Things were not looking up for the Etobicoke Rams at halftime during Wednesday’s Northern Bowl championship game versus the Superior Heights Steelhawks.
Down 3-12 headed into the dressing room at Tim Horton’s Field in Hamilton, the Rams had lost both their starting quarterback and centre to injuries inflicted by the bigger and stronger team from Sault Ste. Marie.
“They could have easily just packed it in, but they didn’t. One of the fears we had as coaches — because they were never really tested — we feared that they might not be able to rebound from that,” coach Paul Dias said of his players, who sailed through the regular season undefeated to advance Etobicoke Collegiate Institute to its second consecutive OFSAA championship bowl game.
“But they did rebound. They overcame adversity and were able to go out and execute in that last half. They just left it all out there on the field.”
The first half of the game saw the Rams take the lead early, putting three points up on the scoreboard courtesy of a field goal by Danilo Bakoc. That lead did not last long, though, as the Steelhawks responded by scoring two unanswered touchdowns to go ahead 12-3 headed into the half.
After a pep talk or two in the dressing room, the Rams came out strong in the second half, lead by seniors Keegan Dicks and Justice Allin.
Dicks finished the game with two touchdowns — the first off an 58-yard pass from Allin in the third quarter and the second courtesy of a 65-yard pass, again from Allin, in the fourth.
Allin, meanwhile, ran the ball into the end zone for his own touchdown in the fourth, while Ryan Haigh added to the Rams’ second-half scoring frenzy on a two-yard fumble return with just minutes left in the game.
Despite a late-game touchdown by the Steelhawks’ Cooper Laframboise, the Rams ultimately won the championship — their first ever OFSAA Bowl — by a score of 30-18.
Dias, who has coached football at Etobicoke Collegiate since 2003, credits his team’s ability to bounce back for the win this year after losing in heartbreaking fashion at the 2015 OFSAA championships to simple preparation.
“The kids were a year older and a lot more prepared than last year,” he said, noting that the Rams had four returning fifth-years on the team this year. “Games are won at practice and just that extra year is the reason why we got over the top and were able to win that game.”
Describing himself as the Rams’ “number one fan”, Etobicoke Collegiate Vice Principal Lewis Grange agreed: “This year, there was no lack of preparation. They were practicing evening after evening because they knew that their undefeated season wouldn’t be complete unless they went all the way and won that game up in Hamilton, too,” he said. “It was a great game. That we were down at the half and came back was a huge deal.”
Dias also heaped praise on his supporting staff of young coaches — namely offensive co-ordinator Chivase Bryan, defensive coach Conor Eustace, and running back coach Jacob Appiah — for the passion with which they mentored the Rams team to its first bowl win.
“My coaching staff is comprised of kids I’ve coached in the past who have come back to help out. A lot of them got to university themselves because of football and they recognize it was the key to their success in their lives and pursuing their own careers now,” he said, noting some of his coaches are currently applying to teacher’s college, the police force and fire department.
“They’re all giving back, because of the passion they have for the game and the opportunities it afforded them. They recognize what we’ve done for them and they’re trying to pay it forward.”
Despite all of the team’s successes on the field this year — including a 41-0 blowout win over Lawrence Park to take home the TDSB championship title — Dias said he is most proud of his graduating players’ off-field achievements.
“Everyone’s always taking about us going undefeated and giving up the fewest amount of points in the province all year long, but if you were to ask me the most important theme or perspective from my end of it, it’s seeing five, six or seven kids that now are going to university because of football,” Dias said, noting that some of his university-bound players will be the first in their families to seek out a post-secondary education.
“So that’s what it’s all about for me — giving these kids the opportunity to recognize that, through sport, they can find an avenue in life after athletics. That maybe if they focus on the academics as hard as the sports, they’ll be given a shot at university entry, and more importantly, an education.”
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