HAMILTON, Ont. -- Defence wins championships.
The St. Ignatius Falcons intercepted Bear Creek Kodiaks quarterback Josh Cook six times on Tuesday, including a pair of pick-sixes by star defensive back Liam Puskas, and went on to win the Simcoe Bowl in Hamilton 29-16. Puskas finished with three interceptions and a forced fumble on the game.
It was the first provincial football championship for the Falcons, and the first for a Thunder Bay team in nine years when the Westgate Tigers captured the 2007 Northern Bowl.
The Kodiaks, who hail from Barrie, Ont., opened the scoring in the first quarter, Noah Jacka running in for the score and a 7-0 Bear Creek lead.
It wouldn’t last long.
Falcons quarterback Bryce Covello hooked up with receiver Jake Robertson for a 74-yard catch-and-run touchdown evening the game 7-7.
St. Ignatius took the lead for good late in the second quarter on Puskas’ first interception, then scored twice more before the half ended to take a 29-7 lead into the break.
Covello connected with Josh Newransky for an 11-yard score, the Puskas snagged a Cook pass and raced 60 yards down the right sideline for the defensive major.
The Kodiaks secured a safety in the second half, Cook hooking up with Tyler Poole for an 11-yard scoring strike with just 3:21 to go in the fourth.
Nic Cull led the way on the ground for the Falcons, rushing for 156 yards on 22 carries. Covello was 7-for-16 though the air for 132 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
