Bowl loss not representative of season: Coach
Cinderella season comes to an end for St. Peter Saints with shutout loss to Paul Dwyer in Metro Bowl quarter-finals
A disappointing 35-0 loss to Oshawa’s Monsignor Paul Dwyer in the Metro Bowl quarterfinals Tuesday did not represent the great season St. Peter’s AAA junior football team had, says Saints head coach Christian Vesnaver.
The team’s 29-0 victory over Belleville’s Bayside Devils for the AAA championship last Thursday was the team’s first COSSA football crown since winning back-to-back titles in 1970 and 1969, before the Metro Bowl existed.
It was the most successful season for St. Peter since it resurrected its football program 18 years ago.
“This was an added bonus. It was our first time getting here,” he said as the team boarded a bus for home after the game. “This doesn’t define what our season was.”
The players were disappointed to be eliminated by the LOSSA champions, but they were also excited about the great season they had, Vesnaver said. “With all of the hard work they put in … it’s just been a great experience for them.”
The Saints went 5-0-1 in the regular season before defeating Thomas A. Stewart in the semi-final and Holy Cross for the Kawartha championship.
Vesnaver, who has been with the team for five seasons and head coach for the past two, pointed out the season has been a great example of what teamwork can accomplish.
Tuesday’s shutout loss also emphasized an important life lesson, the educator added, noting how their play affirmed they had gained much.
“They played right through to the last whistle,” Vesnaver said, adding that he couldn’t have coached a better group of players. “I’m just very proud of how they came together and worked hard all season long.”
NOTES: Paul Dwyer defeated Courtice’s Holy Trinity to advance to Tuesday’s quarterfinal.… TAS also won their first Kawartha senior title in 23 years earlier this month.