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Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 255) Fax 905-337-5567 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2006 31 QB's late heroics lead Aquinas to Jr. football title Long TD run with two seconds left gives Raiders win over Abbey Park By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR HAMILTON -- With his team trailing in the dying seconds, Zack Aleluia took matters into his own hands -- or, perhaps more accurately, his feet. The St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders quarterback completed an improbable last-minute drive with a 25-yard scramble, reaching the end zone with two seconds remaining in regulation to give Aquinas a 30-26 win over the Abbey Park Eagles in Wednesday's entertaining and well-played Halton high school junior boys' football Division 2 final at Ivor Wynne Stadium. Aleluia had busted a 47-yard run two plays earlier, caught only on a shoe-string tackle by Abbey Park defender Michael Sparling, to set up the dramatic ending. Both his long runs came on broken plays as the 15-year-old speedster took off when he couldn't find any open receivers. "I was intending to throw the pass to my receiver, Sam White, but I didn't see him open," a near-speechless Aleluia said afterwards, describing the game-winning play. "So I just ran and tried to make my way through the players, and it worked out." The Raiders' winning drive came moments after Abbey Park had taken the lead on a 39-yard touchdown run by Michael Trnkus, giving the Eagles a 26-23 lead with 1:25 to go. The major was Abbey Park's second touchdown in a 2:13 span as the Eagles rallied from a 23-14 fourth-quarter deficit, but Aquinas managed to regain its composure for the final drive. "Getting down after we had been up all game... it was a really hard time," said the Raiders' Chris Knap, who was one of several Aquinas defenders kneeling on the turf and shaking their heads in disbelief after Abbey Park took the late lead. "But you can't give up in games like this. We worked LIESA KORTMANN / OAKVILLE BEAVER DIFFERENCE-MAKER: St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders quarterback Zack Aleluia (10) breaks out of the pocket during his gamewinning touchdown run in Wednesday's Halton high school junior boys' football Division 2 final against Abbey Park. all season, we were out there every single day. Our coach fourth, starting their drive at their own two-yard line with kept saying `Day 48', that was today... we never stopped play- 7:11 to go. However, Abbey Park quarterback Craig ing football. We were out there the second day of school, Leveridge led his team on an impressive 108-yard drive, connow this is our last day and we couldn't end it much better." necting with receivers Matt Cosgrove, Tevin Roberts and Aquinas appeared to have the game well in hand at one Brandon Musselman for several completions before reachpoint, entering the fourth quarter with a nine-point lead and ing the end zone with a two-yard run, making the score 23all the momentum. 20 Aquinas (the Raiders blocked the extra point). The score was tied 14-14 at halftime, but the Raiders took Abbey Park forced Aquinas to go three and out on its next control with a safety midway through the third -- tackling possession, then took the lead on a three-play drive that was Trnkus in the Eagles' end zone -- and then a five-yard capped by Trnkus' run. touchdown run by Knap. Aquinas held the ball for all but six Eagles head coach Bob Hepburn said he was proud of the plays in the quarter, while Abbey Park began both its pos- way his players rallied in the fourth, especially considering sessions deep in its own territory. the fact Abbey Park had not trailed a game all season while See Injury page 36 The Eagles were pinned deep again midway through the H U R RY I N , S A L E E N D S S U N D AY N O V E M B E R 1 9 T H , 5 P M ! 3 DAYS ONLY! INVENTORY BLOW-OUT! First 30 Customers will receive a handmade NAF Oak Cognac 3¼ x ¾ Select Grade ONLY Guaranteed Lowest Price owest on All BSL Products roducts · Many sizes, species and colours sizes, to choose from, Made in Canada FROM Linnea Click Engineered Hardwood Made in Sweden First Quality ONLY Nugget Special Designer Berber For Any Traffic Areas $ 99 SQ. FT. 3 $ 99 3 ONLY $ 49 SQ. FT. SQ. FT. 2 ONLY $ 69 SQ. FT. 1 installed with premium pad Compare $ 649 Compare SQ. FT. 549 Compare $ 99 SQ. FT. Compare $ SQ. 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