocking, so we’re just going to practice not holding and stuff.”
Iossa said he was even more bound and determined to find the end zone again after having the two lengthy scores wiped out.
“I was very determined to get another one after that. It got me going.”
The two teams played a scoreless first quarter, but the Falcons marched 70 yards down the field on their first possession of the second, Iossa taking it home from seven yards out, the only score of the opening half.
St. Ignatius, which rushed for 306 combined yards, 155 of which were gobbled up by Iossa, started the second half on their own 53, but didn’t stay there long.
Quarterback Justin Coulombe connected with Aiden Palko for a 43-yard passing play and Iossa took it the rest of the way, scampering home from the 14-yard-line on the very next play.
Neither team’s offence generated much momentum for much of the third, but the Falcons took over the ball on the Vikings 32 and turned the ball over to running back Michael Laukka, who needed three carries to go the distance, making it 21-0 at the buzzer on a four-yard run up the middle.
Nolan Poirier picked off Taylor Main on the Vikings next possession and the Falcons made the most of the opportunity, Carson Height and Laukka each carrying the ball twice, the latter taking it home from the five-yard line.
“It feels great,” Laukka said. “I enjoy playing and being with the team. It’s gives you some boost and energy (when you score) …
Laukka wasn’t shy when asked about his team’s chances the next two weeks.
“I think we’re going to win it all,” he said.
The Vikings (1-4) will take on Westgate (4-1) in next Friday’s second semifinal. Game time is 7 p.m.
Westgate 23, St. Patrick 7: Tyler Rose had touchdown runs of 55 and five yards to lead the Tigers to victory over the winless Fighting Saints.
