The Junior Varsity Hamilton Ironmen visited the Guelph Bears last Saturday in wild card playoff action.

The underdog Ironmen came into the game after a tough loss at home against London last Sunday, and questions swirled whether Hamilton could bounce back. The Ironmen answered any questions or doubts as they controlled the game from start to finish and dominated Guelph 47-3. Hamilton was prepared for Guelph’s passing attack as Josh Pietrantonio (St. Thomas Moore H.S.), Daniel McNicoll (St. Jean De Brebeuf H.S.) and Julian Quaglia (St. Jean De Brebeuf H.S.) were responsible for four interceptions. Hamilton’s defensive line, led by Mark Fidani (Bishop Tonnos H.S.), Melvin Baughan (Sherwood H.S.) and Joseph Barbosa (Cathedral H.S.), were constantly in the backfield disrupting Guelph’s rhythm. Quarterback Quinn Spera (Sherwood H.S.) managed Hamilton’s offense and found Jordan Brucculeri (St. Thomas Moore H.S.) in the back of the endzone. Quinn Newman (Highland H.S.), Domenic Bellardini (Bishop Tonnos H.S.), Mac Sutton (Westdale H.S.), and Devin Joseph (Bishop Ryan H.S.) added rushing touchdowns. Hamilton’s offensive line, led by Vladimir Vesovic (St. Mary’s H.S.), Matthew Doering (Bishop Ryan H.S.), and Roberto Rodriquez (St. Thomas Moore H.S.), helped give Spera time in the pocket and open lanes for the running backs.    Overall, Hamilton came together as a team and played their best game of the season. Head coach Ken McGuire was confident in his team’s ability and will carry forth that confidence into this week’s matchup against Niagara.

Hamilton will be looking for redemption as Niagara defeated the Ironmen in week 1 of regular season action.

JUNIOR VARSITY - In NewMarket

The Junior Varsity Hamilton Ironmen travelled to Newmarket this past Saturday to take on the Newmarket Storm. The game was filled with big hits from the Ironmen defense and great plays from the offense. From start to finish Hamilton controlled the pace of the game as the defense shutdown the Storm’s passing attack as Julian Quaglia (St. Jean De Brebeuf H.S.) returned an interception for a touchdown to get the Ironmen on the board.  

Later, Hamilton quarterback Quinn Spera (Sherwood H.S.) found Jordan Brucculeri (St. Thomas Moore H.S.) in the back of the endzone to put the Ironmen ahead early. Hamilton’s offensive line fired off the ball and created holes for Mark Gibbon (Bishop Tonnos H.S) and Jake Reddick (Bishop Ryan H.S) to add rushing touchdowns.   

On defense Hamilton hit the Storm hard as Melvin Baughan (Sherwood H.S.), Domenic Bellardini (Bishop Tonnos H.S.) and Taylor Gradwell (Sherwood H.S.) played great run stopping defense to force the Storm to continuously turnover the ball. Bellardini’s kicking game also helped the Ironmen as he booted a 75 yard kickoff thru the endzone to gain a rouge.  

This Sunday the Ironmen will take on their rivals the London Falcons at McMaster University at 1pm. This will be a huge game for both teams, as the winner will get home field advantage the following week for the playoffs.

Come out and cheer on your Hamilton Ironmen!

Chris, Nelson H.S., picked apart the Crimson Tide defense as he found receivers Matthew Lascelle, Cardinal Newman H.S., Jordan Brucculeri, St. Thomas Moore H.S., and Adam Felinczak, Cathedral H.S. But it was the running game that wore down the Georgetown defense as Jason LeDonne, Bishop Ryan H.S., and Quinn Newman, Highland H.S., each added two touchdowns to help put the Ironmen ahead and allow backup quarterback Quinn Spera, Sherwood H.S., to come into the game and manage the offense  On the other side of the ball the Ironmen defense controlled the Crimson Tide offense. Veteran players such as Domenic Bellardini and Mark Fidani, both students of Bishop Tonnos H.S., and Melvin Baughan, Sherwood H.S., added pressure to the Georgetown offense and created turnovers. The all around defensive play of the Ironmen defense helped put their offense on the field and run out the clock.When Bellardini was not attacking the quarterback or making tackles he added a 40 yard field goal, single point (rouge), and four extra points to help the Ironmen shutout the Crimson Tide 32-0.

