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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday November 21, 2008 - 37 Trinity defence holds Raiders to 55 yards got down to the Trinity 29 on its In the second quarter, Aquinas next possession before turning failed to convert a third-and-two the ball over on downs. The in Trinity's end. Taking over on Titans answered with an 11-play downs, Catterall ran through the drive that was capped by Ryan Aquinas defence to double the Maheu's 16-yard field goal. Aquinas' offence showed its Titans' lead. first signs of life in the final minMeanwhile, Aquinas continued to struggle to mount a drive, utes of the game, as Eric Fram seemingly missing Trinity's big- caught a pass and lateralled to play capability. While the Titans Chris Knap for a 24-yard gain. The play accounted for had 13 plays go for 10 "We didn't take almost half of the or more yards -- four many (penalties), Raiders' 55 yards of by running back but the ones we total offence. Their Ashton Rochester, did came at last-ditch effort who had 81 yards on inopportune would also be snuffed the day -- Aquinas times." out when Trinity's had just three. Aquinas coach Ford Simpson inter"They were stopcepted a pass on the ping us in between the Gerry Knap next play. tackles and when we "I'm proud of the guys windid make plays, they were wiped out by penalties," said Aquinas ning after a long, hard-fought coach Gerry Knap. "We didn't season," Moscato said. "The take many, but the ones we did defence stopped them and the offence made the plays they had came at inopportune times." Penalties negated an intercep- to. We would have liked to have tion late in the first half and an scored more but STA had a stout 18-yard reception -- both by defence." The Raiders had allowed just 88 Burrows -- on the Raiders' first points in nine games this season, play of the second half. The nullified catch was followed by a including back-to-back playoff sack, an incomplete pass, an shutouts, but had just scored just interception by Trinity's James 128, compared to Trinity's 309. "Hats off to Trinity. They're a White and a fumble on the worthy Division 2 champion," Raiders' next four plays from scrimmage. Backed deep in its Knap said. "This was our third own end, Aquinas conceded a time to Ivor Wynne in three safety to try to improve its field years and we would have liked to have won, especially for those position. The ploy helped as Aquinas guys in Grade 12." Continued from page 36 TITANIC BATTLE: In top photo, Holy Trinity quarterback Rob Birtles looks for a hole in the Aquinas defence during Wednesday's Halton senior boys' Division 2 football final at Ivor Wynne Stadium. In bottom photo, Aquinas' Chris Knap and Taylor Vander Doelen (54) reflect on their season after a 19-0 loss to Trinity. PHOTOS BY LIESA KORTMANN/ OAKVILLE BEAVER Slow start costs Jr. Titans in Metro Bowl quarter-final loss By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR KING CITY -- Don't expect to hear members of Holy Trinity's junior football team singing Let It Snow any time soon. The fluttery white stuff seemed to affect the Titans more than their hosts from the north in Wednesday's Metro Bowl quarterfinal contest at King City Secondary, particularly early, as the Lions prevailed 12-7 to end Trinity's season. The Titans allowed King City's Taylor Calverley to return the opening kickoff for a touchdown, then yielded a 48-yard Darian Waite touchdown run on the Lions' first possession, digging themselves a 12-0 hole less than four minutes into the contest. Trinity narrowed the deficit to 12-7 on a third-quarter touchdown run by Declan Cross, but the Titans' final drive died on King City's 13-yard line as time expired. "(We) came out flat. Maybe they were ning at all," admitted Cross, a 15-year-old excited because there was snow. I don't Grade 10 student. "The kickoff return they know," said Trinity head coach Anand Pillai. had really demoralized our team, and that's "We hadn't practiced or played in the snow why we were so weak in the second half. At all year, while I think the other team had halftime, coach came and gave us a pretty practiced in the snow yesterday. good rally speech. We grouped I think (we) were overwhelmed "We weren't together on that and came back by the snow. I'm not trying to ready to play at with a strong second half, and use that as an excuse by any the beginning at tried to pull it off. But it didn't means, but (we) just weren't all. The kickoff happen." return they had ready." It nearly did. Six days The first four minutes of the really demoralized removed from their Halton contest couldn't have gone any our team." championship 17-15 win over worse for the Titans. After the Holy Trinity's the Nelson Lords, when Matt game-opening touchdown, Declan Cross McLaughlin kicked the decisive Trinity turned the ball over on field goal at the end of regulaits first two possessions. Quarterback Fabian tion, the Titans put themselves in position DeSantis' first pass was deflected high in the for another miracle comeback. air and intercepted, and the Titans fumbled Strong running by Jonathon Brown and the exchange on a run play two minutes Christian Downey, a 30-yard scramble by later. DeSantis and a big fourth-down conversion "We were not ready to play at the begin- set Trinity up with a first down deep in Lions' territory and 25 seconds on the clock. DeSantis dropped back to pass on the game's final play but was hit as he began his throwing motion, sending the football backwards and to the snow-blanketed ground. "If we had started the game off the way we ended it, it could have been a different story," said Pillai. Pillai added the Titans felt the absence of running back Shaka Fonderson, who broke his ankle in the win over Nelson. "It changes game plans. He's a different runner, a completely different runner," said Pillai. "(Brown) is more of a finesse runner, while Shaka is a pounding runner with breakaway speed. But one player can't make a team, either. We should have won this game if we played for the entire game." The Titans went 8-0 in Halton play this season, winning the school's first-ever Division 1 football championship. 905-845-6989 www.icesports.com