Windsor’s Saints rally, win national football title after long drought

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The St. Clair Saints ended the drought in a big way.

The Saints erased a 13-point deficit in the third quarter and scored the game’s final 28 points to rally for a 37-22 win over the Okanagan Sun on Saturday at Acumen Stadium in Windsor.

“We were down two scores, we had to score to bring our sideline up, to get our defence back up and to get our team morale back up,” said Saints’ quarterback Maurice Sodja, who had three touchdown runs and a touchdown pass in the second half. “So, that’s what we did.

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“We were moving the ball all through the first half, we just weren’t finishing. We came out the second half, we started finishing and when we started finishing, we kept our foot on the gas and put it away. That’s what happens with us, we start going, it’s hard to stop us.”

The win brought the Canadian Bowl title as Canadian Junior Football League champion back to Windsor for the first time since 1999, which was also the last time an Ontario team claimed the title.

“Big-time players make big-time plays in big-time moments,” said Saints’ defensive back Billy Patterson Jr., who had a key second-half interception. “Everyone performed, I did my part, everybody did their part, we champs, national, not just conference.”

A year ago, the Saints fell 43-0 to Saskatoon in the national semifinal, and that proved to be a motivator this season.

“Last year, we got hit in the mouth,” Sodja said. “We sat down and said we won’t do that again. We put in work all year leading up to this. You go through adversity and come out on top.”

But the Saints struggled out of the gate on Saturday, misfired on several chances early and trailed the Sun, who won the national title in 2022, by a 15-6 count at the half.

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“We could have had 21 points in the first half easy and we didn’t and when you make those mistakes, it usually comes back to haunt you,” Saints’ head coach Mike LaChance.

A field goal got the Saints to within six points, but the Sun connected on a long touchdown strike to take a 13-point lead at midway through the quarter.

“Offence just needed a little more motivation,” Patterson Jr. said. “They found it, they ran with it, the defence helped them. That’s this team, everyone helping each other and doing their part. It’s a family and it’s a wonderful family to be a part of and I’m glad I won it with this team.”

Sodja answered with a short touchdown run right after the Sun score to get the Saints to within 22-16.

Patterson Jr. then picked off a pass and returned it deep into Okanagan territory where Sodja, who was named the game’s offensive MVP, ran it in to put St. Clair up for good at 23-22.

Defensive lineman Anthony Adams recovered a fumble inside the Okanagan five and Sodja ran in his third score.

A Nick Baeini fumble recovery turned into another St. Clair score with Sodja connecting with Tai Colquhoun.

“The defence turned it up,” LaChance said. “They gave us the ball on a short porch and we really rebounded and scored a touchdown. The defence just keep that pressure on to stop (Okanagan’s) running game and Maurice kind of took the game over on offence.” 

jpparker@postmedia.com

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