FOOTBALL: Wolverines launch passing attack on Colts

With the weather accommodating White Pines, the Wolverines were finally able to unleash a passing attack that guided the team to a win over the Korah Colts on Friday night.

In one of the more exciting games of the season, Wolverines quarterback Ryan Maunu passed for 287 yards to lead White Pines past Korah 21-17 at Rocky DiPietro Field in High School Football League senior division play. The game marked the conclusion of the regular season schedule.

In another senior division contest on Friday afternoon, the undefeated St. Mary's Knights whipped the Bawating Braves 42-7.

White Pines took a 14-10 lead into the half on a pair of rushing touchdowns as Matt Premo and Maunu both scored from one yard out. Maunu's touchdown came after an onside kick recovery following Premo's score.

Travis Tormala kicked a 29 yard first quarter field goal and Jordan Morin returned an interception 102 yards in the second quarter for the Colts.

Korah recaptured the lead on the second half kickoff as Jon Day returned the kick 92 yards to put Korah ahead 17-14.

With the Wolverines passing attack finally enjoying dry weather and clicking in the second half, Josh Reed completed the scoring with under four minutes remaining in the game on a two yard touchdown reception from Maunu.

White Pines, which played three of five games this season in the rain, sealed the win on defense in the final minutes by stopping one drive on a fumble recovery and stalling another with a huge fourth down stop deep in Wolverines territory in the final seconds.

Maunu completed 16 of 31 passes in the 287 yard performance while Premo caught six passes for 154 yards and Noah Rushon hauled in six receptions for 100 yards. Chris Tulloch led the Wolverines rushers with 80 yards on 11 carries. Defensively, Rushon made seven tackles while Ryan Lavallee added 5.5.

For Korah, Day ran for 129 yards on 20 carries while Pat Koski added 88 yards on 11 attempts. Morin was a standout defensively recording 9.5 tackles and recovering two fumbles to go with his interception return for a touchdown. Matt Parker added 5.5 tackles.

In the St. Mary's win over Bawating, Kayvon Fatemazadeh ran for two touchdowns on runs of 22 and 51 yards to lead the Knights.

Anthony Amadio on a three yard run, Kyle Dugas on a six yard reception, Phil Ruicci on a 11 yard pass and Dan Esson on a two yard run also scored touchdowns for St. Mary's. Andrew Posteraro kicked six converts. Brad Radbourne scored the lone Bawating touchdown on a 56 yard run.

Amadio completed 10 of 13 passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns at quarterback for the Knights. Fatemazadeh rushed for 96 yards on six carries while Esson added 69 yards on 16 attempts.

Fatemazadeh also caught five passes for 92 yards and Posteraro made two receptions for 45 yards. Kevin Nanne anchored the St. Mary's defense with 8.5 tackles while Marc Palumbo made two interceptions.

For the Braves, Radbourne gained 122 yards rushing on 15 carries to lead the offense. Geoff Olar made 7.5 tackles defensively while Matt Gauthier added seven.

In playoff action, St. Mary's (5-0) and Korah (3-2) receive a bye into next Saturday's semi-finals for their first and second place finishes, respectively.

On Wednesday night in quarter-final action, third place Sir James Dunn (3-2) meets sixth place St. Basil (0-4-1) at 4 p.m. and fourth place White Pines (2-3) battles fifth place Bawating (1-3-1) at 7:30 p.m.

Next Saturday's semi-final winners will meet for the city championship on October 24.

*** EXTRA POINTS:

* JUNIOR: The final game of the junior division regular season is scheduled for Saturday at 10 a.m. as White Pines travels to Korah. The score from Friday's Bawating and St. Mary's contest was not reported.

* PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Jordan Morin was selected as the senior division's defensive player of the week while Maunu was named as the offensive player of the week. The awards are sponsored by the Sault Sabercats and Sault Steelers football clubs.

* REFEREE'S AWARD: Former St. Mary's lineman Gary Knox, who was presented with his scholarship award last season, was formally presented with a plaque as the winner of last season's inaugural Senior High School Football Officials Award on Friday.