THUNDER BAY – With three straight wins under their belts, now is the perfect time for the St. Patrick Saints to start peaking.
Quarterback Joey Ward scored the game-winning touchdown with 47 seconds remaining on the clock as the St. Patrick outlasted the Churchill Trojans for an 18-13 victory over the Churchill Trojans in high school senior football at the Fort William Stadium.
“This game was huge,” Ward said on the field following the final whistle. “This was one of the biggest games of the season. It took a lot of teamwork to win and we pulled through.”
The win gives St. Patrick (4-3) an identical record as the Trojans (4-3), though Churchill holds the tiebreaker for second place with one week remaining in the regular season.
The Saints started the season 1-3 and were sitting at the bottom of the league standings and in danger of missing the postseason but a trio of victories, including one over the first-place St. Ignatius Falcons, has sparked a turnaround.
That reversal starts with the quarterback, a fifth-year athlete playing his first as the pivot, who is starting to catch fire.
In this one Ward finished the contest 8-for-13 passing for 101 yards but added 80 yards on the ground over 11 carries, including the go-ahead score.
His ability to make plays through the air and advance the ball vertically downfield adds a new element to the Saints offence.
“For years and years we’ve been known as a run-first team. To be able to pass and keep the opposing defense off balance is incredible to get that ball downfield,” St. Patrick coach Mike Marcon said.
And even though Ward capped the final drive with his legs it was with his arm that made it possible.
After starting the drive in their own territory the offense quickly faced a crucial third down at midfield but the quarterback stayed cool and composed, completing a 17-yard gain to Thomas Veneruz.
The two connected on the next play, with Ward firing a deep ball that Veneruz reeled in with a diving grab for a 31-yard pickup that put the Saints in scoring position.
“He’ll catch any ball,” Ward said of his receiver. “I knew I had to go to him right away.”
The Saints led 9-0 at the half, paced by a four-yard major by running back Kellen Steudle. Steudle finished the game with 15 carries and 67 yards.
The Trojans came inches away from a first half touchdown as on the last play of the half running back Paul Bystrican bolted away for a 61-yard gain but was caught from behind by Saints defender Trenton Woodbeck, who brought him down just short of the goal line.
Churchill scored two second half touchdowns to give themselves a chance, with quarterback Tallon Morris hooking up with wideout Brennan Tienhaara for a 16-yard score on the first one and Bystrican giving the Trojans their first lead of the game late in the fourth with a 10-yard run.
Morris finished the game 15-for-28 with 152 yards and one touchdown and one interception while Bystrican rushed for 143 yards on 14 carries.
In the early game St. Ignatius (6-2) scored 20 straight points to lock up first place with a 20-13 victory over the Hammarskjold Vikings (3-4).
Falcons running back Jake Puskas ran for 162 yards on 22 carries, including touchdowns from 40 and six yards out.
Vikings quarterback Keenan Postans had one passing and one rushing touchdown in the losing effort.
The regular season concludes on Nov. 6 with St. Patrick taking on Hammarskjold while the Churchill Trojans battle with the Westgate Tigers (1-6), who have been eliminated from playoff contention.
