An Ethan Zapcic interception return for a touchdown accounted for almost all of the scoring in the NDA junior football final on Friday at Cundari Field.
St. Joseph–Scollard Hall defender Zapcic picked off an errant Riley Chapeski throw in the final minutes of the fourth quarter to clinch the NDA crown for the Bears. The Algonquin Barons' quarterback had his throw altered by a rushing Connor Mashford, who finished the play by planting Chapeski into the turf.
To say the game was a defensive battle would be an understatement. The Bears took a 1-0 lead in the first quarter on a rouge caused by a Barons' misplay in the end zone that came off the foot of punter Alex Asselin. The score remained unchanged until Mashford and Zapcic teamed up to put the game away as head coaches Eric Morgan of the Bears and Ryan Desbiens of the Barons played a field position chess match.
Played in a slight breeze, both teams attempted to get the passing game going with little success. Quarterbacks Chapeski and Collin Smith of the Bears faced constant defensive pressure, forcing them out of the pocket and into some wild throws.
Turnovers and special teams mayhem swung the momentum back and forth and, although both teams had their chances to put points on the board, neither could break through for most of the game, the Bears kept the Barons off the scoresheet and secured the championship.
