Apparently, there can be a downside to being too good.
Boasting a record of 6-0 and having outscored their opponents by a whopping margin of 258-8 this fall, the Confederation Chargers senior football team nearly paid a steep price in the city final.
In a rematch of the 2024 SDSSAA final and facing the only team to put points on the board against them in regular season play this year (Confederation beat Lo-Ellen 35-7 on September 26th), the Chargers edged the Lo-Ellen Park Knights 31-29 Friday night at the James Jerome Sports Complex in a highly entertaining encounter.
“We hadn’t faced adversity much this season,” noted Confederation head coach Shane Hutchison, the man who was the team’s starting quarterback when the Chargers last captured this banner back in 2003. “We weren’t really battle tested with those close, scrappy games.”
For as much as Confederation never trailed on Friday, they also were seldom feeling overly comfortable as Lo-Ellen rallied from a 31-20 fourth quarter deficit, making things interesting right down to the final two minutes when Chargers defensive standout Nathan Nadeau picked off a pass that would essentially seal the win.
With the ball in their possession, Confederation went right back to their bread and butter.
“Our O-Line is the foundation of our team,” said Hutchison. “Without an incredible line, our offense doesn’t function properly.”
For a team loaded with offensive weapons such as Mason McLaughlin (3 TDs) and Owen Blay (TD) but with the latter and King David Igiehon nursing injuries, Hutchison singled out the efforts of his bulldozer in the backfield on this night in particular.
“Mason (McLaughlin) gets a lot of credit and he had a hell of a game – but Evan Doyle is our closer,” noted the coach. “He’s a bigger body, a really tough kid to bring down and he was moving the chains late.”
On the opposite side of the ball, it was time for Nathan Nadeau to shine.
“That was the best game I have ever seen him play,” said Hutchison. “He was making great hits, key pass breakups – and had that late interception. And with the injuries on offense, he went in as a wing back and picked up some crucial first down yardage.”
On the scoresheet, Domadius Aziz wrapped things up for the winners with a field goal and four conversions while Lo-Ellen majors came courtesy of Noah Skrobot (2) and Quin Mazzuchin, with kicker Luca Cucullo (3 X FG; 2 X PATs) taking care of the rest.
Where the dynamics of a generation ago might have seen plenty of bad blood between teams and their respective staffs, that’s certainly not the case anymore given that Shane Hutchison and Alex Vendramin (LEP – head coach) are very good friends – as well as serving on summer football staffs together.
“I have nothing but love and respect for not only that coaching staff but those players over there as well,” said Hutchison, giving just dues to the four-time defending city champs. “You build relationships over the summer, you create bonds with those kids – so you can’t help but to feel for them.”
Hutchison went on to make a point of praising the individual efforts of both Lo-Ellen QB Noah Parsons ("he had a great game") and linebacker Nolan Jokinen ("that kid is a warrior").
For as much as Hutchison and company might not have appreciated a much closer game than some might have expected, the same could not be said for the large group of locals on hand for the contest.
“I think (Lively coach) Jordan (Desilets) said it best: as a fan of the game, that was an amazing game to watch,” said Hutchison. “I think both teams put on a good show.”
One more show remains on home turf for the Confederation Chargers, who will play host to the Algonquin Barons in the NOSSA semi-final this Saturday at 4:00 p.m. at James Jerome, with the winner advancing to face the powerhouse Korah Colts from Sault Ste Marie.
The SDSSAA junior final is set for this Thursday at 5:15 p.m., with the Lo-Ellen Park Knights and the Lively Hawks doing battle.
A six touchdown performance from Levi Blouin made all the difference in the world as the Knights bounced the St Benedict Bears 40-13 in semi-final action last week. Devun Panella chipped in with three conversions, including a two-point effort to cap off the Lo-Ellen attack.
The Bears countered with scores from Emmanuel Abiodun (TD), Jude Thiessen (TD) and Gabe Matozzo (PAT), while Lo-Ellen safety Byron Marshall picked off a pair of passes to help the Knights win the turnover battle.
The remaining final would see Lively outlast the St Charles College Cardinals 28-19 as four different players reach the end zone for head coach Reg Bonin and company.
Kade Campbell, Kamden Tario, Logan Tait and Rylan Maksymchuk all put up six-pointers for the winners, with Dean Vildis going 4/4 in the PAT department. St Charles touchdowns came courtesy of quarterback Michael Bisschops, Ryker LeRoy and Kingsten Pitawanakwat, with Sele Arewa splitting the uprights for a convert as well.
