THUNDER BAY -- Big-time players show up for big-time games.
Apparently that makes quarterback Bryce Covello and receiver Josh Newransky big-time players.
The duo on Friday night connected for four touchdowns, leading the St. Ignatius Falcons to their third straight Superior Secondary Schools Athletic Association senior football final, downing a pesky, but injury-riddled, St. Patrick Saints squad 43-14 at Fort William Stadium.
Covello finished the day with five scores on 329 yards passing, while Newransky caught seven passes for 182 yards for the Falcons, who will take on Westgate next Saturday in the championship final after the Tigers put an end to Churchill football with a 21-7 win in the other semifinal.
“We’ve got a lot of chemistry, we’ve been playing together for a while and are always on the same page,” said Covello, teammates with Newransky since their Grade 9 year.
“It’s always good when we can get other guys involved in the offence. Then when we start doing that it just opens (Josh) up again. Sometimes on those plays it’s not even my first option. But he’s just open and I’ve just got to hit him.”
Newransky said it wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for the Falcons domination of the offensive line.
It gave Covello time to seek out open receivers – and it just happened to be Newransky most of the contest, which wasn’t nearly as lopsided as the final score might indicate.
“It was pretty big statement we made tonight, coming off a tough loss. I’ll have to thank the offensive line, as usual, because those guys make the team. Let’s be honest,” Newransky said.
The Falcons can also thank their secondary, who picked off St. Patrick quarterback five times, stalling drive after drive and allowing the potent St. Ignatius offence to quickly get back to work.
The opening quarter was all Falcons.
Jake Roberston ran one in from 11 yards out 4:29 into the game, Covello stretching the lead to 15-0 with an 11-yard strike to Newransky late in the period.
St. Ignatius jumped in front on Newransky’s second score of the game midway through the second, but with less than two minutes to go, the Saints Ryan Lampey rumbled up the middle untouched for the major, St. Patrick on the board and trailing 22-7 at the half.
Newransky quickly restored the 22-point lead, making easy work of the St. Patrick defence for a 53-yard score.
After Nisiou was intercepted yet again the Falcons made the Saints pay for their mistake, Covello connecting with receiver Noah Penfold for another 53-yard major and St. Ignatius led 36-7.
Nisiou ran one in from six yards out late in the third, but it was too little, too late.
The St. Patrick quarterback led all Saints with 70 yards rushing, with star back Kellan Steudle sidelined with an injury.
Westgate 21, Churchill 7: The Tigers spotted the second place Trojans an early 7-0 lead, but scored 21 unanswered points as Churchill bowed out of high school football on a losing note. Westgate quarterback John Czupryna hit Anthony Cianfagna for an 81-yard scoring play and ran one in from 37 yards out. Darien Fuchs had a 26-yard scoring run. Alexander Blekkenhorst had the lone Churchill touchdown. The two schools will merge next year at the Westgate campus.
