Renegades face Hawks in historic meeting
The current edition of the Grand River Renegades is about to make history.
The plucky varsity (all ages) squad will compete in the school’s first Waterloo County Secondary School Athletic Association senior football final Saturday afternoon against the four-time defending champion Jacob Hespeler Hawks.
The Renegades go into the 1 p.m. showdown at Jacob Hespeler Secondary School with a 7-1 record (regular season and playoffs), while the Hawks have yet to be seriously challenged while cruising to an 8-0 mark. Grand River reached the final with a 6-3 overtime win against the Elmira Lancers, and Jacob Hespeler advanced with a 45-9 win over the Sir John A. Macdonald Highlanders.
“It’s November, we’re still playing football and we’re looking forward to the challenge,” said Renegades head coach Mark Medensky.
“The message has been to keep doing what we’re doing, execute it well, play with your heart and do the best that you can.”
The Renegades were dealt a cruel blow in their semifinal victory when running back/ defensive end Brigg Medensky, the coach’s son, went down with a knee injury. The talented fifthyear student, who is also a standout on special teams, will be forced to watch the final from the sidelines.
With their star player out of the lineup, the Renegades will call on Noah Lebar to be the featured running back, and Matt Morgado will fill in for Medensky on defence.
Grand River’s strong but unsung offensive line of Noah Schaeffer, Thomas Baker, Subomi Oyediran, Evan Joseph and Dylan Toushan will be called upon to sustain drives and keep Jacob Hespeler’s potent offence on the sidelines.
Grand River quarterback Nic Andreotte, who was forced into the starting job when Noah Baker went down with an injury, possesses a decent arm and is also a threat to run. Linebackers David Pavlinich and Lebar are the leaders of a strong defensive unit that has allowed 59 points in eight games.
Mark Medensky and Richard Payne have been running the football program at Grand River for the past two decades. Their four assistants — Scott Zinger, Bob Ballantyne, Andy and Nathan Teminski — have been around for more than a decade.
The last time Grand River’s senior football team competed for a championship was in 1972, seven years before the creation of WCSSAA. The Renegades were thumped 35-12 by the Eastwood Rebels in that final, which decided a Twin City champion.
Jacob Hespeler will be making its seventh straight appearance in the WCSSAA final and there are no obvious weaknesses for a team that has scored 361 points and surrendered 58. Those numbers don’t tell the whole story as the majority of the points have been scored in the first half with the starters in and the offence running at full steam.
Quarterback Elijah Cruickshank has done a good job leading the offence and has no shortage of weapons at his disposal. Running back Xavier Pineda has had another strong season and receiver Seth Robertson is a threat to make a big play whenever he touches the ball.
Halfback/fullback Devan Fleming has also enjoyed a strong season, while nose tackle Tom Bloomfield has been stellar for a defence that bends but rarely breaks.
Grade 11 linebackers Connor Martinez and Jonny Wahl have emerged into key defenders.
Hawks head coach Greg White was disappointed to learn of Medensky’s injury but said the Renegades are a “smash-mouth team” that can’t be underestimated.
“I’ve been saying ‘don’t look ahead’ … the focus is Saturday at 1 p.m. against a team that is coming here to win. I just want them to go out and do what they do best,” said White.
“I think the kids put more pressure on themselves for not wanting to be the team that ends the streak.”
The WCSSAA champion will advance to the semifinal round of the Central Western Ontario (CWOSSA) playoffs against the St. Benedict Saints or St. Mary’s Mustangs of Owen Sound. St. Benedict and St. Mary’s will meet Monday in Owen Sound, and the winner will host the WCSSAA champion just three days later.