You can forgive the Northern Secondary School Red Knights if they never want to hear the name Hugo Djeumeni again, let alone see him, or try to stop him. Djeumeni almost single-handidly led the St. Matthew Tigers to a 24-15 win over the Toronto-area high school team in the National Capital Bowl on Wednesday.
The National Capital Bowl forms part of the OFSAA Bowl Festival which was held on Dec. 28, 29 and 30 in Guelph.
Djeumeni ran the ball 30 times for 280 yards and a touchdown in one of the most dominating peformances by a running back in the National Capital Bowl in quite some time. St. Matt’s quarterback Jackson Plante also ran for a touchdown and passed for another to Cristos Zigoumis while kicker Victor Nwadike Dim added three converts and a rouge and the Tigers defence forced the Red Knights to concede a safety on a blocked punt by Cole Hamilton in the second quarter.
The Tigers actually spotted the Red Knights a 14-3 first half lead that boiled down to to big plays. Northern’s first touchdown came on a 78-yard run by Sheadonn Bowerbank just six and half minutes into the first quarter.
After the Tigers scored a rouge and a safety on back-to-back series, the Red Knights returned the favour and blocked a punt with 3:39 left in the second quarter to set up a converted touchdown by their quarterback.
The Red Knights could have gone into the halftime break with a 17-3 lead if not for a missed 35-yard field goal attempt that hit the right upright.
Northern added a single point at the start of the second half when their kick-off went through the Tigers’ end zone for a rouge.
St. Matts responded with a 74-yard touch-down drive that included runs of 11, 43 and eight yards by Djeumeni capped by Plante’s 12-yard touchdown toss to Zigoumis.
The Tigers defence then took over, pre-venting the Red Knights from picking up a first down on their next three possessions. Logan Johnson-Graham then intercepted an errant pass on Northern’s third possession of the half to set up St. Matt’s second touchdown of the game, scored by Plante, to cut the Red Knights’s lead to just two points.
St. Matt’s defence came up big again on the Red Knights’ next series when they stuffed them on a third and one play to force a turnover on downs.
For those people keeping count that adds up to five straight series in which the Red Knights failed to pick up a first down. They would eventually do so on their next series, but they immediately fumbled the ball away on the next play to set up the Tigers’ game winning touchdown drive.
Djeumeni was voted the game MVP for his on-field heroics, but the award could have just as easily been given to the Tigers’ entire defence for the way they played in the second half.
Leading up to the go ahead touchdown the Tigers defence limited the Red Knights to just 22 yards in the second half on 14 plays and only one first down.
In contrast, the Tigers accumulated 218 yards and nine first downs on offence in the second half alone.
St. Matthew High School now has two National Capital Bowls in its trophy case. They last won the coveted cup in 2016..
CANADA DAY AT THE LEGION – Canadian Legion Branch 632 on Taylor Creek Road will be hosting a fun-filled day of family-friendly activities with music and food starting at 11 am. FREE FOR EVERYONE 
ORLEANS FARMERS MARKET every Thursday from 11 am to 4 pm in the parking lot at the Ray Friel Recreation Centre on Tenth Line Road. Shop the freshest seasonal produce, meat and dairy, baked goods, prepared foods, crafts and more while getting to know the folks who grew and made it.
CUMBERLAND FARMERS MARKET from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the R.J. Kennedy Arena in Cumberland Village with 85 local farmers and vendors ready to showcase their freshest produce, handmade goods, and unique finds! FREE ADMISSION 
STRAY DOG BREWING COMPANY presents Crroked Creek live and in concert in their taproom. From Montreal, Crooked Creek effortlessly blends bluegrass and country music genres. Tickets $15 available at 
