Mustangs top Phoenix in NCAA semifinals

By Bernie Puchalski - November 1, 2019

After defeating the St. Francis Phoenix 14-7 in the Niagara Catholic Athletic Association semifinals Friday, it was a joyous bunch of Saint Michael Mustangs senior football players who boarded the bus in the Saint Paul parking lot.

“We’re going to the ship. We’re going to the ship,” they could be heard chanting on the bus.

The ship they were yelling about was next week’s NCAA championship game against the unbeaten Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The Mustangs will be hoping to play the role of an iceberg against a Notre Dame ship that looks unsinkable.

“We are going to do our best and that’s all we ask our kids to do,” Saint Michael head coach Brian Carter said.

Saint Michael’s last won a championship it 2016 when it captured the AA league that was made up of public and Catholic high schools. It beat Holy Cross 28-8 in the championship game that year.

“We know they (the Irish) are a very tough opponent and a well-coached team and we will get them to enjoy this game, prepare them the best we can and then enjoy playing in a NCAA championship,” Carter said.

Saint Michael defensive end/offensive tackle Carson Gilbert isn’t listening to anyone who suggests the Mustangs don’t have a prayer of beating Notre Dame.

“If they are saying we don’t have a prayer, I would say we do,” the 18-year-old said. “It’s called scoring touchdowns and just winning.”

Gilbert would love to end his high school career with a championship.

“I can’t even put a price on it,” he said. “I would love to win a championship. My brother (Nicholas) won a championship eight to 10 years ago and I would love to follow in his footsteps.”

He is savouring every moment as his high school career winds down.

“I will remember this team, everything they have done to help me out and the two-interception game I had in Grade 9.”

The 6-foot-2, 240-pounder played a key role in the Mustangs victory over the Phoenix. During one key, two-minute stretch of the third quarter, the 12B student had a fumble recovery, a tackle for a six-yard loss and a blocked field goal on the very next play.

“Carson is fantastic,” Carter said. “He is a leader and he works so hard off season and during the season.”

Gilbert likes playing both sides of the ball but prefers defence,

“My favourite position right now is defensive tackle and I am loving it,” he said. “I was linebacker all four years of high school leading up to this year and then coached looked at me and thought I would be better at defensive tackle.

“I thought he had better judgment than me so I stuck with it and I am loving it now.”

Scouts from Guelph, Waterloo, McMaster and Queen’s have shown Gilbert some love and he would like to play football at the next level.

“So far, Guelph University has been most adamant about talking to me,” he said.

Gilbert and the rest of the Saint Michael’s defence needed to be at their best Friday to knock off the Phoenix.

“It was back and forth and we never seemed to pull away enough to be comfortable and they keep on battling and coming back,” Carter said. “It was a great game for both teams. They were physical and we did our best to match that.”

St. Francis was hurt by plethora of turnovers, including two in the red zone and another deep on their own side of the field which set up the Mustangs’ first score late in the first half.

“You have to hang on to the ball,” St. Francis head coach Jim Whittard said. “They’re well-coached and they deserve to win.”

It could easily have gone the Phoenix’s way Friday but it didn’t.

“I am very happy with our kids and I think it goes to show you that a varsity team can play in this league and we had Grade 9s who were a key part of our offence,” Whittard said. “It says a lot about varsity football in the NCAA.”

STATS PACK

Mustangs 14 Phoenix 7

Mick and Angelo’s/Johnny Rocco’s/Cracker Jacks Player of the Game: Saint Michael’s Carson Gilbert with a fumble recovery and a field goal block.

For the Saint Michael Mustangs: one-yard QB keeper for TD by Jared Schlueter; 60-yard TD pass Schlueter to Noah Wilson; interceptions by Richie Marogimen, Chris Bianco and Aaron Brown; Gilbert and Devon Harper, fumble recoveries; and, two sacks by Gabriel Hetherington

For the St. Francis Phoenix: 95-yard TD pass Ethan Reid to Sacada Kasamba; Quinton Duemo, interception and fumble recovery;

Up next: Saint Michael’s plays Notre Dame in the NCAA final next week.