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26 - The Canadien Champion, Tuesday, November 4, 2003 S«1ýCNDA 1APO R T S00 Senior Mustangs corral OT Devils Photo by GRAHAM PAINE «./Against the odds Milton Districtsa Mark Murray tries to gain a few extra yards whlle belng corraied by four Oakviile Trafalgar Devils Thursday afternoon during junior football quarterfinal action at MD. The Mustangs were bianked 14-0. Two firat-haif touchdowns were the difference. *MD moves on to semnifinals By STEVE LeBLANC The Champion Big risk, big reward. In football the two often go hand-in- hand, as Milton District's seniors found out at Oakville Trafalgar Friday afternoon. Amid unseasonably mild conditions, the Mustangs gambled on Usird and short at a couple of crucial points in tier two quarter- final action - each time with a touchdown as the end result. This refusai to play il safe offensively and a healthy dose of topnotch passing coverage combined to give MD a 28-7 triumph - along wiUs passage to Halton's final four. 'You've got to gamble when it's like Usis (the playoffs)," stressed two-way standout Lee Frittenburg, one of many veterans vying for a retum trip to the championsbip showdown at Hamilton's IvorWynne. "We just tried to, stop Useir big chances and cap- italize on our own." For Use most part Use Mustangs did exactly Usat, alUsough not without a painful price for Frittenburg - who was severely banged up by Use Devils and had to he helped off Use field on three separate occa- sions. So was it al worth it? As if one really has to, ask. "0f course," remnarked Use gutsy co- captain. The Mustangs had enough seoring for Sr. Royals advance with upset victory By STEVE LOBLANO The Champion So Iroquois Ridge is heatable after ail. Oakville's fier two powerhouse went undefeated through Use regular season - due in large part to a seemningly unstoppable passing gamne - and many beieved that perfect record would hold up tbrough Use playof. Or at least unfil IvorWynne. Enter Use rebuilding Bishop Reding Royals, who refused to merely put up a good fight againat Useir heavily-favouaed Wolfpack hosta during quarterfi- nal action Friday aftemnoon. Wiiling their season so continue, Use Royals overcamne somne early offensive glitches and a pair of deficits to prevail 25-16. Head coach Joe Jursss offered particular praise to bis defensive charges, and added UsaI Use upses vie- tory was simply a case of bis big players making big pîsys. Toppmng that lias was Jon Ram, wbo was by far the most versatile contributor of the day and who recovered a Wolfpack fumble in the end-zone late in the flrst half to make it 8-7. Ram diverted Imuch of the credit to, bis fellow defenders, as weil as dependable kicker David Wynne, stating, "When we didn't get first downs we could rely on huit to punt it deep, allowing us to pin them deep and prevent touchdowna." Wynne came through with three successful con- verts and an insurance field goal down the stretch to cemnent die win. Ris fancy footwork comple- mented a two-touchdown performance by offen- sive standout Marcas Gray, who covered 75 yards for bis first major and seored again on a 16-yard strike fromn Rory Johnston. Defensively, Reding forced several turnovers on downs and managed to contain a passing gamne Usat had expîoited every oUser secondary unit Usis fall. "Jim Harper comning in to mun Use defense this year bas reaily helped. A lot of Use credit goes to, hlm," said Jurus. "A lot of guys reaily stepped it up (againat Use Ridge)." The Royals - who won juat once last year - now take a four-game winning streak into semifi- rial play as Oakville's T.A. Blakelock Friday after- noon at 2 p.m. If triumphant, Usey'i advance to Use November 13 Halton fier two championsbip at Hasnilton's IvorWynne Stadium to face eiUser Milton District or Burlington Central. Steve LeBlanc can be reached at sleblanic@hal- tonsearch.com. "You've got to gamble when it's like this (the p1ayoffs)."ý the victory before the gaine was eight min- utes old, thanks to a 441-yard scamper by Tim Anderson and a five-yard punch by James Mclntosh. OT would cut that lead in haîf midway tbrough the second quarter, but was effec- tively neutralized the rest of the way by an MD teaio that continually stifled its pass- mng game. "'he pass coverage was great. We had ample guys back there to guard it (pass) and also put pressure on their quar- terback," said defensive co-ordinator David Curk, who had to miss last week's practices due to personal comsnitments. "'Me guys did a great job." Offensive coach Ian McIntosh and pivot Jay Price kept opposing defenders off bal- ance for much of the aftemoon with a well- rounded attack, while four touchdowns by four different players offered another remninder of just how deep MD's arsenal is - even without injured rusher Todd Arruda. Daryl Meinen gained the lion's share of yardage on the day - thanks in part to, sorte well-executed blocking - and pro- vided a final nail-in-the-coffin touchdown with tbree mninutes to go. He also pieked off hometown QB Matt Self in the waning moments of play to squash any lingering comneback hopes. Prsce drove in a baekbreaking major fromn third and short that was essentially the end for the Devils. Ryan Mitchell made good on ail four convert attempta and is now 12-for-12 in the post-season. Frittenburg and Michael lt-vine also offered spinited performances. With Friday's string of upsets, the Mustangs are surprise hoats for the semifi- nals this Friday versus Burlington Central. The two teams squared off in the final four last year as well, with MD winning 12-8. Gamne rime is 2 p.m. If victorious, MD wiil face either cross-town rival Bishop Reding or Oakville's T.A. Blakelock as IvorWynne November 13. Steve LeBlanc can be reached at sie- blanc@haltonsearch.com.