THUNDER BAY – The St. Ignatius Falcons are a win away from their first high school junior football championship in four years,
The Falcons, who topped the Superior Secondary Schools Athletic Association regular season standings, dominated the St. Patrick Saints on Thursday evening, rolling to a 37-3 semifinal triumph, out-rushing the St. Patrick Saints 203 yards to 74, scoring 37 unanswered points after trailing 3-0 in the game's early going.
Angelo Marino rushed for 99 yards and a touchdown, including all 61 in a five-play drive that spanned the end of the first quarter and the beginning of the second, putting the Falcons up 6-3, a lead they'd never relinquish.
Quarterback Lucas Dupuis was also key to the victory, rushing for a one-yard score three minutes into the second and connecting with receiver Kristoff Lindstrom on a 55-yard scoring strike, a two-play drive that started at the St. Ignatius 42.
"I saw the safety, when I was looking the opposite way to my receiver," Dupuis said. "The safety bit on that side and I threw it to my other receiver who was wide open for the pass," Dupuis said.
It was a game that looked like it might be a little bit tighter than the final score indicated, especially when the Saints marched the ball down the Fort William Stadium field on their second possession, running back Nathan Sacino carrying the ball five times for 25 yards to the St. Ignatius 20. However, the drive stalled and the Saints had to settle for an 18-yard Nick Lento field goal.
The Falcons answered back on the ensuing drive, 48 seconds into the second quarter.
“I was really tired,” Marino said. “I kept on going back-to-back-to-back just running it and I finally got a touchdown. It was awesome.”
After a two-and-out it took the Falcons just one play to find the end zone again, Quinton Dawd breaking free up the middle for a 43-yard score, easily out-pacing a pair of St. Patrick defenders hot in pursuit.
The St. Ignatius D held strong, forcing another two-and-out. Four plays later, aided by a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct that landed the ball on the Saints 1, Dupuis barrelled up the middle for a one-yard major, the Falcons taking a 20-3 advantage.
They led 27-3 at the half, and with their reserves taking over, added 10 more to their lead after the break.
Mateo Iossa booted a 24-yard field goal midway through the period.
The Falcons closed out the scoring in the fourth, Nolan Poirier running a punt back 83 yards for a touchdown.
“It feels awesome,” Marino said. “We're going to the final and all this hard work has paid off.”
St. Ignatius will take on Hammarskjold for the junior championship, scheduled for noon on Saturday, Nov. 6. The Vikings downed Westgate 37-7 in the other semifinal.
