Thunder edge Patriots in thriller
Blessed Trinity edged Saint Paul 8-7 in NCAA senior football action Friday night. BPSN file shot.
The Blessed Trinity Thunder senior football team served notice Friday night it will be a force to be reckoned with this season in Niagara Catholic Athletic Association play.
Playing on the road, the Thunder edged the Saint Paul Patriots 8-7 in both squads’ first game of the season.
Cristiano Colamartini scored on a 25-yard run and Lucas Vetere hit the extra point to give the Patriots an 8-7 lead which they held until nine seconds left in the game when Jayden Gurzi-McDonald scored a touchdown and a two-point convert to give the Thunder the victory.
It was a gutsy move for the Thunder to go for the win instead of playing for the tie and trying to win it in overtime.
“We had momentum,” Saint Paul coach Mark Antonelli said, in explaining why the team decided to go for a two-point convert. “We had ran the same play previously three times in a row with success and we thought we had the best players on the field at the time. And quite frankly and selfishly from a personal level, I wanted to get my girls to bed.”
Antonelli described the victory as a full team effort.
“The O line and D line played great and there were lots of unselfish play and unsung heroes all over the field,” he said. “It was a hard-hitting game. Our defence kept us in it all game and our offence made plays at the right times”
The Thunder defence recorded three or four sacks in the game and made good use of the depth they have in the front seven on defence.
“We played probably 10 guys there and it allowed our guys to be fresh for the final drive.”
It was a good redemption game for Blessed Trinity.
“Considering we lost 46-3 to Saint Paul last season in the playoffs with essentially the same players, we are very proud of this group,” Antonelli said. “There’s a long way to go with lots of things to clean up and improve on, but it is always nice to get the first W.”
Next up for the Thunder is a Wednesday home game against the Saint Michael Mustangs. The Mustangs opened their season with a 34-0 road victory over Holy Cross. The Patriots have a bye this coming week.
In other games this coming week, Lakeshore Catholic hosts Holy Cross Thursday at 3 p.m. and defending champion Notre Dame opens its season with a 2 p.m. Friday home game against Denis Morris.
