KCSS Lions capture YRAA Junior Football Championship

November 19, 2014 · 0 Comments

The KCSS Lions defeated the unbeaten Huron Heights Warriors Saturday at St. Maximilian Kolbe in Aurora to win the YRAA Junior football Championship.

By Jake Courtepatte

After disposing of the St. Brother Andre Cardinals in the York Region Athletic Association Junior football semifinal match up last weekend, the King City Secondary School Lions faced off in the championship game at S. Maximilian Kolbe in Aurora on Saturday.
The Lions were up against some stiff competition, facing an unbeaten Huron Heights Warriors. Despite a strong 4-1-0 record in the regular season, the Lions only loss came at the hands of the Warriors, falling 25-13 early in October.
They looked to put the past behind them with a strong start, as King City was the first to strike going up 7-0 in the first quarter.
With three minutes remaining in the half, the Warriors were pressing when they converted for a first down on fourth and two.
The gamble having paid off, a spark was lit under the offense as two plays later they went in for the touchdown on an almost 40-yard completion. The Lions blocked the extra point, maintaining a 7-6 lead.
On the next drive, the Lions looked as though they would turn over the ball once again after a string of incomplete passes. However, the Warriors were called for roughing the passer, giving King City a first down on the Huron Heights 48-yard line.
With 45 seconds before halftime, the Lions extended their lead with another major score on a pass from quarterback Luca Marini to wide receiver Adam Cacchione. Their extra point was also blocked, taking a one-score 13-6 lead to the second half.
Huron’s penalty trouble continued in the third quarter, as a significant kickoff return was called back 10 yards for an interference call.
On second down, their running back fumbled the ball on a hand off, and King City recovered in good field position.
Cacchione received a hand off on first down, producing a solid run that brought the offense to the one-yard line. The Lions would easily punch it in, and kick the extra point to go up 20-6.
With the momentum seemingly swung the way of the Lions, the Warriors seemed to become shaky and disjointed. On the second play of their following drive, they would once again fumble leading to a King City recovery.
Later in the drive, Marini kept the ball, taking off down the left side with a ton of speed to the end zone. However, a flag on the play called it back, and the Lions would eventually turn the ball back over.
More penalty troubles at the end of the third quarter led to a Huron first down on the Lions’ one-yard line, with the Warriors going right up the middle for their second touchdown of the game.
They would fail on the two-point conversion after good coverage by the King City backfield.
Now up 20-12 with seven minutes remaining, the Lions failure to convert on fourth down gave the Warriors a last-minute opportunity.
King City countered with fantastic defence, sacking the quarterback twice to take the game and the YRAA Junior Championship.
The Senior squad also had a successful regular season, finishing as the third seed but dropping their semifinal match up to Bill Crothers Secondary School earlier this month.