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Trojans score 29 straight, remain undefeated at 5-0

James Basalyga's 84-yard pick-six sparks comeback after the Trojans managed just a single point in the first half against Westgate.

THUNDER BAY – Finishing the senior football season undefeated is high on the Sir Winston Churchill Trojans wish-list.

But it’s not the be-all, end-all of their season.

That would be bringing home the championship at season’s end.

It’s why they didn’t panic on Friday night when the Hammarskjold Vikings held them to a single point in the opening half.

Their passing game unable to get going in the first two quarters, the Trojans hit the ground running after the break.

They then scored three rushing touchdowns and 29 unanswered points, good for a 29-7 triumph over a Westgate Tigers squad looking for an upset in what was likely the final meeting ever between the two rivals, whose schools will merge together as one next fall.

Churchill's James Basalyga helped turn the tide early in the third, snatching a Darian Fuchs pass out of the air, returning the interception 84 yards for the touchdown and an 8-7 Trojans lead.

That was the key moment in the contest, said quarterback Dylan Ford, who scored on a pair of keepers later in the contest.

“The pick-six by James really got the engines going again, got everybody hyped up on the sidelines,” Ford said.

“Before that we weren’t out of it, but there really wasn’t much energy on the sidelines. Once we got our energy back we started firing on all cylinders.”

It was an important win for the Trojans, who at 5-0 have clinched top spot in the standings and will enter the playoffs as the No. 1 seed.

“That was the point of practice all week that we could wrap up first place with this win. Five-and-oh, that’s a big step for us. It’s step No. 5 of our ultimate goal of winning a championship. The guys came to work today and they got things figured out in the second half,” said Churchill coach Mike Doromko.

The Trojans put on a rushing clinic in the second half, alternating carries between Dyk Taw and Braeden Prochnicki.

The duo chewed up the Fort William Stadium turf, trading long run after long run to keep the Churchill offence on the field.

Taw made it 15-7 late in the third, scoring on a four-yard run, then kicking the extra point, his second of four on the night.

“I really don’t like the cold, I’m from the jungle,” said Taw, a native of Thailand. “I try to do my best every day and do what my coaches tell me to do.”

The Tigers (2-3) roared deep into Churchill territory on the ensuing drive, but turned it over on downs at the enemy nine, Konnor Kooistra halted attempting to secure the yardage on the ground.

Taw and Prochnicki then rolled off back-to-back runs of 31 and 25 yards to push the ball to the edge of the red zone, Ford calling his own number from the one-yard line for the score. He’d add another after Rory Jeffers fumbled the kickoff return, giving the Trojans the ball inside Westgate territory.

The Tigers lone score came late in the second quarter, Fuchs barreling in from a yard out, with 1:51 to play.

Immediately afterward the Trojans began to march down the field, but a Ford pass was intercepted by Reid Stajkowski. They got the ball back before half and broke the goose egg. Taw’s 46-yard field goal attempt came up short, but bounced deep enough in the end zone to score the rouge, Hunter MacKenzie unable to bring it out.

St. Ignatius 33, St. Patrick 3: Nic Cull scored three touchdowns for the Falcons, who christened their new artifical turf field with a victory to improve to 3-2. The Saints remained winless at 0-6.



Leith Dunick

About the Author: Leith Dunick

A proud Nova Scotian who has called Thunder Bay home since 2002, Leith is Dougall Media's director of news, but still likes to tell your stories too. Wants his Expos back and to see Neil Young at least one more time. Twitter: @LeithDunick
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