Don’t count out the Westgate Tigers just yet.
Sydney Kelner booted a 22-yard fourth-quarter field goal on Friday and the Tigers defence recovered four fumbles, including a pair in the game’s final minutes, en route to an 11-8 upset of the previously undefeated St. Ignatius Falcons at Fort William Stadium.
Westgate also made a pair of goal line stands in the first half to help secure the triumph.
“We’re a growing every week. We’re a young team, starting seven Grade 11s and they’re getting confidence. And the more playing experience they get at the senior level, good things are happening,” said Westgate coach Mike McNally.
“These guys played aggressive today. We talked this week about not watching the play, but being in the play.”
Knocking off the top-ranked Falcons, 4-0 heading into the contest and working toward a second straight senior high school football crown, was the icing on the cake for the Tigers, who improved to 2-3, strengthening their odds at grabbing one of the four available playoff berths.
“I thought we played them tough in our first match-up of the season (a 37-14 loss), but the kids had some confidence coming into this game that we could play with them,” McNally said. “Now they know they have the ability to beat a good team.”
Tied 1-1 in the opening half, it was Westgate’s Darian Fuchs who put the first major on the board, charging in from five yards out to put the Tigers up 8-1. But the Falcons responded before the second quarter came to a close, Nic Cull with yet another ground score and the teams entered the half even.
In a low-scoring game, every point counts and Kelner came through in the clutch in the fourth with the field goal try into the wind.
She felt the pressure.
“Oh my gosh, it was a lot,” the youngster said. “But I knew we could do it. I knew we could do it. I had to get it. I just had to score one for the team.”
The Falcons, led by Cull’s 111-yard rushing effort, had their chances down the stretch, but couldn’t hang onto the ball.
With five minutes to go, quarterback Bryce Covello fumbled a hand-off to running back Dray Theriault, Westgate’s Anthony Cianfagna pouncing on it. The Falcons forced the Tigers to punt with less than three minutes to go, only for returner Michael Hall unable to close his hands on the ball.
Eric Rabachuel recovered the ball for the Tigers.
Unable to move the ball, Westgate punted one last time and the Falcons began their march down the field, led by 11- and 15-yard strikes by Covello.
But Theriault lost control of the ball as he plowed through the middle, Jordan Bellinger recovering it for Westgate with 1:04 remaining, putting the contest to bed.
Fuchs finished with 118 yards rushing for the Tigers.
St. Patrick 59, Superior Collegiate 14: Kellen Steudle rushed for 123 yards and four touchdowns, including a 38-yard interception return to power the Saints to the win. Saints QB Tyler Mathieu had a pair of TD passes. Sean O'Connor caught a 66-yard scoring pass from Justin Kundrat for the Gryphons.
Sir Winston Churchill 42, Hammarskjold 6: Tallon Morris threw five touchdown passes, three to Chase Swift, to lead the Trojans to the easy win. Zach Hynna scored on a one-yard run for the Vikings only points of the game.
