High School Stunner

Sisler's Devin Cox (7) carries the football and puts a straight-arm on Churchill defender Patrick Smyth during Winnipeg High School Football League Potter Divisions semifinal action at Canad Inns Stadium last night. MARCEL CRETAIN/SUN MEDIA

You had to wonder when Devin Cox might need to reach for the oxygen tank.

The Grade 11 quarterback/defensive back/holder played on both sides of the ball and rarely left the field, leading the Sisler Spartans to an impressive 29-7 triumph over the Churchill Bulldogs in Winnipeg High Schjool Football League playoff action at Canad Inns Stadium last night.

Cox had an important interception and showed tremendous speed on a six-yard run which served as an exclamation point late in the fourth quarter as the third-place Spartans bounced the second-place Bulldogs from post-season play.

"It's good to be going to the championship," said Cox, who was mobbed by his teammates after the victory. "We knew deep down that all we had to do was hit hard and stick to our game."

The Spartans will meet the Oak Park Raiders in the ANAVET Bowl next Friday.

Oak Park shocked the two-time defending champion St. Paul's Crusaders 9-8 yesterday to earn the other berth in the Potter Division final.

Quarterback Tye Noble hit Victor Kawa with a 12-yard touchdown strike with 12 seconds left in the game to propel the Raiders to victory.

St. Paul's built an 8-3 lead on a one-yard touchdown run by David Anderson, plus a convert and a rouge from Brett Cameron.

Oak Park's other points came on a 29-yard field goal from Jeremy Lamonaco.

The Spartans had a solid running attack that also produced rushing touchdowns from Owen Ternowetsky, R.J. Cornish and Michael Dawes.

"It's just a numb feeling, this is just awesome," said Spartans head coach Rick Hudson. "We're not big but we're fast and gosh we hit a ton. We're a physical football team and you're going to have to be very physical to beat us."

The Spartans trailed 7-1 when Cornish blocked a punt that set up the first major from Ternowetsky.

"We weren't really going for the blocked punt, truth be known," said Hudson.

"They had a bad snap previously. I don't know whether the punter froze or the centre froze on it, but it looked like the punter jerked the gears and held the ball a bit long and R.J. came and blew it out of the air. It was a fantastic play."

In an effort to try and spark his team, Bulldogs head coach Kelsey McKay gambled several times on third down and also attempted a fake field goal, but it was not to be on this day.

"They played simple, grind-it-out football and we didn't have the explosion," said McKay.

"The best football player in this league didn't play tonight and that's Paul Childs. That's not an excuse, but it's a factor. He hurt his shoulder last week."

In the early game yesterday, the Kelvin Clippers defeated the Sturgeon Heights Huskies 31-10.

It was a balanced attack from the Clippers, who got a six-yard touchdown catch from Braxton McIntosh, a 71-yard interception return for a major from Yember Moiba, a 15-yard field goal from Tyson Farago, a 47-yard touchdown run from Abdul Sesay and a two-yard plunge from Simon Rodrigues.

The Clippers will meet the Kildonan East Reivers in the Vidruk Division final next Friday.