St. Mary Homecoming: A Night of Football and Memories
St. Thomas More Knights 38 v St. Mary Crusaders 6
Written by: Sean Dennison (Head Coach) St. Mary Crusaders Senior Football
On Friday September 13 the St. Mary Crusaders hosted its second annual Homecoming game. The St. Thomas More Knights went on to defeat the Crusaders 38-6 on a beautiful misty evening in front of a huge crowd. The game on the field was highlighted by outstanding, hard-working and athletic play from start to finish but it was the homecoming festivities, which welcomed back dozens of St. Mary Football alumni, which made the night so memorable. It was an opportunity to reminisce and appreciate the past and recognize how being a member of a football team, program and community is to be cherished.
St. Mary Homecoming
In a pre-game ceremony and throughout the evening spectators were provided a bit of a history lesson of St. Mary Football. The Crusaders Football program fielded its first ever team in September 1971. In attendance this night were several players from that team including the current St. Mary offensive line coach, Mark Valvasori.
As the third oldest Catholic high school in Hamilton, over 2,000 players have proudly represented the blue and gold for over 53 years. This evening paid a special tribute to one of these teams…the 1992 St. Mary’s Crusaders Football team. This team had a season for the ages, becoming the first team in school history to win a championship. Inspired by the memory of Nino “Wolf” Marrone, who passed away midway through the season, the Crusaders went on a run.
Defeating arch-rival Cathedral in the semi-finals the hard working, underdog crusaders won the Catholic League final by beating Bishop Ryan. The team went on to upset Barton in the City Championship and then downed Burlington Assumption at Ivor Wynne Stadium,15-14 on a last second field goal for the GHAC title. This group of players, now into their 50s, had an opportunity to reconnect with their teammates and the school they represented. Seeing these men together again, united by their past experiences and accomplishments was inspirational. If we can learn anything from our history it is that today and tomorrow will soon be yesterday and that it doesn’t take long before we have so many yesterdays to remember. Now we can add this day to those yesterdays.
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