HAMILTON-WENTWORTH CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
Celtics Capture Cote Cup

Substitute quarterback Aaron John scampered for two key touchdowns during Bishop Ryan's season-opening Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic senior high school football victory Friday (Sept 18).

John, who shared signal-calling duties with Jack Redmond, found the end zone against the St. John Henry Newman Cardinals on runs of 10 yards in the second quarter and 15 yards late in the fourth.

The defending-champion Celtics won the contest, 16-3. Elsewhere, the St. Thomas More Knights defeated the St. Jean de Brebeuf Braves, 42-0, and the Bishop Tonnos Titans topped the Cathedral Gaels, 42-0.

With its win over Newman, the Celtics also captured the Cote Cup. It's the annual regular-season competition between the two schools at which Father Ron Cote formerly served as principal.

"A couple of big plays from Bishop Ryan," Cardinals coach Lino Battilana said. "Both scored by their quarterback."

Newman took a 3-0 lead when Ethan Crossman capped a 13-play opening drive with a 17-yard field goal. However, with just over two minutes remaining in the first half, John scored on a designed run around the end. Later, he ad-libbed his way across the goal line for a major.

"The first touchdown was a well-executed quarterback run play," John said. "The blocking was there and we made it work.

"The second one was mixed up. I had to use my legs and scramble. Luckily, my receivers were good enough to make their moves and keep their defenders locked on them. It just opened up space for me."

The only other scores resulted from a pair of conversions by BR's Malik Mattar and a conceded safety touch in the second quarter by Newman.

"Our defence was the difference today," Celtics coach Jim Davies said.

A key contributor for that BR defence was two-way end Daniel Elugbaju. Said Davies: "Daniel was a play-maker when we needed it. He came up with sacks, tackles for losses and he had a pass knockdown."

According to Battilana, Newman has talent at the skill positions. Most of the yardage gained by the Cardinals resulted from passes by Landon Coe to Jaxson Iaquinto and rushes by Marko Moravac.

"Offensively we'll be great," the Newman coach said. "We've just got to correct some mistakes. Too many dropped balls.

"Week 1 jitters. We sputtered at times."

Davies said it was a hard-fought game and both teams looked a little rusty.

"Aaron sat out almost an entire season last year due to a shoulder injury," Davies explained. "He worked hard to get back to where he is. It says a lot about him as a person and a player."

The BR coach said John and Redmond have different strengths as quarterbacks but both are good leaders and teammates.

"Jack is a pocket passer whereas Aaron has more mobility," Davies said. "Jack is a championship-calibre quarterback who we won GHAC with last year. And he took us to OFSAA.

"We just made a decision today to give Aaron a look. That's all it was."

In addition to his time spent at quarterback, John also did the punting and held for conversions.

"Aaron is a strong soccer player with a good leg," the BR coach said. "He gives us the opportunity to do different things if we decide not to punt."

Said John: "Anything that comes my way I'm ready for it. Over this past week the whole team has been working hard, first-string and second string. Together, we put our sweat into it so we could come out with a 'W'.

"We're better than we were last year."

In the pre-season, Bishop Ryan scored a victory over Welland Notre Dame.

See photos on HWCDSB Athletics Facebook page.