Metro Bowl

2004

Date: November 26th

Venue: Ivor Wynn Stadium, Hamilton

St. Michaels College Kerry Blues defeated Pickering Trojans

Semi Finals
St. Michaels College Kerry Blues 41, Richmond Hill Raiders 21
Pickering Trojans18, Northern Red Knights10

Championship Game

St. Michaels College Kerry Blues 22, Pickering Trojans15

The Toronto Star published the following article by David Grossman on November 27th:

With the spotlight focused almost exclusively on Charlie Houghton all season, the elusive running back from Toronto's St. Michael's College wasn't going to change things last night.

A Toronto Star all-star in his final year before graduation, Houghton scored two touchdowns and rushed for almost 200 yards as the Kerry Blues beat the Pickering Trojans 22-15 for their fourth championship in the 23-year history of the Metro Bowl.

While it was the first time that the championship was played outside Toronto, it was also one of the smallest crowds ever, with just a few hundred fans showing up at Ivor Wynne Stadium.

Houghton scored his 24th and 25th touchdowns of the year and was the Star's game MVP.

"This was an explosive win for our school, something we'll remember for a long time," said Houghton. "The running at the beginning of the game was very good, the blocking was amazing and our defence came out on top."

Houghton was also a bit nervous late in the fourth - when his fumble gave Pickering a chance to go for the tying points.

The Trojans hit far too many speed bumps early in the game - but they did put together a rally in the final 11 minutes after trailing 22-0.

It was enough to upset winning coach Paul Forbes.

"We had everything we wanted, it was going nice and smooth and we started coughing up the ball and it gave them life," Forbes said. "This win feels great. We got a great commitment from our players and (Houghton) was awesome, the best back in Toronto."

Houghton, with his first of two majors, got St. Michael's on the board with a 67-yard run at the 2 58 mark of the first quarter.

Houghton put the Kerry Blues up 14-0 on an eight-yard TD run with 1 58 until halftime.

Jansen Shrubb caught the Trojans' defensive secondary napping when he connected with Chris Smith on a 49-yard pass-and-run play for the Kerry Blues' third major of the game late in the third quarter.

Pickering running back Adrian Charles, ineffective for three quarters, scored the first of his two touchdowns on a four-yard run with only 33 seconds gone in the final quarter. He made the game interesting with a nine-yard run with 2 16 to go.

"We tried our hardest but it was too late," said Charles, who once attended St. Mike's. "Our offensive line got pumped but it wasn't early enough."

 

Scoring Summary

St. Michaels 22 Pickering 15
Charlie Houghton 2TD
Chris Smith TD
Adrian Charles 2TD