Ranked #1 and predicted to run the table in the 2025 Pascal Prognostications, the Confederation Chargers delivered, beating the Lo-Ellen Park Knights 31-29 in the city final and taking home the SDSSAA banner for the first time since 2003. The finish line could look very similar for coach Shane Hutchinson and company this fall, albeit with a different dance partner awaiting at the end.
Confederation Chargers (5-0): After taking a page out of the Sault Ste Marie high-school football playbook last fall, winning a championship behind dominance at the lines and a run-heavy attack, the Chargers are expected to look (mostly) the same in 2026 – though depth is much more of an issue than it was one year ago.
Quarterback Tyson Vitali returns for a third year of running the offense and another step forward in his passing game would go a long way towards having running backs Evan Doyle and Riley Clarke (moved from tight end) not facing 12 men in the box. In Cam Quesnel and Ryder Lalonde, Vitali has a pair of very capable targets – even if the Doyle / Clarke combo is likely to be featured more often than not.
If there is a star factor within this group of Chargers, it comes undoubtedly within the group of young men who will dig in within the trenches, both offensively and defensively. Derks Lineman of the Year Owen Parro is the only 2025 individual award winner in the senior ranks who is returning to H-S football this September and he has plenty of talented company at his side in the form of all-star offensive lineman Boston Bobbie, Cam Dubois, Justin Harris and big little brother Ostin Parro, with Cam Quesnel also expected to see action at defensive end.
The loss of standout linebacker Colton Savage most certainly hurts, though the trio of Dan Leduc, Nolan Stewart and Jade Bretschneider matches up well against most units in the city. The secondary will miss the departed duo of Nathan Nadeau and Tucker Lalonde, with Meeka Duguay, Ryder Lalonde and Blake Lafleche expected to be leaned upon heavily.
Throw in the graduation of special teams playmaker King David Igiehon and one can see that a repeat for the Chargers is anything but a given, especially if the injury bug bites at key positions.
St Benedict Bears (4-1): The Bears and Knights have flipped spots, IMO, this fall thanks in large part to the offensive arsenal that coach Junior Labrosse can tap into. Quarterback Evan DeMarchi returns with a valuable year of experience under his belt and an array of receivers that he can target that is the envy of every other school in Sudbury.
I suppose if there is a downside to the talent distribution at St Ben’s it's that there is only one football on the field of play, at any given time, to be shared between the likes of Oliver Poupore, Holden Beange, Moshood Adeleye, Brendan Goffin and Emmanuel Abiodun. All of this comes without even mentioning that the backfield tandem of speedy Dylan Nelson and returnee Nathan MacIsaac also represent perpetual danger for opposing defenses.
Some young linemen will get the opportunity to step up and will need to do so in order for the Bears to keep Confederation and others from running wild. As talented as Sam Walsh, Graeme Dumas, Ajani Rubic-Ylena and Ben Walsh are, they will need some assistance. Thankfully, in Keegan Adair and Prince Komolafe, St Benedict boasts a pair of linebackers with all-star potential in a position that is, league-wide, extremely deep, across the board this year.
James Alibi takes the lead in a back five unit that also features newcomer Chris Folino – not to mention the fact that coach Labrosse and company are sure to tap in to some of their depth at receiver to keep the secondary well-stocked as well. Gabe Matozzo moved up from the junior Bears to take over place-kicking duties from Domingo Quintana, with Alibi expected to handle the punting chores.
Don’t be surprised if the special team battle weighs in as a deciding factor for the Bears at a few critical points this fall.
Lo-Ellen Park Knights (3-2): With appearances in each of the last five city championship games and four SDSSAA banners to their credit, it seems almost sacrilegious to not rank the Lo-Ellen Park Knights in the top two. The simple truth is that the Steven Sola / Quin Mazzuchin era (with plenty of support) has run its course – and while the cupboards are most certainly not bare, the inventory has been greatly depleted.
The offense will feature multi-sport talent and the Most Oustanding Player in junior football last year Levi Blouin, as well as highly skilled wideout Noah Skrobot and QB Ben Kawa, who has been coming along steadily. That said, there is no obvious feature back option if Blouin succumbs to injury while the receiving duo of Bradley Veevers and Devun Panella hopes to offset some of the lost production with Mazzuchin now with the Carleton Ravens.
Malakai Myers is set to anchor the O-Line, welcoming center Jack Moggy, Collin Vaillancourt and U16 Spartans lineman Nathan Hachey and Prince Achempong, both making the jump from juniors. With Connor Monahan, Caleb Middaugh and Preston Dey rounding out the front seven, the Knights are in very good shape at linebacker.
Given the news that Niki Sola is unlikely to be with the team this fall, the secondary now belongs to grade 11 safety Byron Marshall, with support coming in the form of returning starter Kaden Richer and Max Lalonde as well as Mason Hofford. Despite the rich recent pedigree of talent at Lo-Ellen in recent years, the 2026 Knights are probably two key injuries away from being overtaken by either or both of Lively and St Charles.
