Pigskin Crunch Time

After several months of practices and games, bashing helmets and hoping for the best, it's crunch time for eight high school senior football teams in the Golden Horseshoe Region and Greater Toronto Area.

Two more wins for two teams and they have their season objective: a championship.

I know, because I have been getting lots of inquires from people, the folks responsible for promoting these playoffs have done a less than average job getting the word out. In fact, nothing even on the website of the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations, which still is congratulating the field hockey champs from two weeks ago.

The Metro Bowl and the Golden Horseshoe Bowl are up for grabs and one thing is for certain, the Metro Bowl champ will be a first timer since none of the teams in contention have won the big event since it started back in 1982.

But, who will those two be when it's all over on Nov. 25?

Yes, game day when the huge Rogers Centre is opened for what has always been a small number of people to watch. You guessed it, I'm not in favour of this being indoors. Would have been so much more fun to have these games outdoors - and with so many facilities as great choices such as Birchmount Stadium, Etobicoke Centennial Stadium, Esther Shiner Stadium and Varsity Centre.

In the Metro Bowl semifinals, Markham will play Donald Wilson of Whitby - the same school that got hammered by St Michael's in the finale last year. That's the first of a doubleheader set for Wednesday, Nov. 18 around 11:00am on the carpet at Etobicoke Centennial Stadium. Then, it's Trinity of Port Hope meeting Toronto's Birchmount Park - the only team that is undefeated.

On Thursday, Nov. 19 at Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton, Notre Dame of Burlington takes on Sir Allan MacNab of Hamilton while Lakeshore Catholic of Port Colborne goes up against St. Marcellinus of Mississauga.

My picks. Need to think about this a bit more. I'll tell you on Nov. 26.

Comments

[Panthers]

Birchmount will win the Metro Bowl. Too much talent.

[Ryan]

Everyone is ruling out Markham and forget what that kid Tyler Pritty has done since he came back from St. Mike's. Just ask the hot heads at Huron Heights how he kicked them around.

[Morris]

Can't believe that Donald Wilson made it to the semifinals again. They lost some good players last year after getting blown out at the Rogers Centre by St. Michael's. It'll be another fluke if they get there again.

[Pepper]

They should have a real Ontario championship rather than all these no-name Bowls.

[Former Coach]

If the people at OFSAA were smart they would go out and get some sponsors for these Bowl games like they do in the States but maybe that would be too much work for OFSAA. Can't believe Mr. Grossman that OFSAA does such a poor job. Have to admit that I only find out what's happening in the Toronto Star.

[Cats Meow]

Can't figure out how the rich private school kids at a Port Hope school get to compete for the Metro Bowl but then how is Whitby and Markham also in Metro. Maybe the people running this charade need to get creative and come up with a better name. Huh, like it would be a good idea but that would be too much to ask from teachers and that OFFSSA group.

[Sinclair]

Would have been nice to see Birchmount Park win the championship at Birchmount Stadium and then there's a parade down Birchmount Avenue and a reunion for Birchmount alumni. I'm a Birchmount grad. Go Panthers Go.

[ty]

B-mount and markham. Then, anything can happen.

[Scott terHaar]

It is too bad Mr. Grossman won't follow any high schools outside of the GTA. There is some outstanding football being played in Central and Eastern Ontario. Yesterday, Holy Cross Crusaders from Kingston defeated the Arnprior Redman 29-7. The win advances the Crusaders to this weekend's National Capital Bowl semifinal in Kingston against the St. Peter Knights of Orleans. The other semifinal, Friday in Toronto, features Peterborough's Crestwood Mustangs and the Collingwood Fighting Owls.

[David Grossman]

Scott, please understand that the Toronto Star has a responsibility to cover schools in the Greater Toronto Area. That's Durham in the East to Halton in the West and York to the North. Throw in the private/independent schools (which are also outside this area) and you are looking at about 300 high schools.
Furthermore, it is logistically close to impossible to get a grasp on every high school sport throughout Ontario - even football - and provide it to readers on a daily basis.
I will correct you that we do cover Ontario championship sports events plus a variety of invitational tournaments. Many times we ask for information and it is not provided to us.
On the subjkect of football, I asked about the various regional playoff scores - and did not get a reply.
I know you are gung-ho about Eastern Ontario, and geographically it's smaller and easier to deal with in sports, and please do not hesitate to keep adding to our BLOG.
But, let's also be fair too and accept the fact that no other Toronto print media covers school sports better than the Star.

[Sabbu]

Birchmount is going to the final after beating Trinity 16-10 with Aaron Brown scoring the winning points on a touchdown on the last play of the game. Markham (call them the Buffalo Bills after an 0-3 record in the Metro Bowl in past) is also going to the championship because they beat Donald Wilson 16-7.

[Chris]

Just read the posting from that guy Scott and I don't get his beef. People in Toronto couldn't care less about what's happening in Arnprior. Isn't that why they have championships out there?

[JD]

I have two questions for the people who call themselves organizers of high school football.
Why would anyone play a semifinal playoff game between Collingwood and Peterborough schools in Toronto?
My second question is why should any of the newspapers or radio or television stations in Toronto care about football in those cities?

[Scott terHaar]

In response to JD and Chris. I know you will have a hard time believing this but the Toronto Star does print an edition outside the GTA. Is is called the "Ontario edition" and people do read it and have it delivered to their homes. Even in Arnprior.

[Phil]

"Can't figure out how the rich private school kids at a Port Hope school get to compete for the Metro Bowl "

Trinity and St. Mikes are in the same conference, so if Trinity isnt allowed too then St. Mikes wont be allowed to, and I think you would dislike that more.

The teams that are in the CISAA are in King City, Aurora, Port Hope and 2 in Toronto. Its a private school league, so its from across Ontario, not localized like public school leagues.