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No surprises as varsity football playoff matchups set

The regular season is done and the playoff matchups are set. And while there was some shuffling in the middle of the pack within the SDSSAA Varsity Football league, the contenders played out pretty much as expected this fall.
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The regular season is done and the playoff matchups are set.

And while there was some shuffling in the middle of the pack within the SDSSAA Varsity Football league, the contenders played out pretty much as expected this fall.

The Lo-Ellen Park Knights survived what would be their stiffest test of the season in their final game, outlasting the St. Charles College Cardinals 16-6. The Cards held a 6-2 lead at the half after Andrew Kohut recovered a fumble in the end zone, accounting for what would be the only scoring for the Cards.

Lo-Ellen gradually gained control in the second half, with quarterback Adam Favot hooking up with David Caswell for one touchdown pass, and then running it in from eight yards out for a little insurance later in the game.

Pierce Wallingford added a pair of converts, while Andrew Denniston was credited with a safety touch after the Cardinals' punter took a knee in the end zone.

The Lively Hawks secured the remaining first-round playoff bye, finishing second with a record of 5-1 after taming the St. Benedict Bears 43-21. Josh Walker and Thomas Rideout both recorded a pair of majors for Lively, with singles coming from J.J. Gaudin and Jesse Brear.

Rideout made good on five point-after attempts, as the Hawks staked themselves to a 21-7 lead at the half. Connor Vande Weghe hauled in a pair of TD passes from Chase Pressacco for the Bears, with running back Adrian Apan adding the other major.

With a record of 4-2, the fourth-place Bears will now take on the Confederation Chargers (5th - 2-3-1) in the second of two quarter-final games Friday night at the James Jerome Sports Complex.

Confederation ensured their berth in the post-season thanks to a 35-8 triumph over the Lasalle Lancers, with the Chargers defence setting the tone early. Brody Laberge and Mike Pigeon both returned interceptions for touchdowns in the opening half, with Austin Pharand later adding a pair of rushing majors for the winners.

Riley Barbeau went the distance on a punt return to account for the final Confederation TD, with kicker Aaron Campbell adding three converts and Bradley Boivin earning the two points that come courtesy of a safety touch.

Logan Baronette-Finley was on the receiving end of the only six-point score for the Lancers, taking a pass from Samson Recollet, with Zach Matheson splitting the uprights on the points-after attempt, to go along with an earlier rouge on a field goal attempt that drifted wide.

Finally, the Lockerby Vikings knocked the Collège Notre-Dame Alouettes out of playoff contention, using their speed to register a 38-14 win. Splitting time at running back and quarterback, Josh Favaro paced the Vikings' attack with a pair of touchdowns, with the remaining ones coming courtesy of David Moorhouse, Tim Tindall and Locke Au-Yeung.

Blake Wisniewski capped off the Lockerby scoring with four conversions and a field goal, with Jordan Lacelle answering with both TDs for CND. Ntumba Malundu recorded a two-point conversion as the Alouettes look to rebuild after the departure of longtime head coach Paul Gauthier in the off-season.

The varsity semifinals are set for Friday, Oct. 31 at James Jerome, with the city finals one week later at the same location.

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