HAMILTON-WENTWORTH CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
Celtics Capture First Gold in 44 Years

The Bishop Ryan Celtics celebrated their first senior high school football championship in 44 years on Friday.

It's been so long between Catholic titles for BR that the school wasn't even in the same Rymal Road location back in 1981.

But one similarity ties those two gridiron accomplishments together. In both finals, the Celtics won by a rouge. It's that unique rule in Canadian football that awards a single point when a punt, missed field goal or kickoff enters the end zone and the receiving team fails to return it out past the goal line.

The Celtics took this year's Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic championship, 10-9, over the Bishop Tonnos Titans with the final point coming off a missed field goal that went for a single.

During the award ceremony, Bishop Ryan assistant coach Alex Nardini pointed out that one of the BR players from that 1981 squad -- Tony LeDonne -- passed away last March 29.

"It's almost fitting that he was kind of watching over this game," Nardini said. "We won by a rouge and so did that team."
LeDonne's sons Mike and Jason also played football for Bishop Ryan.

With the score tied 9-9, a 33-yard field-goal attempt early in the fourth quarter by kicker/defensive back Luca Horvat went wide right.

"It was a good snap and good hold," Horvat said. "We got the point out of it, though, so it worked out."

The outcome ended Bishop Tonnos' three-year run as league champion. First-place Bishop Ryan carried a 6-0 regular-season record into the final while the second-place Titans had a 5-1 mark.

"It was like a heavyweight fight," Celtics head coach Jim Davies said. "Credit to Tonnos, it was a close, hard-fought game.

"Our boys rallied. We stuck to the game plan and played for each other. We got it done."

Davies said the Celtic special teams played a key role in maintaining field position in the rainy and raw weather.

As an example, Horvat -- he also handled the punting duties -- lofted a long punt on BR's final possession with 49 seconds remaining on the clock.

And the return was limited by Jacob Grajales who made the tackle almost immediately.

Ben Kingston also gave Bishop Ryan a lift when he was part of the special teams by running back several punts for big gains.

Defences were strong for both teams throughout. It was 2-2 in the second quarter when an interception and 25-yard return by Joey Jaf-Taylor (the first of three picks by Tonnos) set up the opening touchdown.

On the next play, quarterback Hudson Taylor found Joseph Cafagna in the end zone for a 20-yard TD. It was converted by Johnny Theodoropoulos.

Bishop Ryan replied just before the half with three straight completions by quarterback Jack Redmond followed by a 20-yard touchdown run by Kyler Johnson. Horvat added the extra point.

"I thought both teams played well," Tonnos coach Anthony Tassone said. "The co-ordinators are awesome on both sides."

The Celtics faced a potent Titans' offence, which included the running option of signal-caller Taylor. Said Tassone: "I thought their line did a very effective job of containing us outside. They kept Hudson in check for the most part. The wind and the rain played havoc, but I'm not making excuses."

Davies said the Celtics defensive unit has functioned well all season. "They play together. Many of the players know the system so well they are like coaches on the field."

The Celtics, who lost by a large margin to the Titans in a semifinal last year, started up their 2025 practices in August.

"We put in the work," Horvat said. "We deserve this. It was a whole team effort, coaches, players, everyone."

With the win, Bishop Ryan advances to a Golden Horseshoe Athletic Conference semifinal. On Nov. 12, the Celtics will play host the Burlington's defending-champion Corpus Christi Longhorns.

"Bishop Ryan football is growing into something special," Davies said. "I just have the feeling that BR football is putting itself on the map."

In the Tier 2 final, the visiting Cathedral Gaels defeated the St. Mary Crusaders, 28-14.

Junior semifinal football games Friday saw Bishop Ryan defeat the St. John Henry Newman Cardinals, 23-7, the St. Thomas More Knights top Tonnos, 36-29, and the St. Jean de Brebeuf Braves down Cathedral, 27-13.

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