Family, legacy front and centre as St. Mary’s Warriors return to gridiron

Family and legacy were front and centre as the Woodstock St. Mary’s Warriors took on Ingersoll DCI on Sept. 24 at IDCI. From left, are program founder Mike McMahon’s grandson Milton McMahon, Kobe Almeida, head coach Jeff Almeida, who played at Woodstock Huron Park under coaches Lorne Jenkins and Al Huras, and at right, Milton’s cousin Corall McMahon. (Jeff Tribe Photo).

Jeff Tribe, Post Correspondent

Somewhere, Mike McMahon was smiling.

The celebrated late Woodstock St. Mary’s principal - inducted into the Wilfrid Laurier University sports hall of fame for prowess as a middle linebacker during his own playing days - had been instrumental in bringing football to the school. And he would have been thrilled with its return, particularly with grandsons Milton (son of Patrick McMahon) and Corall (son of Nolan McMahon) taking to the field for the junior Warriors.

“That’s why I’m repping 54,” said Milton, proud to wear the number his grandfather had worn at Laurier. Carrying on the legacy,” added Corall.

Legacy and family were consistent themes through the Sept. 24 Thames Valley Regional Athletics Walzak Division contest at Ingersoll DCI, an important backdrop to a 35-0 final score in favour of the home team. The latter wasn’t unexpected given the Warriors comparative level of inexperience, against an established team which subsequently ran its TVRA Southeast record to 3-0 with a 21-7 road victory over Woodstock College Avenue on Oct. 3.

“They (St. Mary’s) have a good core of athletes,” credited Blue Bombers junior coach Ben Griffiths following the Warriors game. “You can tell they want to work hard, are well coached and in years to come, will be a force.”

Blue Bombers wide receiver Cody Fleming gathered in three touchdown passes to lead IDCI offensively against the Warriors, with Grayson Burton and Noah Rodgers adding one major apiece. Dean Janess kicked all five point after tries.

“Our tackles were pretty good, can still do better,” summed up Burton, pleased at the time with his team’s 2-0 start to the season. “Still learning from it though, taking the little mistakes we’re making and trying to learn to do better.”

The Bombers are a young team, said Griffiths, with just seven returnees from the 2024 season, but are progressing through a willingness to work hard. His goal is to get to the championship game and improve the program as a whole, contributing to the quality of the Bombers program and the game in Oxford County.

“Football just doesn’t happen in London,” said the first-year Bombers coach, who has both his own family connection and passion for the sport. Playing throughout high school at London Central, Ben elected to row in university, but his brother Oliver is a punter/place-kicker with the UWO Mustangs, and their father Jason, a former fullback with the team.

“In the world we live in today, having kids who want to be in sports and learn and grow as a group and be role models is my ultimate goal,” Ben summed up. “Be better people, that’s it.”

Beyond roster members named McMahon, the Warriors return to football contains an additional legacy connection. Head coach Jeff Almeida played at Woodstock Huron Park under Lorne Jenkins and Al Huras before enjoying a post-secondary career as a defensive corner with the University of Waterloo Warriors from 1991-95.

“Look at these guys, they’re excited about playing football again,” Almeida said. “It was something that was missing for so long, but we finally have it back and they’re just excited to play.”

The list includes his son Kobe, a member of the Woodstock Warriors football program, as soon as he could start playing, a family tradition including siblings Finlay and Brady.

“The whole family plays football,” said Kobe, a Grade 9 pivot adjusting to a challenging position and game at the high school level. “Harder than any league I’ve been in.”

“It’s fun - I love it,” added Warriors tight end/linebacker Noah Kratz, who enjoys learning as he goes. From practice, he expected a lot of physical action, and while nervous, enjoys the heightened stakes and intensity of game action.

“By the second half, I was trying to put out a lot more.”

Kratz’s statement could be applied to Jeff Almeida’s approach to the season, in essence, getting onto the field, getting the nerves out and continuing to improve.

“I want to teach these kids to play the right way,” he concluded. “And build blocks - every step we take forward is a good step as far as I’m concerned.”