Fatemizadeh sparks St. Mary's to city championship

Kayvon Fatemizadeh scored four touchdowns, including three of the big play variety, to power the St. Mary's Knights to another city championship.

The Knights defended their High School Football League senior division city championship in front of a packed house at Rocky DiPietro Field on Friday night with a 29-1 win over the Sir James Dunn Eagles to claim the Hollingsworth Family Trophy.

The Knights will now travel to North Bay next Saturday to defend their Northern Ontario Secondary Schools Association (NOSSA) championship against either the West Ferris Trojans or Widdifield Wildcats, which play on Saturday afternoon, from the Nippissing District Football League.

The Knights stunned the Eagles early with several big plays in the opening minutes to take a commanding 14-0 lead early in the first quarter.

Kyle Dugas took the opening kickoff 72 yards for the Knights which set up a Fatemizadeh 17 yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage.

Marc Palumbo then hauled in an interception for the Knights on the Eagles first possession. On the next play, Fatemizadeh took the ball 49 yards for the major to put St. Mary's ahead 14-0 just 5:06 into the game.

The Eagles managed to regroup on defense and hold the Knights offense to little production for three quarters. St. Mary's managed only 31 yards in offense after Fatemizadeh's second touchdown until the Knight's offense exploded again in the second half of the fourth quarter.

After a Joey Thorburn interception, the Knights salted away the game as Fatemizadeh scampered 68 yards into the end zone and added the two-point conversion to put St. Mary's ahead 22-1.

In the final minute, Fatemizadeh capped a drive with a one yard plunge for the score. Andrew Posteraro kicked three converts for St. Mary's.

The Eagles scored their lone point on a 23 yard punt single from Dan Kennedy.

Fatemizadeh led all rushers with 170 yards on 11 carries. Dugas was the next leading Knights rusher with 28 yards on three carries.

Kevin Nanne anchored the St. Mary's defense with nine tackles. Palumbo recorded six tackles and two interceptions while Joe Eshkibok made 6.5 tackles and Aaron Amadio added six.

Dan Kennedy led the Eagles offense with 78 yards rushing on 11 carries and 14 yards passing. Frank Weise completed four of 12 passes for 48 yards, including a 31 yard strike to Kofi Osei, and two interceptions.

Mike Beharriell led Eagles defense with 6.5 tackles while Kennedy added 4.5 tackles and an interception. Johnson recorded four tackles.

*** EXTRA POINTS:

* Fatemizadeh was awarded the College Prospects of America player of the game award for his efforts.

* The Korah Colts' Matt Parker was presented with the Officials Award for his sportsmanship and ability. Parker received a plaque and a $200 school bursary.

* The Knights' victory celebration nearly turned sour when quarterback Anthony Amadio was injured during the celebration. Amadio fell on top on the championship trophy while involved in the victory mob. Amadio was helped back to the dressing room under his own power.

* The game marked the final one for Eagles head coach Ken White. White will retire from the coaching ranks and hand the reigns over to Tom Keenan next season.

* The junior division city championship will be held on Saturday afternoon at Rocky DiPietro Field beginning at 1 p.m. as the St. Mary's Knights will tackle the St. Basil Saints.