Metro Bowl

2008

Date: Wednesday, December 3rd

Venue: Rogers Centre, Toronto

St. Michaels College Kerry Blues (CISSA; Toronto) defeated Donald A. Wilson Gators (LOSSA; Whitby)

Noteworthy:
St. Michaels became the first school to capture back-to-back-to-back Metro Bowl titles.

Semifinals
Thursday, November 27th
St. Michaels College Kerry Blues (CISSA; Toronto) 23, Huron Heights  (YRAA, Newmarket) 7
Donald A. Wilson Gators (LOSSA; Whitby) 9, Northern (TDSSA; Toronto) 3

Championship
St. Michaels College Kerry Blues (CISSA; Toronto) 42, Donald A. Wilson Gators (LOSSA; Whitby) 12

The Toronto Star published the following report by David Grossman on Decmeber 4th:

Blues win Metro Bowl in dominating fashion
St. Michael's caps off perfect season with rout of Donald Wilson for third straight title
Toronto Star - Source: http://www.thestar.com/Sports/HighSchool/article/548225
David Grossman

Knock 'em out early.

The strategy was straightforward, and the Kerry Blues from St. Michael's followed the script to perfection.

Making a record ninth appearance in the 27th annual Metro Bowl high school senior football final, the Blues scored early and often, finishing with a 42-12 blowout of the Donald Wilson Gators of Whitby in front of a small but vociferous crowd at the Rogers Centre.

St. Mike's finished the season 11-0 in earning its third straight Metro Bowl title.

The Gators started their football program just four years ago and were making their first appearance in the season finale.

It took St. Michael's just three plays on its first possession to reach the end zone, with Tyler Pritty connecting with receiver Chris Patrician on a 48-yard touchdown.

"We wanted to get to them quickly, score and force them to try play catch-up – something many teams haven't done this year," said Patrician. "Not only did the first touchdown shake them up, but we came right back with two more."

The Gators were held to 66 net yards of offence in the first half, compared to 220 by the Blues.

St. Mike's scored on the final play of the opening quarter, a 7-yard run by Brendan Morgan, and may have delivered the knockdown punch with 2:25 until halftime when Richard Quittenton scored their third TD on a 1-yard run.

"The guys did just what we asked them to do," said St. Mike's head coach Paul Forbes.

"The quick jump was huge."

Running back Rashad LaTouche, the key to the Gators' offence and top point-getter all season, struggled. But his foot helped the Gators break the goose-egg.

The versatile player appeared to give his team some life with a 26-yard field goal with 38 seconds to the half and then temporarily quieted the rowdy St. Mike's fans with a 42-yarder in the third quarter. But St. Mike's, ahead 21-6, fired back with one big play after another.

Scott Burns grabbed a 43-yard pass and, two plays later, Morgan had his second TD of the game, this time from 11 yards out.

Cole Tudor then dashed 47 yards for another TD with two minutes gone in the final quarter, and Quittenton galloped 11 yards for his second major, leaving the Gators looking at the game clock.

"Too many mistakes ... it frustrates you to no end," said LaTouche. "They're a good team, but we ... couldn't get anything going."

Greg Morris finally scored a TD for the Gators on a 15-yard run with 3:16 left in the game.

Durham Region News published the following report by Shawn Cayley on Decemeber 4th:

Gators tamed in Metro Bowl final
St. Mike's beats Wilson for third straight title
News Durham - Source: http://www.newsdurhamregion.com/sports
Shawn Cayley

TORONTO -- The Wilson Gators knew what they were getting themselves into Wednesday night.

Making their first ever appearance in the Metro Bowl football final, the Gators opposed the two-time defending champion St. Michael's College Kerry Blues.

And the Blues, with several returning veterans from last year's championship team, were considered heavy favourites.

The Gators it seemed, were swimming against the current all night long, unable to sustain much momentum on offence, and incapable, for the most part, of stopping the vaunted Kerry Blues offence.

The end result was a 42-12 Kerry Blues victory, giving them their third straight championship, and sending the Gators home to Whitby empty handed.

Though disappointed with the end result, and understandably so, Gators head coach Adam Papadakos wasn't about to take anything away from either team.

"Well you know what, they are a great dynasty, like I said before," admitted Papadakos, who spoke afterwards while the Kerry Blues celebrated behind him on the Rogers Centre turf. "That's what we want to get to. We've got great kids and our kids played hard until the final whistle. I am so proud of them."

The Gators took possession off the opening kick, but the offence gained little ground, and was forced to punt the ball over to St. Mike's just 1:02 into the contest.

The Kerry Blues subsequently took control on their own 41, and three plays later quarterback Tyler Pritty hit receiver Chris Patrician for a 48-yard touchdown, and followed that up with a successful two-point conversion for the early 8-0 lead.

Brendan Morgan added another major late in the first, a seven-yard scamper to put St. Mike's up 15-0, which as it turned out was all they needed.

Aside from a pair of Rashad La Touche field goals -- including a booming 42-yarder in the second half, and a Greg Morris touchdown late in the game, the Gators' offence primarily consisted of dropped passes, undisciplined play and a little nervousness.

"I think, first quarter we got down a couple touchdowns and I think there was a lot of jitters," Papadakos said. "We dropped three balls in the first quarter. We were nervous (with) the different environment, without question. We dropped a lot of balls today offensively and took penalties at unfortunately the wrong time."

However, the Gators, from Papadakos to quarterback Leith Fisken, chose to reflect on the positives in a year that saw the club open up in Ohio in exhibition action, and end the year playing on the grand stage.

"These kids started our school in grade nine. I am so proud of them," Papadakos said of his soon-to-be graduating veterans. "(Look at) Jamie Stavropoulos. The kid is leaving for Michigan this week, he's accepted a scholarship to play football and that's the success of our program. Our kids are going on and playing football at the next level and going on and taking advantage of university opportunities."

For Fisken, the Metro Bowl serves as his final high school game, but he figures it won't be long before Wilson makes its way back to the big dance.

"This was my last game, and it hurt a lot, but this is going to be Wilson tradition and guys will carry this on later on," he said. "We've got a great coaching staff here and a great bunch of guys that buy into the idea. This team will be strong for years to come."