Metro Bowl

1992

Date: November 25th

Venue: Sky Dome, Toronto

West Hill Warriors defeated Markham Marauders

Sudden Death Playoff

Crestwood 40, St. Michaels College 7

Quarterfinals

Markham Marauders (York) 35, Paul Dwyer Saints (Durham) 18

St. Thomas Aquinas (Dufferin/Peel) 15, Clarkson Chargers (Peel) 14

Northern Red Knights (Toronto) 3, Crestwood Mustangs (Peterborugh) 0

West Hill Warriors (Scarborough) 13, Richview Saints (Etobicoke) 0

Semifinals

Markham Marauders 21, St. Thomas Aquinas 8

West Hill Warriors 19, Northern Red Knights 8

Championship

West Hill Warriors 24, Markham Marauders 6

David Grossman provided the following game report in the November 26th edition of the Toronto Star:

They stood huddled at midfield, helmets held high.

Few expected West Hill Warriors to make such an impact on the highly touted Markham Marauders.

That is, until yesterday, when the Scarborough champions showed who was really boss on the high school gridiron, winning their 12th consecutive game.

West Hill accomplished what many thought would be a fantasy as an injury-riddled lineup put out a gutsy effort and came away with a lopsided 24-6 victory in the Metro Bowl Classic.

Many in a disappointing crowd of just over 2,000 at SkyDome knew West Hill had this one in the bag real early.

When Evan Davis followed the outstanding blocking of his linemen and galloped 57 yards for the opening touchdown with exactly one minute gone in the second quarter, the Warriors' rout was on and their fans responded with the tomahawk chop.

Rafik Jawando, another one of the West Hill speedsters enjoying their Cinderella appearance in the football finale, converted a seven-play, 67- yard drive for a touchdown.

Then came the cruncher, with 2:07 until halftime, and Markham having been pinned deep in its own end for all but 32 seconds.

Gifford Rose, on a double reverse with opposing players stacked around him, fumbled and a hustling 255-pound defensive all-star, Alphonso Carter (later picked The Star's game MVP), fell on a loose ball that was rolling in the end zone.

"Good ball players want to win; I've said it all year. These players listened to the coaching staff and did what they had to," said a jubilant West Hill head coach Gerry Allen.

"We didn't lose composure, even when Markham went to the rough stuff. We had three linemen go down with knee injuries and the guys just came off the bench to do a job. Discipline, that's what did it."

Markham, which lost in its inaugural SkyDome final two years ago, showed some signs of eagerness in the third quarter, marching 78 yards on 16 plays from the kickoff for its only points.

Jon Duncan capped a fourth-and-three gamble with a 22-yard keeper but the drive used up 9:15 on the clock. The bubble was about to burst.

To add insult to injury, West Hill didn't seem the least bit concerned and six plays later watched as Esran Mitchell showed his speed on the indoor carpet with a 65-yard sweep that left a tired Markham defensive unit in a daze.

"I'd say we're in a state of shock," said a disappointed Markham coach Dick Thomson, whose team found game No. 13 unlucky after going unbeaten in 12 and riding the chart all season as the team to beat.

"(West Hill) is an excellent team and we had a lot of difficulty with them, particularly that defence which just wouldn't give. . . . (There were) some big breakdowns on our part and they executed extremely well. That's what I feared."

Davis, who'll be back for Grade 13 next year, finished with 18 carries for 140 yards. He was also one of the dozen West Hill players who had stalwart performances playing the entire game.