CCH Crusaders stomp SAB Bulldogs 39-7 to win 2nd straight high school football title

The CCH Crusaders defeated St. Andre Bessette 39-7 to win the WOSSAA football title for the second consecutive year (Source: Barry Field Photography)

The CCH Crusaders have finished a mission nearly 12 months in the making.

With a star-studded roster, they were not going to let anyone stand in the way of a second straight OFSAA football bowl berth.

Ranked number four in the country by Canada Football Chat, CCH crushed St. Andre Bessette 39-7 in the WOSSAA final at City Wide Field in London, Ont. to become the first repeat champions since South CI in 2016 and 2017.

“Honestly, this is what a lot of us came back for,” said Giovanni DeSando, referring to the large number of grade 13 players who returned for a fifth year to build this dynasty. “It’s really exciting. That was our goal for the whole season.”

The win gives the Crusaders their 25th city title in program history, and seventh OFSAA bowl appearance. They are the defending Western Bowl Champions.

“It’s a huge win because it is the first time our school has been able to go back-to-back since 2004-2005,” said Alex Kurowski, who has won titles in two of his three years as head coach at his alma mater.

“This isn’t just 14 days in the making, it was 10-to-12 months when we started with them in December last year in the off season and help them accountable. They came to all the workouts, and they’ve earned it.”

The game was one-sided from the opening drive. Crusaders receiver Marcus Fleury got the scoring started just over a minute in, with a nice reverse to score a touchdown.

Later in the quarter, fourth year starting quarterback Jed Trupish threw a pair of touchdowns to Kadin McCready and Andrew Derman.

CCH did a short kick on the ensuing kickoff and recovered, leading to Trupish rushing a touchdown to end the quarter 27-0.

Late in the second, Trupish threw another score to Keyshawn Manning, and after adding a conversion and a field goal it was 38-0 after 24 minutes.

With the score more than 35-point differential, the clock ran straight time in the second half before finishing 39-7.

“We have so many guys in the fourth and fifth year and they really stepped up,” said Kurowski. “It means a whole hell of a lot to myself, [Nathan] Caranci, [Mark] Howard, and [Drew] Irvine, who are CCH alumni were able to come back coach and just means a little bit more when you’re able to do it at the school that you love.”

The Crusaders have advanced to the OFSAA Western Bowl, which will be played in Guelph on Monday, Nov. 24 against either Bishop Ryan from Hamilton or Assumption from Burlington.

“It’s going to be a really, really good test for our guys to see if we can get ready for that one,” said Kurowski.