By Larry Moko
At the conclusion of St. Jean de Brébeuf’s first high school football game of the 2024 season Friday, their head coach received an unexpected Gatorade bucket drenching on the field from his players.
They were celebrating the Braves’ 17-0 victory over the visiting St. John Henry Newman Cardinals.
Although a championship wasn’t on the line, the accomplishment was significant, none-the-less. It’s been over a decade since Brebeuf last recorded a senior football win over their Stoney Creek rivals.
“I believe that’s the first time our senior team has beat Newman since 2011 or ’12,” Braves coach Phil Iannone said.
Brébeuf won the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic Athletic Association Tier II championship last season while Newman dropped the Tier 1 league final to the Bishop Tonnos Titans for a second consecutive year.
“I’m proud of the kids for beating a program of that calibre,” Iannone added. “It’s a milestone for us.”
Brébeuf got off to a fast start when Ryan Mpiana returned the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown. Said Iannone: “There’s no better way to set the tone than to take the opening kickoff to the house. Fantastic. We had some great blocks up front.”
A fumble recovery by Jonah Glueheisan on Newman’s initial series of downs led to Brebeuf’s second TD six plays later. Kahmai Jago took a handoff and plowed ahead for a 17-yard gain to set up a 3-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Michael Caprio to slotback Dante Dos Santos.
Both majors were converted by kicker Alex Lopes, who capped the scoring with 39-yard field goal in the second quarter.
Dos Santos, who plays both safety and slot, also intercepted one of Newman quarterback James Romano’s passes. He called it an “honour” to be part of the team that ended Brébeuf’s drought against the Cardinals.
“We played sound defence,” Dos Santos said. “Everybody went to the ball. There wasn’t many missed tackles.”
Newman coach Lino Battilana said the Cardinals can only get better the rest of the way.
“It was not a very good way to start,” he said. “We’ve got a young team.
“After (Brébeuf) went up by seven on the opening kickoff return, I thought our team showed some resilience and kept fighting. Every kid on the field never gave up.”
The Cardinals moved the ball effectively to start the third quarter, mainly on carries by rookie Marco Moravac. However, Brébeuf was able to hang on for the shutout in the final minute when Jack Cino wrestled the ball away from a Newman ball carrier and returned it 30 yards.
“On offence, we controlled the clock and got first downs when we needed them,” Iannone said. “Defensively, we played phenomenally well. Our special teams stepped up today, too.”
Battilana points out that six players from last year’s Newman squad moved on to university football and many of them are already dressing.
Elsewhere, the Bishop Ryan Celtics topped the Cathedral Gaels, 32-12, and the St. Thomas More Knights defeated the St. Mary Crusaders, 38-6.
The junior league begins play Friday, Sept. 20.
Photos by Richard Andoga
More Photos on the HWCDSB Athletics Facebook page here
