Disaster struck Resurrection early at the Western Bowl.

Phoenix star Beau Landry came up wincing after making a tackle minutes into the football game against Windsor's W.F. Herman. The running back/linebacker ran off the field at the Rogers Centre with his left wrist contorted in pain.

"You could tell it was pretty badly broken," said Landry, this year's Waterloo County most valuable player. "It was hurting. I was just really disappointed."

Head coach Tony Chris, who is also an orthopedic surgeon, treated the injury and got Landry into a cast. Then he switched back into coaching mode and tried to figure out what to do. Half the team's offence runs through Landry, and the 17-year-old was done for the day.

"Everybody's heads were in shock when he came off with his wrist on backwards," said Chris. "But they just found a way to get it done. Even without one of our star players, we just dug deep and the guys came out and mustered up the courage to finish it off."

Quarterback Brian Chris delivered pinpoint passes. Fullback Stephen Fedy took over the running game. Receiver Christian Lewis ran perfect routes. Tackle Scott Plantz came up with a viscous quarterback sack. Safety John Cordeiro had a timely interception.

Everyone did their part and more.

And by game's end, Rez had a 21-14 win over Herman and the team's captains were hoisting the Western Bowl high over their heads.

"You can't put this into words, it's just amazing," said Brian Chris, who went 8-for-11 and was named the game's most valuable player. "It's everything and more."

The victory caps an incredible season that saw Resurrection go 11-1 and become the only local school to win the Western Bowl since area teams began competing in the annual affair five years back.

In other action yesterday, Sault Ste. Marie's St. Mary's defeated Hammarskjold of Thunder Bay 31-8 to win the Northern Bowl. The National Capital Bowl saw Kingston's Frontenac down Peterborough's Crestwood 36-1, while Port Colborne's Lakeshore beat Burlington's Notre Dame 8-7 in the Golden Horseshoe Bowl. St. Mike's of Toronto met Donald Wilson of Whitby in the Metro Bowl late last night.

"I was along for the ride throughout the season," said Landry, who is expected to make a full recovery. "I'm just as happy right now. It's the same outcome I wanted if I was playing or not. A good team doesn't only have one player. The whole team has to be good. Our team pulled together."

Rez scored a touchdown on its first series. Brian Chris faked a hand-off and then reversed to Fedy who ran 45 yards for the major. Kicker Andrew Polischuk made it 7-0 and it stayed that way until the third quarter when Rez added two more touchdowns -- a 52-yard bomb to receiver Lewis and a four-yard plunge by Chris.

Herman made it interesting with a pair of scores late in the fourth quarter, but the Phoenix defence stood tall when it mattered.

"They are just an amazing group of kids," said coach Chris. "I've already had a bunch of them come up to me and say that this is the best experience they have ever had in high school, and that means so much to me."

A pizza party followed the game at the Rogers Centre, with former NFL stars Dan Marino and Jim Kelly expected to visit. Both are in town promoting Sunday's NFL game between the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins. The Phoenix received 50 free tickets to the game.

The Windsor Star published the following report on December 4th by Mary Caton