Football Frenzy!
With the start of a new school year came another season of Barrie Central Football. With the Seniors looking to repeat as GBSSA champions, and the Juniors looking to make that next step to regional supremacy, there looked to be another promising season ahead.
The Seniors got off to a great start with a shutout victory over St. Thomas Aquinas in Tottenham. They were then on the other side of the shutout in our annual Wednesday Night Lights game, losing to crosstown rivals, North, by a 25-0 margin. This was our only loss of the season as we followed that with 3 straight victories against St. Joe’s, OD/Park and St. Peter’s. With a 5-1 record including a forfeited game vs. St. Theresa’s, we received a bye to the GB semi-finals for re-match with ODP. Unfortunately the weather gods were not on our side and we lost a wet, rainy, defensive battle by a score of 13-10. This not only put an end to a season for some, but a career for many graduating players.
The Juniors had a very up-and-down 2014 season, losing to Nottawasaga, St. Theresa’s and OD/Park (on two occasions) while defeating Bradford and the first-year team from Patrick Fogarty C.S.S. in Orillia. However, we were in every game except for the two against ODP. The 2-4 record we had could have just as easily been 4-2. Our season-ending win over P.F. set up a first-round playoff matchup with Bradford. We got the lead in the early going, only to relinquish it and trail 21-7 entering the half. After a scoreless 3rd frame, our boys showed their resiliency and never-say-die attitude scoring a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns to make the score 21-20. After the latter TD was scored, a risky two-point conversion was called, which if successful, would have given us the lead, but if not would likely cost us our season. Sadly, we were unable to convert on the 2-point attempt and fell in a hard-fought game 21-20, ending our season. Many Grade 9s continue their development at the junior rank next year, while numerous Grade 10s move up to the Senior level for their Grade 11 year—the final year of Barrie Central Football.
The season officially culminated on December 3 with our sixth annual awards banquet. There were six awards given out for each level, as well as a lovely roast beef meal, a slide show and many laughs. It was a great season and I can say that it was a great honour and privilege to have been able to time games for both levels this season. It is with a bittersweet taste that I say I cannot WAIT for the final season of Barrie Central Football in 2015! GO PHOENIX!
-Ben Browne
With the start of a new school year came another season of Barrie Central Football. With the Seniors looking to repeat as GBSSA champions, and the Juniors looking to make that next step to regional supremacy, there looked to be another promising season ahead.
The Seniors got off to a great start with a shutout victory over St. Thomas Aquinas in Tottenham. They were then on the other side of the shutout in our annual Wednesday Night Lights game, losing to crosstown rivals, North, by a 25-0 margin. This was our only loss of the season as we followed that with 3 straight victories against St. Joe’s, OD/Park and St. Peter’s. With a 5-1 record including a forfeited game vs. St. Theresa’s, we received a bye to the GB semi-finals for re-match with ODP. Unfortunately the weather gods were not on our side and we lost a wet, rainy, defensive battle by a score of 13-10. This not only put an end to a season for some, but a career for many graduating players.
The Juniors had a very up-and-down 2014 season, losing to Nottawasaga, St. Theresa’s and OD/Park (on two occasions) while defeating Bradford and the first-year team from Patrick Fogarty C.S.S. in Orillia. However, we were in every game except for the two against ODP. The 2-4 record we had could have just as easily been 4-2. Our season-ending win over P.F. set up a first-round playoff matchup with Bradford. We got the lead in the early going, only to relinquish it and trail 21-7 entering the half. After a scoreless 3rd frame, our boys showed their resiliency and never-say-die attitude scoring a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns to make the score 21-20. After the latter TD was scored, a risky two-point conversion was called, which if successful, would have given us the lead, but if not would likely cost us our season. Sadly, we were unable to convert on the 2-point attempt and fell in a hard-fought game 21-20, ending our season. Many Grade 9s continue their development at the junior rank next year, while numerous Grade 10s move up to the Senior level for their Grade 11 year—the final year of Barrie Central Football.
The season officially culminated on December 3 with our sixth annual awards banquet. There were six awards given out for each level, as well as a lovely roast beef meal, a slide show and many laughs. It was a great season and I can say that it was a great honour and privilege to have been able to time games for both levels this season. It is with a bittersweet taste that I say I cannot WAIT for the final season of Barrie Central Football in 2015! GO PHOENIX!
-Ben Browne