By Larry Moko
The unexpected last-minute loss of home-field advantage for the Golden Horseshoe Athletic Conference football semifinal didn't discourage the Bishop Ryan Celtics.
The first round of GHAC playoffs was originally scheduled to be held at Bishop Ryan on Nov. 12. But due to the recent snow storm, the new artificial turf field at that site was deemed to be too dangerous because of an ice buildup.
So a decision was made before Wednesday's kickoff to move the game to a neutral site at nearby St. John Henry Newman Catholic Secondary School.
"Safety for students made the most sense," said Patrick Brennan, athletic convenor of the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School board.
In comparison, Newman's artificial playing surface was in excellent condition and the Celtics went on to score a 37-5 victory over Burlington's Corpus Christi Longhorns.
"We loved coming down here to play," said Luca Underhill, who intercepted three passes as Bishop Ryan extended its unbeaten streak in 2025 to nine games. "It's way better being here than on snow and ice."
The Celtics got five field goals by Luca Horvat. He booted the ball through the uprights in windy conditions from the 20, 26, 25, 12 and 30-yard lines.
Effective punting by BR's Adriano Infurnari was also key to special teams being able to provide consistently good field position.
BR led 3-0 at the end of the first quarter and 19-0 by halftime.
The two-time defending GHAC champions from Corpus Christi got on the scoreboard when the Celtics conceded a safety touch. Then, Thomas Lio's interception and 70-yard return setup Jake Raulino for an 18-yard Longhorns field goal to make the score 19-5.
But the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic champions pulled away after that with a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns. First, quarterback Jack Redmond heaved a five-yard scoring strike in the back of the end zone to Ben Kingston. Then Nolan Pond rushed for a 10-yard major.
The only TD of the first half for BR came with 51 seconds remaining when Andrew Centurami caught a 10-yard pass and broke a tackle on his way to the end zone.
A 37-yard pass reception by Underhill set the stage for Hovat's 12-yard three-pointer on the final play of the half.
"We made a lot of mistakes," Longhorns coach Brandon Ihanza said. "Our starting quarterback got hurt two weeks ago and this was his replacement's second start. Bishop Ryan is a tough team."
But as Underhill pointed out in regard to injuries: "Football is football. You've got to play with what you've got."
The Celtics recovered a fumble and picked off a total of five passes (the others by Nico Difilippo and lineman Kevin Kulina).
"Underhill is a special player," Davies said. "He knows what the other team is going to do. He came through again for us with big plays on both sides of the ball."
The win advances BR to the GHAC final on Tuesday, Nov. 18 against the Assumption Crusaders. That game also is going to be held at Bishop Ryan. Assumption punched its ticket with a 38-35 semifinal win over the Nelson Lords on a last-play field goal.
"I'd like to thank St. John Henry Newman Catholic Secondary School for making this field accessible today," the Bishop Ryan coach said. "We really do appreciate it."
Whoever wins the GHAC championship advances to an OFSAA bowl series game on Nov. 24 in Guelph. The opposition will come from the Western Ontario Secondary Schools Athletic Association.
Photos by Richard Andoga
More photos on the HWCDSB Athletics Facebook page here
