St. Thomas More runs all over Cardinal Newman for city’s Catholic high school crown
There is hardly enough time in a 48-minute high school football game to do what Michael ChrisIke did at Tim Hortons Field on Thursday.
The Grade 12 running back from St. Thomas More scored four touchdowns and rushed for a phenomenal 302 yards as his Knights flushed away memories of last year and last month, with a 30-14 victory over the Cardinal Newman Cardinals in the city Catholic football title game.
“He proved that when he wants to be, he’s almost unstoppable,” Newman head coach Anthony Macaluso said of the defence-shredding tailback.
“They attempted maybe three or four passes, but kudos to them, when you have that horse ride him.
“The last time we played them we held him pretty well in check and that was the difference today.”
The last time was late October on the St. Thomas More campus, when Newman captured first place, and an opening round playoff bye, with a narrow 22-13 win over Newman. And Macaluso smiled wryly as he explained that ‘in check’ for Chris-Ike was 185 yards.
Not only did the Cardinals beat the Knights to finish first this year, in last year’s championship game Cardinal Newman stormed back from a 31-1 halftime deficit to win the title 35-31.
“I knew we had to win this game,” Chris-Ike said afterward, “Because of last year, we knew we couldn’t let down at the half. Everything just clicked. I think that’s the best game of my life.”
After More had taken a 14-0 lead, Cardinal Newman stormed back in the second quarter to tie the game at 14-14, and reach the intermission with momentum.
But Chris-Ike’s backfield partner Jacob Baker picked off Knights’ quarterback Jordan Rimac — who went 18 of 26 for 232 yards with 49 yards rushing — early in the third quarter, and St. Thomas More regained control of the game.
And control meant leaning almost exclusively on Chris-Ike, who got determined and effective blocking from his offensive line.
More didn’t even attempt a pass until four minutes remained in the first half and by then Chris-Ike had handled the ball on 12 of their 13 plays from scrimmage. It continued like that throughout.
“They’re a tough team, 100 per cent,” Chris-Ike said of the Cardinals. “I’ve played with quite a few of them (in minor football) and they’re tough kids.”
Chris-Ike has had one scholarship offer from an American college but will likely be contacted soon by others. Several Ontario university scouts were in hopeful attendance Thursday.
With Burlington Nelson winning the Halton championship 28-15 over Oakville’s Holy Trinity at McMaster earlier in the day, St. Thomas More now plays host to Holy Trinity in one GHAC game Tuesday, while Cardinal Newman visits Nelson in the other. The winning team in each game earns an OFSAA Bowl berth at Tim Hortons Field at the end of the month.
“After a championship game there is disappointment but most of the guys are already saying, ‘All right sir let’s get ready for next week,’ ” Macaluso said.
“So I’m motivated by their motivation.” NOTES: Veteran local official Art Crombie refereed Thursday’s game and is retiring after 42 years of handling local games.