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Winning is a habit, almost a birthright for the young footballers of Korah.

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The Korah Jr. Colts won their fourth straight NOSSA title after a 51-12 victory over the Lo-Ellen Park Knights in Superior Heights on Saturday afternoon.

The juniors are the first team in Sault history to win four straight NOSSA titles while remaining undefeated. Going further, this feat could set a historic mark in Ontario high school football.

“We knew we were undefeated for four seasons, we knew it had never been done in Northern Ontario,” head coach Marco Bernabucci told the Sault Star. “We don’t even know if this was done in Ontario. It was important.

And this team didn’t want to be the one, the one to tarnish the legacy.

“That was the goal they wanted to set, our captains wanted to set from day one, and they achieved it,” Bernabucci said. “They worked hard and met the standards we set at the school. They are football first during the season.

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The last loss was a Week 3 setback to the Superior Heights Steelhawks in 2019.

“I remember that,” Bernabucci said, calling the Steelhawks offensive line “huge.”

Lukis Joy-Stoycheff and Gevin Grisdale each scored two touchdowns. Drew Albury and Nolan Coudert also scored majors. Quarterback Brett Koski threw two touchdown passes. The team also scored a defensive touchdown.

Every year, a football team develops its own identity and personality. Bernabucci loved this team for its battle-hardened mentality.

“This group was as tough as it gets,” he said. “They are so resilient. We had kids who refused to stay out of line. I can’t remember a tougher team. It’s a group of hitters that love contact and love the game.”

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The only disappointing thing about this season was the last game. Given half the chance, this team would love to play until the ice and snow piles up on the ground.

“They want to play games,” Bernabucci said. “They don’t care who you are or where you’re from, they just want to play football games.”

This major project, which has come to fruition on several occasions, dates back a dozen years.

“Since 2012, when Tom Annett and I started the ship at Korah, it was one of those things where we weren’t just looking to sign the best players, we were trying to develop a culture, build a standard. with coachable kids,” Bernabucci said. “And that’s what we got this year.”

Colts beat Knights

The Korah Colts varsity team advanced to the NOSSA finals after a 41-8 victory over the Lo-Ellen Park Knights in Superior Heights Saturday afternoon.

Nathan Guizzetti totaled 115 yards and two touchdowns on six carries. Payton Melchiorre had 94 yards and two touchdowns on four carries. Nathan Higham also scored a rushing touchdown. Ethan Carbone caught a touchdown pass. Zayn Murdoch completed four passes for 51 yards and a touchdown.

The ponies will host the Algonquin Barons on Saturday at Superior Heights. Algonquin defeated the West Ferris Trojans 31-6 to win the NDA senior football title for the third time in four years.

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