It’s almost become routine for the Superior Heights Steelhawks senior football team.
The Steelhawks beat the Korah Colts 22-20 on Friday night to win the city football title for the fourth consecutive season.
A pair of touchdowns by Cooper Laframboise in the third quarter was the difference for the Steelhawks. With the game tied at seven, Laframboise ran the ball in from two yards out and added a 10-yard touchdown run later in the quarter.
“It feels great,” Laframboise said of the title. “They gave us a really good run for our money.”
Laframboise finished the day with 134 yards rushing on 20 carries and was named the player of the game.
“We had packages where I had lots of blockers for me and that’s the key thing,” Laframboise said. “I got out into open space and did what I usually do.”
Superior Heights Coach Seth Cond credited the work of Laframboise, Nick Roussain and Elijah Yandeau.
“That’s a great group of backs,” Cond said. “We can give them the ball in any situation. Those kids are quick, they’re powerful, and they’re willing to listen and willing to learn. That’s a great recipe for success.”
Trailing 22-7, the Colts made the game close in the fourth quarter thanks to a touchdown by Ryan Yost. A late-quarter drive into Superior Heights territory led to Yost catching a touchdown pass from Michael Byron with 58 seconds left. The Colts two-point convert attempt was incomplete and Superior Heights ran the clock out to win the title.
“This game was exactly what I anticipated,” Cond said. “It was a really tough battle.”
Gavyn McCabe had the other Steelhawks touchdown on a pass from quarterback Noah Grigg.
Defensively for Superior Heights, Geryd Jones-Lesage and Matt Desando had seven tackles each while Andrew Batman had six.
Korah opened the scoring on a touchdown run by Byron in the opening quarter. Kyle Slater had 74 yards rushing on 20 carries for Korah while Antwon Fair had 67 yards on 10 carries.
For the Colts defensively, Devin Seguin and Fair had three tackles and two assisted tackles each. Byron and Jordan Policicchio added three tackles each.
“I’m extremely proud,” said Korah Coach Tom Annett. “They battle hard and showed great mental and physical toughness all season.”
“We gave them a hell of a game today,” Annett added.
Annett would also speak of the character the team showed in battling back in the fourth quarter.
“It speaks volumes about the character of these kids,” Annett said of the late-game comeback. “They’ve got no quit in them. A lot of teams would have keeled over there. They kept battling. That’s the kind of kids they are. They’re just tough west-end kids.”
With the city title Superior Heights advances to the Northern Ontario Secondary School Association semifinal on Nov. 5 in North Bay with the winner hosting the NOSSA final one week later.
Prior to the game Jacob Fecteau of White Pines was honoured with the Officials Award. The award is presented annually to the player in senior football who displays a combination of ability and sportsmanship over the course of his career.
The junior final between Korah and St. Mary’s is set for Saturday at noon at Superior Heights. Both teams finished the regular season with a 4-2 record. St. Mary’s earned a spot in the final by way of a first-place finish in the regular season. Korah advanced thanks to a semifinal win over Superior Heights
The winner of the junior final will advance to the NOSSA final on Nov. 5 locally.