It’s amazing what a year can do.
Last season – the first under head coach John St. Cyr – the Daniel McIntyre (DMCI) Maroons struggled with injuries and went 1-6.
But St. Cyr knew the potential that his team had. A number of his players had been teammates for a number of years with the Valour Patriots community football club, and so the chemistry was there.
It was simply about applying it on game day.
“We sat down as a coaching staff in the spring and basically said, ‘We’ve got the people in place where we want them,’” St. Cyr said following his team’s 30-0 victory over the Kildonan East Reivers in the Canad Inns Bowl.
“We really picked apart what we wanted to do this year and what our priorities were: get everyone united and focus on doing this for the school.”
That unity shone all season long, as the Maroons completed a perfect season on Wednesday night, while also bringing a championship back to DMCI for the first time since 1978.
“The boys are the best. This is for family,” St. Cyr said. “Earlier in the year my dad passed away, so I told the boys let’s do it for my dad. We dug deep, and we brought it back.”
Despite being known for their high-powered offences, it was turnovers that dictated the first quarter as the teams traded back-to-back-to-back fumbles in the contests opening three drives.
The Maroons began to find their rhythm towards the end of the second quarter though, opening up an 8-0 lead with a strong mix of run and pass. Grade 10 quarterback Kieran Benson would find receiver Mark Jordan Agustin in the red zone in the final two minutes of the first half for the only major of the opening 24 minutes.
It was all Daniel MacIntyre in the second half, however. They forced three more Kildonan East turnovers and scored on their first two drives of the second half. The DMCI defence also held playmaking receiver Michael Goldenstein to just three receptions in a gritty effort.
Sixteen year-old receiver Ethan Schnerch played a pivotal role in his team’s success, scoring a two yard major on DMCI’s opening drive of the second half while also setting up the Maroon’s third score with a massive reception.
“Thirty nine years, man that’s crazy,” Schnerch said postgame regarding the school’s long championship drought. “Coming from 1-6 last year to 10-0, it feels great. I believed we could be a better team than last year, but I didn’t think we could go this far. I’m really proud.”
Wednesday’s results:
CanadInns Bowl
DMCI Maroons 30 – 0 Kildonan East Reivers
WHSFL Bowl
West Kildonan 13 – 12 St. Norbert
