Pretty much anyone who has followed high-school football in Sudbury the least bit seriously over time is well aware that it has been more than 50 years since a SDSSAA senior squad has laid claim to the NOSSA banner (St Charles College were the last to do so in 1969).

What many folks might not realize is that it has been since the late seventies when a SDSSAA senior team even walked off the field with a NOSSA playoff semi-final win.

Sure, some of that streak is due to logistics that sees the Sudbury rep gaining a direct berth in the final – once every three years these days. And going back over forty plus years, there have been many instances when the entire trio of Sudbury – Sault Ste Marie – North Bay were not all involved in NOSSA games in a given year, such that no semi-final was contested at all.

But even with all of that, local fans of the gridiron should celebrate the achievement that the Confederation Chargers posted Saturday afternoon at James Jerome. The Valley boys not only walked off the turf victorious to earn a berth in the NOSSA final, but did so convincingly, up 35-0 at the half and blanking the Algonquin Barons 42-0.

Much as has been the case through seven consecutive wins to date, the Chargers relied on their physicality in all areas of the field to dominate the North Bay city champs. “Smashmouth football”, as coach Shane Hutchinson and his lads like to call it.

“We’re not the richest school out there; we’re not the most populated school; we don’t have the fastest athletes – so if we’re going to win, we have to be the most physical school,” noted all-star safety Nathan Nadeau, who performed double-duty on the weekend, taking some snaps at wingback, recording a TD (43 yard run) and excelling in the Confederation secondary unit.

Though this is his first year in adding some versatility to his game – after Confederation suffered some key injuries during a 2024 city final loss to Lo-Ellen, Nadeau was adamant he wanted to learn both sides of the ball – the 18 year old who is looking to play at the next level next fall is quite emblematic of the mindset this team carries into each and every game.

“When I get out there, every single time, I want to bury someone in the dirt,” said Nadeau. “If I am on offense and not getting the ball, I am going to make sure I pave the way for someone to get a touchdown. If I am getting the ball, I am going to try and run over someone to get a touchdown."

He certainly wasn’t alone.

Running backs Mason McLaughlin and Evan Doyle combined to record the remaining five touchdowns while kicker Domadius Aziz went six for six in the PAT department.

The Chargers will now face the Korah Colts this Saturday at 4:00 p.m. at James Jerome, the second half of a football twin-bill as the Lo-Ellen Park juniors and the St Mary’s Knights do battle at 1:00 p.m. – this after the Knights (of the Sudbury variety) toppled the Lively Hawks 35-7 last week in the city junior final.

“It will be a lot different,” acknowledged Lo-Ellen defensive end Avery Laalo, looking to his team’s NOSSA battle on November 8th. “We haven’t played these guys yet (St Mary’s), even last year.”

Last fall, Lo-Ellen fell 51-12 to the Korah junior Colts in Sault Ste Marie.

“We’re focused on their running backs because they run a lot – and focused on being in the places we have to be in order to be able to stop them,” added Laalo.

With three years of Joe MacDonald Youth Football League experience behind him, Laalo could draw on field time that included one season at safety before moving up to the line, a transition he has clearly never regretted.

“I get to hit more at defensive end and at safety, there is a little more pressure,” he said. “If you’re playing one on one at safety, you really do not want to miss.”

Now, passing plays are the opportunities that he lives for.

“I’m really quick at defensive end and if I can get there soon enough, I can usually make a big play.”

Levi Blouin once again paced the Lo-Ellen attack in the final, racking up a pair of touchdowns and a two-point conversion, while teammates Devun Panella (TD + 3 PATs), Zavier Simard (TD) and Gia Rocca (TD) all chipped in as well. Kade Campbell countered with the lone touchdown for Lively, with Dean Vildis splitting the uprights on the conversion.