THUNDER BAY – The St. Ignatius Falcons are headed to the senior high school football playoffs on a high note.
The Falcons on Friday overcame an early deficit at the hands of the winless Hammarskjold Vikings, scoring 17 unanswered points to wrap up a 29-14 win, hitting the post-season as the second seed with a 4-2 record.
Quarterback Michael Danchuk hooked up with receiver Gunnar White for a pair of touchdowns through the air at Fort William Stadium, the first going for 45 yards, the second for just six.
It wasn’t an easy win by any means, said Danchuck, but it’s the type of win that builds character, important for their semifinal match-up next Friday against Westgate.
“They had us out of the gun, said Danchuk, who also ran one in from 13 yards out. “They definitely were coming out a little harder, but the same thing we’ve done all year, we never let it get to us. Later on in the game, once we turned it on, it was hard stopping us.
“It was five or six yards every run, every time we gave the ball off to somebody. We ended it great, ended it as a team.”
Having a receiver like White a the ready never hurts, Danchuk added.
“Me and Gunnar, we’ve been practising a lot together and we’re finally getting a feel for one another. Now it’s just like night and day. Whenever I’ve got him open, it usually leads to something great.”
White’s just happy he’s getting a chance.
“It’s amazing, it’s more than I can ask for,” White said. “Last year I was getting nothing. This year I’m really glad they have faith in me and I’m getting my touchdowns and I’m getting lots of passes.”
It was the Vikings (0-6) who came out firing, taking the ball 78 yards on their first possession for a major, Dylan Halls running for 51 yards on the drive, capping it off with a four-yard touchdown run, the missed extra point making it 6-0 Hammarskjold.
Halls would later leave the game with an injury and did not return.
The Falcons marched to the Hammarsjkold five, only to fumble the ball away, the Vikings taking over on their own 18.
Hammarskjold went three-and-out and punted, but an unnecessary roughness penalty dropped the ball on their 13 yards line. Danchuk called his own number and swept to the left, sailing into the end zone, another missed convert making it 6-6.
The Falcons scored again on their next possession, Tyler Robertson barreling up the middles for a 12-yard TD and St. Ignatius led 12-6.
The lead changed once again late in the third, when Nolen Sloan hit Keaton Cristofaro for a 35-yard touchdown pass, the duo hooking up on the ensuing two-pointe conversion to make it 14-12 for the Vikings.
It was all St. Ignatius in the fourth.
The Falcons took the lead on White’s first touchdown, then, after a Harry Tsekouras field goal, finished things off on White’s second, with just 28 seconds left on the clock.
St. Patrick 35, Westgate 15: The Fighting Saints finished the regular season at 5-1 and will be the top seed heading into the postseason. The Tigers wrapped up at 3-3 and will be the No. 3 seed.
