Shortly after the final game of the 2022 summer schedule for the Sudbury Jr Spartans, a few coaches and media types were chatting, noting that with the manner in which young football talent was currently distributed locally, it might not be completely foolhardy to predict a six-way tie at 3-3 for all entries in the SDSSAA fall senior league.
(of course, that would have meant taking the easy way out - far better to range my predictions from 5-0 to 0-5)
Still, there is no denying the increased parity.
The Friday night triple-header that was staged on September 23rd at the James Jerome Sports Complex would see no single team score more than 21 points and no contest decided by more than nine points.
While the Lo-Ellen Park Knights remain undefeated - just barely - there are now four of the six teams deadlocked at 1-1, with the 0-2 Lively Hawks not likely to stay winless very much longer.
All three games were compelling, with the Confederation Chargers proving to be a far more difficult out than many of the Lo-Ellen players suspected, as the Knights needed a late touchdown reception from Quin Mazzuchin to down the Valley crew 13-10.
A field goal by Braeden Beggs accounted for the only scoring of the opening half, with Confederation up by three before LOE QB Steven Sola ran one into the end zone, giving the Knights a 6-3 lead.
With under five minutes to play in the game, Beggs connected with wideout Kohen Crane for a go-ahead score, the 10-6 Chargers advantage holding up until the Mazzuchin heroics with 1:45 remaining.
The St Charles College Cardinals bounced back from their opening game loss to the Knights, taking down the Lively Hawks 21-14 as running back / slotback / kicker Nicholas McGee accounted for all of the SCC scoring, carrying the ball to the house on three separate occasions.
Lively quarterback Hughie Campbell did likewise once in the opening half, putting the Hawks on the board with a score off the rush and hooking up with receiver Bradley Halonen for a second major, making things close late as Ryan Ricci made good on both of his convert attempts.
The opening encounter on Friday featured a pair of touchdowns from defensive end and part-time QB Mattaeus Grossi as the St Benedict Bears looked much better than week one, defeating the Lasalle Lancers 17-8.
"We played really hard," noted Bears' running back Chris N'Goyet. "I had never seen that in my life, never saw us play that hard. The motivation was here."
Just three years in Canada from his native land of the Ivory Coast, the 17 year old grade 12 senior made the move to the backfield this fall after suiting up as a safety and cornerback in 2021.
Rushing for 160 yards on the day, N'Goyet complemented a decent St Benedict passing attack which included Anthony Gutscher completions to targets Thomas Rinaldi (4/54 yds), Quentin Emily (1/5) and Jacob Dillabough (2/29).
For his part, the new ball carrier is getting used to being the "hittee" instead of the "hitter" this year.
"I know that I am going to get hit," said N'Goyet. "I just tell myself that it's going to hurt for three seconds and after, it's done. I do it every time."
As for the biggest single improvement coming off a lopsided loss to Confederation that included more than 200 yards in penalties to the St Benedict side, N'Goyet believes it simply comes down to working as a team.
"We have to play together," he said. "We have to talk to each other and make sure that everyone knows what he is doing. If one person doesn't really know what he is doing, the guy next to him can tell him."
Jonas Petroski completed the scoring for St Ben's thanks to a 24 yard field goal and a pair of converts while the Lasalle defense put the points on the board for the Lancers: 88 yard interception return for Sylas Asare-Corbiere and a safety touch credited to Adriano Bennett as the Bears kneeled on a punt option in their own end zone.
