Eagles, Braves gain football playoff victories

The Sir James Dunn Eagles and Bawating Braves survived quarterfinal playoff action on Wednesday to advance into semi-final play on Saturday.

In the High School Football League senior division afternoon contest at Rocky DiPietro Field, Dan Kennedy scored three touchdowns to lead the Eagles past the St. Basil Saints 43-0. In the night cap, the Bawating Braves rallied to beat the White Pines Wolverines 20-13.

The games set-up semi-final action scheduled for Rocky DiPietro Field on Saturday. The unbeaten St. Mary's Knights tackle the Braves at 12 p.m. followed by the second place Korah Colts meeting the Eagles at 2:30 p.m.

On Wednesday, the third place Eagles dominated the contest from the opening play to cruise to victory over the sixth place Saints.

Nigel Milne opened the scoring with a three yard touchdown run before Kennedy scored three consecutive majors on a five yard run, an 18 yard interception return and a 15 yard touchdown run.

Navarre Cellini hauled in a 28 yard Frank Weise pass for a touchdown and Kofi Osei ran in from seven yards out to complete the scoring. Weise kicked five converts, Kennedy kicked a 47 yard punt single and Graham Lorenzo booted a 74 yard single on a kickoff.

Osei rushed for 58 yards on 12 carries for the Eagles while Kennedy added 53 yards on four attempts and Milne scampered 33 yards on five carries.

Defensively, the Eagles hauled in five interceptions led by Kennedy with two and one each from Mike Beharriel, Lorenzo and D.J. Idehen. Beharriel added 3.5 tackles and a sack and Kennedy recorded two tackles and a sack while Jake Kallio made 4.5 tackles.

Jeff Ianni led the Saints offense with 31 yards rushing on 11 carries while Mike Marotta and Rob Amadio recorded 3.5 tackles defensively and Nick Vorlicek made an interception.

In the other quarterfinal, the Bawating Braves scored 20 unanswered second half points and to rally from a 13-0 half time deficit.

Noah Rushon opened the scoring the first quarter for the Wolverines with an 18 yard touchdown reception from quarterback Ryan Maunu before Maunu connected with Matt Premo for a 27 yard strike in the second quarter. Maunu added a punt single and the team missed both two point convert attempts.

Bawating started the rally on the second half kickoff which Brad Radbourne returned 86 yards for the touchdown. Later in the quarter, Joe Oldham ran in from two yards out tie the game at 13-13. Radbourne completed the scoring early in the fourth quarter on a one yard run. Kyle Gauthier kicked two converts.

White Pines made two valiant attempts to tie late in the game but were stopped by a pair of key defensive plays by Bawating. Premo was stripped of the ball at the goal line which was recovered by Jon Pinder and Tim Young stopped another drive with an interception on his own 10 yard line to seal the win.

Radbourne led all rushers with 89 yards on 19 carries while Oldham added 30 yards on six carries for the Braves. Defensively, Matt Gauthier recorded eight tackles, Jon Turner made 5.5, Greg Olar added five and Young and Oldham made four each.

Premo led White Pines with 73 yards receiving on six catches and 53 yards rushing on 10 carries. Chris Tulloch added 41 yards rushing on 14 carries while Maunu completed nine of 23 passes for 107 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

Defensively for the Wolverines, Justin Wensley led with 5.5 tackles while Premo added four and Ryan Lavallee made 3.5 tackles.

*** JUNIOR DIVISION:

Quarterfinal action in the junior division begins Thursday as fourth place White Pines visits fifth place Bawating at 4:15 p.m. while sixth place Korah tackles third place Sir James Dunn at 4:15 p.m. at Queen Elizabeth B Field.

The winners advance to Sunday's semi-final action at Queen Elizabeth B Field. First place St. Mary's meets the lowest remaining seed at 12 p.m. and second place St. Basil meets the other remaining team at 2:30 p.m.

Semi-final winners advance to the city championship game to be played on Saturday, October 25 at 1 p.m. at Rocky DiPietro Field.