High school football season kicks off with east/west

The 2005 high school football season started off with their traditional Friday night East/West John Croshuk Kickoff Classic at Rocky DiPietro.

Played in front of well over 1,000 students from across the city who were oozing with school spirit, the senior division teams played three mini-games in the exhibition contest which serves as a league fundraiser and a tune-up for the regular season which begins on Thursday night.

In the end, the West, who were represented by St. Basil, Korah and St. Mary's, bested the East 51-35.

A new look St. Basil Saints scored an impressive 21-7 win over the defending city and Northern Ontario Secondary Schools Association (NOSSA) champion Sir James Dunn Eagles in the opening game.

For the Saints, Tommy Reville and Kevin Smith scored on touchdown passes from Andrew Allen while Justin Minelli ran in another. Navarre Cellini scored on a long catch and run from quarterback Frank Weise for the Eagles.

In the second game, the St. Mary's Knights rolled past the Bawating Braves 28-0 as Chris Lebel ran for two touchdowns, Jeff Greco another and Mark DeVuono hauled in a long major from quarterback John Mullin.

White Pines proved to be a championship contender in the final game with a 28-2 win over the rebuilding Korah Colts. Alanzo Clarke and Tom Swystun ran for touchdowns while Todd Hicks caught a pass from quarterback Corey Wensley and Josh Childs returned an interception for a major. Jeff McAllister recorded a safety for Korah.

The regular season kicks off on Thursday as St. Basil and White Pines meet in a battle between two very improved teams beginning at 7 p.m. at Rocky DiPietro Field.

On Friday at 7 p.m., Bawating meets Sir James Dunn while St. Mary's and Korah conclude the week on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Of note, start times for this season have been moved ahead to 7 p.m. from the traditional 7:30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday as the league has adopted new rules which will see games played in four 15-minute quarters instead of the high school standard of four 12-minute quarters.

*** HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SENIOR DIVISION SCHEDULE:

(All games played at Rocky DiPietro Field)

Thurs., Sept. 15 - St. Basil vs. White Pines - 7 p.m. Fri., Sept. 16 - Bawating vs. Sir James Dunn - 7 p.m. Sat., Sept. 17 - Korah vs. St. Mary's - 1 p.m.

Thurs., Sept. 22 - Sir James Dunn vs. Korah - 7 p.m. Fri., Sept. 23 - St. Mary's vs. White Pines - 7 p.m. Sat., Sept. 24 - St. Basil vs. Bawating - 1 p.m.

Thurs., Sept. 29 - Korah vs. Bawating - 7 p.m. Fri., Sept. 30 - St. Mary's vs. St. Basil - 7 p.m. Sat., Oct. 1 - White Pines vs. Sir James Dunn - 1 p.m.

Thurs., Oct. 6 - Bawating vs. White Pines - 7 p.m. Fri., Oct. 7 - St. Basil vs. Korah - 7 p.m. Sat., Oct. 8 - Sir James Dunn vs. St. Mary's - 1 p.m.

Thurs., Oct. 13 - Sir James Dunn vs. St. Basil - 7 p.m. Fri., Oct. 14 - Bawating vs. St. Mary's - 7 p.m. Sat., Oct. 15 - White Pines vs. Korah - 1 p.m.

Thurs., Oct. 20 - Semi-Final (4th vs. 1st) - 7 p.m. Fri., Oct. 21 - Semi-Final (3rd vs. 2nd) - 7 p.m.

Fri., Oct. 28 - City Final - 7 p.m.

Sat., Nov. 5 - NOSSA Semi-Final (Sault Ste. Marie - bye)

Sat., Nov. 12 - NOSSA Final (hosted by winner of Sudbury/North Bay semi-final)

*** JUNIOR DIVISION SCHEDULE:

(All games played at home school's field unless noted)

Thurs., Sept. 15 - St. Basil vs. White Pines - 4:15 p.m. Fri., Sept. 16 - Sir James Dunn vs. Bawating - 4:15 p.m. Sat., Sept. 17 - Korah vs. St. Mary's - 10 a.m.

Thurs., Sept. 22 - Sir James Dunn vs. Korah - 4:15 p.m. Fri., Sept. 23 - St. Mary's vs. White Pines - 4:15 p.m. Sat., Sept. 24 - Bawating vs. St. Basil - 10 a.m.

Thurs., Sept. 29 - Korah vs. Bawating - 4:15 p.m. Fri., Sept. 30 - St. Mary's vs. St. Basil - 4:15 p.m. Sat., Oct. 1 - White Pines vs. Sir James Dunn - 10 a.m.

Thurs., Oct. 6 - Bawating vs. White Pines - 4:15 p.m. Fri., Oct. 7 - St. Basil vs. Korah - 4:15 p.m. Sat., Oct. 8 - Sir James Dunn vs. St. Mary's - 10 a.m.

Thurs., Oct. 13 - St. Basil vs. Sir James Dunn - 4:15 p.m. Fri., Oct. 14 - Bawating vs. St. Mary's - 4:15 p.m. Sat., Oct. 15 - White Pines vs. Korah - 10 a.m.

Tue., Oct. 18 - Quarterfinal (5th vs. 4th) - 4:15 p.m. Tue., Oct. 18 - Quarterfinal (6th vs. 3rd) - 4:15 p.m.

Sat., Oct. 22 - Semi-Final (2nd lowest winner vs. 2nd) - 12 p.m. Sat., Oct. 22 - Semi-Final (lowest winner vs. 1st) - 2:15 p.m.

Sat., Oct. 29 - City Final - 1 p.m. (@ Rocky DiPietro Field)

***