The Ironmen move to 3-1 and will host the Halton Cowboys next Sunday at 1pm at Ron Joyce Stadium at McMaster University

Hamilton quarterback Chris Jugovic (Nelson H.S.)  found Jordan Brucculeri (St. Thomas Moore H.S.) to help put the Ironmen ahead. Not to be outdone, Bisons answered back with a touchdown and added more points as they kicked two field goals to lead 13-7 late in the second quarter.

With the Ironmen defense sputtering, halfback Josh Pietrantonio (St. Thomas Moore H.S.) intercepted Bison’s quarterback attempt and returned it for a touchdown to give a spark to the Hamilton sidelines and the lead 14-13 going into half. 

The strong defensive play of all the Hamilton Ironmen, lead by Domenic Bellardini, and Mark Fidani (both from Bishop Tonnos H.S.) helped shutout the Bisons in the second half as Hamilton went on to run away with the game and win 36-13.

The Junior Varsity Hamilton Ironmen travelled to St. Marcellinus field Saturday afternoon to take on the Mississauga Warriors in hopes of bouncing back from their Week 1 upset by Niagara. The Warriors wanted to make a statement in the Adam Golden Horseshoe Division by going up 2-0 but had to play a focused Ironmen squad. Before kickoff there was a mounting level of intensity on the field amongst players and coaches; both teams were ready to battle. The Ironmen game plan was to pressure the Warriors quarterback Marcus Hobbs and keep wide receiver Joshua Stanford in check, while allowing the offense to get in rhythm and run the ball. 

Hamilton scored on their second possession on a drive that was typical Ironmen football; run the ball and pass when the defense is gassed. Quarterback Chris Jugovic found an open Jason LeDonne in the endzone to put the Ironmen up by seven. However, on the following possession with the Warriors backed up on their heels inside their five yard line, quarterback Marcus Hobbs found speedster Joshua Stanford open on a seam route for a big momentum swinging touchdown. That momentum carried over to the Mississauga defense as they forced three turnovers in the first half. But the Ironmen defense lead by Domenic Bellardini, Mark Fidani, and Melvin Baughan, along with many other key defenders, kept the intensity up and stopped the Warriors attempts at tacking on more points before half with an interception by safety Jordan Brucculeri.

Mississauga’s first possession of the second half resulted in a touchdown after Hamilton had a blown coverage in the secondary. On the sidelines Ironmen coaches made adjustments and added more pressure on quarterback Hobbs and targeted wide receiver Stanford adding to another Ironmen interception from Sean Siebel. Hamilton’s offensive line lead by Vlad Vesovic, Roberto Rodriguez, Francesco Citino and Matt Doering began to click and come together allowing the offense to gain rhythm with excellent execution of running and passing the ball and wearing down the Warriors defense. As Hamilton added more touchdowns on the ground, one by Quinn Newman, and two from Domenic Bellardini, the Warriors found themselves in a hole. The special teams’ play of Julian Quaglia, Mark Zulak, and Raider Boyd, along with the kicker Bellardini, kept the Warriors deep inside their end, allowing the Ironmen defense to play to their strengths and keep pressuring the Warriors into making mistakes. In the fourth quarter Hamilton’s offense ran the ball into submission to continuously move the sticks and run down the clock. In the end head coach Ken McGuire along with his coaching staff notched their first win of the season (29-14) in a competition against a skilled Mississauga team.

Photos courtesy of Randy's Photos - More pics available here

On the weekend the Junior Varsity Ironmen played a hard fought game against the Niagara Spears. Unfortunately the boys fell short 30 to 11. Early in the game the offensive had opportunities, but were not able to capitalize on those key situations.

Points were scored on a rouge off a missed field goal, as well as a 12 yard field goal by Domenic Bellardini. The lonesome touchdown came off a fumble recovery by Melvin Baugh.

The boys are up again this week as they travel to play the Mississauga Warriors.