FOOTBALL: Westdale captures OFSAA Northern Bowl 26-17

The Westdale Warriors beat Thunder Bay’s St. Ignatius 26-17 in the OFSAA Northern Bowl

HAMILTON (December 2, 2015) – The Westdale Warriors captured their first ever provincial football championship edging Thunder Bay’s St. Ignatius catholic secondary 26-17 in the OFSAA Northern Bowl at Tim Hortons Field on Wednesday.

Westdale’s Mitch Garland had the game winning touchdown returning a 70-yard punt to give the Warriors a 19-17 lead midway through the fourth quarter.

Quarterback Brodie Bistrovich tossed two touchdowns in the win connecting both times with Liam Garland on six and 27-yard strikes. Aksum Polk added the other Westdale touchdown to seal the game with just three minutes remaining to set the score at 26-17.

Bistrovich finished the game 11 for 15 with two touchdowns with just a single interception. Polk was the game’s top rusher finishing with 125 yards on 14 carries including the game sealing touchdown. Westdale’s Travis Gelly was the game’s top receiver hauling in 52 yards on two receptions.

The win is not only Westdale’s first win in the OFSAA Football Bowl series, but it marks the first time a school from Hamilton public has claimed a bowl title since the event started back in 2000. Westdale lost in their only other appearance 24-13 to Assumption College (Brantford) in 2013. Waterdown District was the first Hamilton public school to make an appearance in 2003 while Sir Allan MacNab played in last year’s event held at McMaster University.

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