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Kevin Nagel Sports Editor knagel@burlingtonpost.com Sports H a l t o n Ti e r 2 f cording a sack, a tackle for loss and a fumble recovery that sealed the Hawks' 14-7 win. Lamont's fumble recovery was one of three for Loyola to go along with a pair of interceptions that stalled Hayden drives throughout the game. That Loyola lived up to its reputation as a second-half team was remarkable given that as many as eight players were playing both ways on a warm 20C day. Hayden moved the ball inside Loyola's 10-yard line on its first possession of the game but the Hawks' Kristian Vludez pounced on a fumble. After a three-and-out for the Hawks, Hayden needed one-play, a 24-yard TD pass, to take the lead. The Huskies would venture inside Loyola's 40-yard line just one more time. That drive ended with Hawks' Isaiah Bothello recovering a fumble at the 29-yard line. Bothello played with many of his Loyola teammates before high school with the Halton rep Cowboys. He began his high school career at St. Thomas Aquinas before moving to Loyola. "Coming here and winning a championship with these guys, it's a big deal," said Bothello, who also had an interception. It was only the second senior football title for Loyola, which won the Tier 2 title in 2011. Coach Jeff White said the team's defence had an outstanding day. "Nik Lamont, he's a great athlete, a force to be reckoned with. Chris see Loyola on p. 48 "Connected to your Community" oo t b a l l f i n HALTON TRANSMISSION 559 SPEERS RD., #UNIT 3 905-842-0725 www.haltontransmission.com 47 | Thursday, November 24, 2016 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Loyola Hawks win Halton football title just in time By Herb Garbutt Oakville Beaver staff a l s Several Loyola football players referred to the Hawks as a second-half team. Loyola might get progressively stronger but the season couldn't have come to an end soon enough. Had it been much longer, the Hawks may not have had enough players to field a team for last Friday's Halton high school Tier 2 senior final against the Dr. Frank Hayden Huskies. Loyola started the season with 42 players but was down to 23 after last week's 15-1 semifinal win over Oakville Trafalgar. "We came in with the mindset that this is a championship game and we had to fight through it," said Loyola's Nik Lamont, who was all over the Ron Joyce Stadium field, batting down a pass and re- Justin Kurc (33) of the Iroquois Ridge Blazers played QB and middle linebacker in Friday's Halton Jr. Tier 2 boys football championship game at McMaster University. Here he sacks Notre Dame quarterback Sam Ouelette, who fumbled the ball, which Ridge's Alexi Stergiotis (97) picked up and ran in for a TD. The Blazers won 3328.| photo by Kevin Nagel ­ Oakville Beaver Iroquois Ridge outlasts Irish in Halton junior final By Kevin Nagel Beaver sports editor Loyola captains (from left) Conner Reilly, Nik Lamont, Ryan Barrios, Raymar Lloyd and Dante Iacoviello lift the Halton senior Tier 2 championship trophy. | photo by Herb Garbutt ­ Oakville Beaver When the final score is 33-28, any touchdown is a big touchdown. For Alexi Stergiotis, it was not only big, it was his only touchdown -- ever. The Iroquois Ridge defensive lineman scored one of the five TDs for the junior Blazers, who won last Friday's Halton high school Tier 2 junior football final at McMaster University against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Stergiotis' romp to the endzone came after teammate Justin Kurc, the club's starting quarterback, sacked his counterpart Sam Ouelette of the Irish while playing middle linebacker for one of the few times this sea- son. His sack forced a fumble. In the right spot at the right time was Stergiotis, who picked up the ball and began his 60-yard journey to the endzone. Asked if he had ever been involved in such a play before, he smiled. "With me? Nah, I usually just sack (the QB)," said the Grade 10 student, who thanked his friend, teammate Omar Khalil, for a block that set him free. "I'm not a fast guy. I think that's the fastest I've ever ran." The play, which occurred at the beginning of the second quarter, turned an 8-6 Irish lead into a 12-8 Ridge advantage. It was one of five lead changes in the first half that ended 18-15 in the Blazers' favour. Iroquois Ridge outscored Notre Dame 15-13 in the second half. It was a disappointing day for the Irish, but especially for workhorse running back Jaden Dunnik, who had 214 yards rushing on 34 attempts (more than six yards a carry) and a TD. "We got the chance to come out and at least play a really good team for a championship," he said. "We didn't think it was possible earlier in the season but we really turned things around." The Irish played four games in 15 days to start the season and after being designated a Tier 2 team, sat at 1-5 following a 14-7 loss in the rain to the same Iroquois Ridge squad. Scott Phillips, who assumed see Two on p. 48 FactoryTrained TrainedService ServiceTech Tech& &Electronic ElectronicFireplace Ignition Specialists Factory Specialists " GAS FIREPLACE REPAIR W Service: CFM, DRU, GSW, Hunter, We nsta-Flame, Valor, Napoleon, Regency, Majestic, In Heat-N-Glo, Heatilator, Selkirk, GTI, Dovre, Paci c H Energy, Town & Country, Security, HearthStone, E Montigo, Lennox, Temco, Kingsman, Polaris, M Heritage, Drolet, Continental, Vermont Castings, H Osburn, Monessen, MHSC, Clare Brothers, Jotul, Rasmussen, RH Peterson & many other brands. SALE BUYS! 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