This might be the most anticipated senior boys high-school football final in well over a decade or more.
The Confederation Chargers and Lo-Ellen Park Knights finished regular season play tied for first place, both undefeated at 4-0-1 with the tie-breaker going the way oif the Chargers.
When the teams went toe to toe back on September 27th, neither squad earned bragging rights, the contest ending in a 21-21 tie.
Both sides will enter the SDSSAA final this Friday (November 1st) at 4:30 p.m. at the James Jerome Sports Complex with momentum on their side, as both teams blew out their semi-final opponents, Confederation posting a 48-0 whitewashing of the Lasalle Lancers while Lo-Ellen stomped all over the St Benedict Bears, 50-6.
If there exist a great many similarities between the teams, the truth is contrast does abound elsewhere. Stylistically speaking, the finalists could not be more different.
Airing out the ball less than ten times all year, Confederation brings "smash-mouth football" to mind, dominating in the trenches and running the ball through opposing defenses at will, averaging almost ten yards a carry.
The likes of Braeden Beggs, Evan Doyle, Quentin Harris and King David Iglehon are all likely to get touches on Friday, though the stars of this team could just as easily be the linemen, both offensive and defensive, rife with all-stars.
Lo-Ellen is far more dash and splash, big play opportunists who will unleash Steven Sola, Quin Mazzuchin, Jonah Gibson, Max Arnold and every other weapon at their disposal in the big showdown.
All of the talent above were integral in the semi-final victories, though it's hard to ignore standout performances from both Steven Sola (5 touchdowns) and Braeden Beggs (2 TDs; 5 converts and a single) last Friday.
Where the Knights are looking to four-peat to close out the illustrious careers of their graduating stars, the Chargers are in search of their first SDSSAA Senior Football banner since 2003, when coach Kevin Ellsworth led the Valley lads to victory before crossing town and doing the same for Lo-Ellen Park Secondary three different times.
