Walters leads Myer to SOSSA Bowl
With a win over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in last week’s Southern Ontario Secondary Schools Association semifinals, the A.N. Myer Marauders senior football team clinched a berth in next week’s Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations Bowl Series in Windsor.
That fact was the last thing on Myer quarterback Noah Walters’ mind Tuesday night as he prepared to take on the Westmount Wildcats in the SOSSA Bowl on the Marauders’ home field.
“I know some guys were thinking that we were going to OFSAA anyways and were a little lacklustre but my mindset was to win. It always has been to win and I really wanted this SOSSA medal,” said Walters, moments after leading Myer to a 35-13 with three rushing majors and a strong passing game. “I don’t even know why. I just told myself that OFSAA wouldn’t feel the same without it. I needed a win.”
After backing up Thomas Somerville last season at quarterback, it took awhile before the Grade 12 student truly felt that it was his team to lead.
“To be honest, we didn’t have the best chemistry and our first game was a little rough but I think after we lost to Sir Winston (in the Niagara Region High School Athletic Association final), that really bonded us and we weren’t going to let it happen again. We had to come together and we did and that’s when it felt like these were my guys and this was my team.”
Like his coaches, Walters was making no excuses for the loss to the Bulldogs.
“We didn’t care and it was like we were going to beat this team anyways. It was a lack of pride and a lack of heart and what has changed it for me and the team in the last couple of games is that we are playing with heart. We are playing to win and with pride.”
The highly touted 17-year-old quarterback feels the biggest improvement he has made this season is confidence and familiarity.
“I haven’t thrown with many of these players. I threw to Travis Boland and Jared Cappa a lot but my right-side receivers, Thomas (Somerville) and Jonny (Colcuc), I hadn’t thrown to them much. Now we’re clicking really good and rolling.”
Walters wants to keep rolling next week.
“One more to go,” he said.
This may or may not be his last year of high school football.
“I haven’t fully decided yet. If we win a bowl game next week, I think I will come back for a three peat.”
Nico Marino, filling in as Myer head coach for Dave Buchanan who was coaching the school’s junior team in the Metro Bowl quarter-finals, was impressed with Walter’s play.
“Noah had a helluva game today. He put the ball in his hands and had a couple of big first downs and some TD runs as well,” he said. “When he plays with that confidence we know he has and when he knows he can put the team on his shoulders, he does it.”
Marino was thrilled with Myer’s play Tuesday.
“It was a very nice win for us today and our juniors did very well up in Brantford today too. It was a great day for Myer.”
He had no concerns stepping in for Buchanan.
“He had to do a big job for us up at the Brantford game with the juniors because he has been head coaching both teams. Ultimately, we have a great group of coaches that we can rely on and it’s easy for us to go into games well prepared,” he said. “The coaches here are fantastic, the kids are disciplined and we are honed in all week long. We were ready to play this game.”
The game was a struggle in the first half and the teams went into half-time tied at 7-7.
“In the first half, we came out fighting, we were doing a good job and we were pretty disciplined but some things weren’t falling for us,” Marino said. “In the second half, we broke open a couple of big plays.”
Westmount coach Tom Pain saw the game slip away for his squad in the second half.
“A couple of things led to scores. They are a great team, well coached and they have a lots of talent, We played hard but a couple of breaks didn’t go our way, not like last week, and it was field position too. They got a couple and you are on the field and you can’t get the things done that you need to get done. Kudos to them. They are an excellent program and I have lots of respect for what they do and how they do it.”
The Myer football program is quickly becoming Westmount’s white whale.
“It took us three years to beat Notre Dame so it is tough. You get to this level and there are no crummy teams,” Pain said. “You didn’t get here because of a bad season. We’ll regroup, go to Windsor and try and put on a better show than we did tonight.”
When asked about the play of Walters, Pain complimented the entire Myer squad.
“They are talented all across the board. They are excellent and have a bunch of good players.”
STATS PACK
Marauders 35 Wildcats 13
Cat’s Caboose Player of the Game: A.N. Myer quarterback Noah Walters with TD runs of 53, 17 and one yard and a strong game throwing the ball.
For the A.N. Myer Marauders: Walters, three TDs; 40-yard Pick 6 by Luca Valvo plus another interception; six-yard TD run by Marco Angelini; sacks by Fran Dalla Valentina and Preston Murrell; fumble recovery by Broden Woodland after huge hit by Ben Parker jarred the ball loose; and, a great game returning kicks by Thomas Somerville.
For the Westmount Wildcats: 15-yard and 14-yard TD passes from Colin Denkers to Zach Pain.
Game stats: First downs: ANM 14, Westmount 14. Net offensive yards: ANM 349, Westmount 260. Turnovers: ANM 1, Westmount 5. Penalties: ANM 10 for 70 yards, Westmount 10 for 55 yards.
Up next: Both teams advance to the OFSAA Bowl Series Nov. 25-27 in Windsor.
