It’s the little school that has done some big things.
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It’s the little school that has done some big things.
The Herman Green Griffins have won back-to-back WECSSAA titles over the Holy Names Knights after falling in the regular season.
But on Monday, the challenge proved literally too big as the Green Griffins fell 30-7 to the London Catholic Central Crusaders in the OFSAA Western Bowl at Acumen Stadium.
“They’re a big team and we knew had a challenge coming in,” Green Griffins’ quarterback Kaylo Elliott said. “Definitely bigger than Holy Names, they’ve got some big kids. Skill wise, Holy Names a good team, but (the Crusaders) have some really good players. We knew it would be a bigger challenge.”
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With a steady rain falling for much of the game, the Crusaders used a dominating performance by the offensive line to pile up 303 yards in rushing in the game while Herman could produce just 77 yards on the ground.
“They beat the (heck) out of us on the line,” Green Griffins’ head coach Harry Lumley said. “Nothing you can do when you’re line’s getting it’s (butt) beat. They were just too strong for us.”
London jumped to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter on a 12-yard field goal by Oscar Chmielinski and a 15-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jed Trupish to Tyson Serpa.
Herman got its lone touchdown just before halftime behind the arm of Elliott, who capped the drive with a one-yard run.
“We had the one good drive, but other than that we couldn’t really get our running game going,” said Elliott, who completed six-of-eight passes for 110 yards. “That’s credit to their good defence. We haven’t seen a defence like that all year.”
Catholic Central picked up another field goal for a 13-7 lead before the half and took the opening kickoff and drove the length of the field with Tre Potter taking it in from a yard out.
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“(Herman’s defensive) line is very physical off of the line,” Crusaders’ left guard Stewart Walsh said. “It was a challenge for us, but once we got moving I feel we took the momentum.
“Because of the bad weather, running the ball was definitely going to be our strong suit. It’s always been our strong suit. We’re a run-heavy offence and because it was raining, we really had to state that and make it known that we had to run the ball and we did it pretty successfully in my opinion.”
Mason Keba ran in a two-point convert in to make it 21-7, the Green Griffins conceded a safety to start the fourth quarter and Trupish ran in the game’s final touchdown from 17 yards out.
“I think we’re the only AA (size school) playing,” Lumley said of the OFSAA Bowl series, which features nine games. “They’re all AAA schools. We’re down under 600 kids and we’re competing with schools with 2,000. Nobody thought we were going to do anything. (We) accomplished more than anyone thought.”
After winning last year’s Independent Bowl at OFSAA, the Green Griffins weren’t hanging their heads after Monday’s loss to the Crusaders.
“Great season and shows we can beat all odds,” Elliott said. “Got here, we weren’t supposed to be here, had a good fight, better than the score shows, but it’s the end of the game.”
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