A final preview?

The Waterloo County senior boys football league really needed this.

Thursday night's thriller lived up to the hype and then some as the  Cameron Heights Golden Gaels and Resurrection Phoenix put on a great show for a large crowd at Centennial Stadium. In a season of A division blowouts, it was great to see two quality teams slugging it out.

Here are a few thoughts on Resurrection's 31-24 win.

Beau Landry vs. Tyler  Varga: I can't remember either of these two ever leaving the field. Landry was huge for the Phoenix, running balls, catching balls and even making passes. Varga did the same for the Gaels. Huge games by two wildly skilled players.

The final drive: Cameron seemed to have this game in the bag when the Phoenix made it look easy on their way to a game-tying TD. Rez began the drive at their own 26-yard line and with the exception of one penalty, made every play count. Perhaps, just perhaps, the Cameron defence got a case of the jitters down the stretch. The Gaels had been outstanding prior to that.

Play selection: Rez stuck to its grind-it-out style  throughout the game and got the job done. Cameron, meanwhile, came out early trying big play after big play. They didn't really get rolling until they started going with short passes and handing the ball to Varga.

Overtime: Let's face it, Rez was fortunate to score on its first possession of the 35-yard shootout. With a 3rd and  20 from 45 yards out, QB Jason Chris threw one up for grabs and Jonathon Cordeiro somehow caught the ball in triple coverage. Landry scored the game-winning TD on the next play. Cameron, meanwhile, had a 2nd and 1 from the 26-yard line and elected to go for it all on the next play. Andrew Usztics was picked off by Jake Marken to end the game. If they had  to do it all over again, you have  to wonder whether the Gaels would have simply handed the ball to Varga on the 2nd down play. He had just run for nine on first down and Rez had not been able to stop him all night long.

Rematch?: This could very well be a preview of the  A division championship. With playoffs around the corner, no A division team has shown itself to be capable of rising to the challenge. The wild cards just might Jacob Hespeler or Southwood, two B division teams that will meet next week to decide first place in that circuit. The Hawks are undefeated heading into next Thursday's Cambridge clash.

Rematch, Part Deux: What a great final this would be. While Rez established itself as the favourite with this win, the Gaels are more than capable of knocking off  the champs.

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SJAM quarterback James Fracas will be in the lineup with a heavy heart this afternoon when the Highlanders face the Forest Heights Trojans.

Fracas' grandfather, Gino Fracas, a well-known player and coach in Canada, passed away suddenly on Thursday. James will play today's game in honour of his grandfather, who he spent countless hours talking football with.

* * *

Two local teams have already booked their tickets to next week's Ontario field hockey championships in Kitchener.

The host Forest Heights Trojans get a free pass into the event and St. John's Kilmarnock is in as one of the two respresentatives from the Conference of Independent Schools Athletic  Association. Ridley College of  St. Catharines also advance from this week's CISAA tournament.

SJK, the defending OFSAA champion, defeated Lakefield College 3-0, while Ridley College defeated Appleby College of Oakville 1-0.

The  CISAA was awarded two entries this year because of a lack of representatives from other associations. CISAA teams have won the event for three straight years.  

* * *

Waterloo County teams were a perfect 4-0 in opening round games at the  CWOSSA field hockey championships at Budd Park. Forest Heights, Bluevale, WCI and Waterloo-Oxford were all winners, with WCI beating District 8 champion Rez 2-1 and Bluevale beating D8 runnerup St. Mary's 3-0.

Comments

[TheRecord]

I agree. Cameron defence looked nervous on last drive. It would be a great rematch though.

[WCSSAASports.com]

"While Rez established itself as the favourite with this win, the Gaels are more than capable of knocking off the champs."

Advantage loser second time around. Cameron was the better second half team but defence was suspect on the last drive. The Gaels didn't finish and Rez made the big plays when it mattered.

I'm as neutral as it comes but I do hope we get to see these two great teams play again at University Stadium.