Despite a blustery, wet, and cold final, St. Joan of Arc's senior football team braved the conditions and blew past Maple Ridge on Thursday at J.C. Massie Field to claim the GBSSA title.
The Knights' 35-21 victory clinches an undefeated season in local play and the school's first regional championship since 2021.
Maple Ridge's defence, which was clearly frustrated late in the game, had not allowed a point in any of its three SCAA playoff games. The Ravens averaged just 3.5 points allowed in the six-game regular season.
But after allowing more points in one game than it had all season, Maple Ridge players started to mount penalties and tension rose throughout the second half.
Despite JOA's strong passing game all season, running back Darius Wilson had a standout performance, rushing for 119 yards and scoring two long touchdowns.
His starting quarterback, Ivan West passed for 116 yards while adding 10 yards on the ground. Ravens quarterback Blake Ryan completed just two passes but threw for 111 yards and a touchdown thanks to the efforts of SCAA Final MVP Zion Bailey.
SUMMARY
First Quarter
JOA — TD Connelly 1 run (Buckindale convert) 8:52
MR — TD Hyder 1 run (Tayler convert) 6:19
Second Quarter
JOA — TD Wilson 31 run (Buckindale convert) 11:34
JOA — TD Wilson 47 run (Buckindale convert) 6:08
Third Quarter
JOA — TD Connelly 3 run (Buckindale convert) 2:17
Fourth Quarter
JOA — TD Connelly 4 run (Buckindale convert) 6:54
MR — TD Hyder 12 run (Two-point conversion unsuccessful) 5:09
MR — TD Bailey 85 pass from Ryan (St. John rush for two-point conversion) 3:06
Maple Ridge 7 14 7 7 — 35
St. Joan of Arc 7 0 0 14 — 21
Attendance — not recorded
INDIVIDUAL
Rushing: MR — Bailey 9-141; Hyder 15-101; Kenney 1-0; Murugananthan 1-3; Rizvi 1-13; Ryan 1-0; St. John 9-59; JOA — Connelly 4-12; Matina 1--2; Wallin 7-46; West 2-9; Wilson 15-119.
Receiving: MR — Bailey 2-111; JOA — Buckindale 2-17; Connelly 7-110; Levely 1-42; Wilson 1-21.
Passing: MR — Ryan 6-2, 111 yards, 1 TD, 1 ints; JOA — Buckindale 1-1, 16 yards, 0 TD, 0 ints; Matina 1-1, 19 yards, 0 TD, 0 ints; West 12-7, 116 yards, 0 TD, 0 ints.
UP NEXT
St. Joan of Arc will play in OFSAA's Central Bowl in Guelph on November 25 against ROPSSAA champion Robert F. Hall (Caledon East).
