By Chris Abbott
Delhi District Secondary School Raiders football team was ‘firing on all cylinders’ winning the 2024 AABHN championship in Simcoe Nov. 2.
“This was an amazing crowd,” said Darryl Smart, presenting the AABHN Non-CWOSSA football trophy after Delhi defeated Simcoe Composite School 45-0. “It’s awesome to see a great game and a great crowd like this on a beautiful day. Congratulations to both teams.”
The final result was night and day from the Mud Jug three weeks earlier when SCS defeated Delhi 24-17.
“It was our mindset,” said Delhi centre Carson McKie. “We went into this game knowing we had it. We were a little hesitant for the Mud Jug game, but we practiced for this. Today we knew that (win) was going to be the result from the beginning.
“I love it – it was good,” McKie smiled.
“Right off the kickoff, getting that fumble, that’s when I knew we were locked in,” said Delhi Grade 11 quarterback JD Zurby, who was very frustrated at the 2024 Mud Jug not being able to play the second half. It didn’t help that a year before SCS had won the Mud Jug 48-0.
“Watching my team get beat, I thought about that every night since that game, and I just wanted to get it back.”
Zurby said the team gained momentum defeating Caledonia’s McKinnon Park 35-6 in the semifinals.
“We were thinking, ‘Let’s just go get this.’”
Delhi Grade 11 receiver Memphis Becker had two interceptions Saturday, and one touchdown.
“We all came to this game very motivated,” said Becker. “We knew we had it in us to win the championship, we just had to keep pushing at practice, lock it in.”
Delhi scored a decisive touchdown on the final play of the second quarter, taking a 21-0 lead into the half.
“We knew the game was never over until it was over,” said Becker. “But that touchdown gave us a lot of momentum.”
Delhi’s Hudson Zantingh scored two touchdowns, including one ‘pick six’ from an interception. It was Zantingh who delivered the late second-quarter touchdown, wide open, catching a bomb from Zurby at full speed.
“It felt really good, I was pumped to catch that.”
The difference Saturday, said Zantingh, was defending against Simcoe’s run.
“They ran the ball hard, but we contained them today.”
Communication seemed to be an issue, said Simcoe’s Chris Heard. And dealing with Delhi’s blitz.
“At least five guys coming, it was two on one. We tried to adjust, but it was too late,” said Heard.
The pressure Delhi was able to put on Simcoe quarterback Andrew Fekete Saturday resembled pressure the Sabres put on Zurby earlier at the Mud Jug.
“They learned from us,” said Heard. “They made the changes they needed to make.”
It might have been overconfidence, said Simcoe’s Amario Knight.
But SCS coach Marc Bertrand did not agree.
“We had the best week of practice leading up to this,” said Bertrand. “At the end of the day we’re going to have to go back and look at the film and just see where we failed to execute. Delhi definitely came in and fired on all cylinders and we just didn’t manage to get it done.”
After a 38-36 win over Pauline Johnson, Bertrand said overconfidence was not an issue.
“We had three serious practices this week and I am surprised by the score.”
Fekete, who was injured in the first quarter, continued to play until the end of the third quarter, with the game out of reach, when he was sidelined to give their backup experience.
“I was running out, got 11 yards, and it was just a late hit while I was down,” said Fekete. “I love this sport, there’s no quit in a championship game.”
The Sabres quarterback said the home team did not react well to certain plays, did not transition, and there were moments of confusion.
“I didn’t have space to run at all. As soon as it was snapped, it was two seconds and I’m getting hit. Your wide receivers need a release and they need a break. They’re not open in two seconds. It’s hard to create separation when you have very little time.
“Nothing was really working from the get-go and it’s hard to run an offence when nothing’s working. Down so much at the beginning, we went straight to ‘we need points and we need them fast.’”
Fekete said the Sabres could still hold their heads high after a five-game undefeated regular season – and the Mud Jug.
“Hell of a season, this is a great team,” Fekete concluded. “I was happy to play with every single player on my team. Leading this team has been my favourite thing… and high school football coming to an end for me, it’s just so sad.”
Fekete has been invited to Queen’s and Guelph university football camps.
“They start right after this – we’ll be starting in November training for Brantford.”
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