The stage is set for the 2025 Sault Ste. Marie Junior High School City Championships as the St. Mary’s Knights face the Korah Colts on Thursday, October 23rd. The Knights finished the regular season in first place, edging the Colts thanks to their head-to-head scoring advantage. Korah, meanwhile, is riding the momentum of a hard-fought semi-final win over the Superior Heights Steelhawks, while St. Mary’s advanced past the White Pines Wolverines. Both teams bring skill, leadership, and determination to Thursday’s showdown, promising a hard-hitting, high-stakes battle for junior football supremacy.
It’s a classic rivalry for the city crown, with the first-place St. Mary’s Knights taking on the resilient Korah Colts. The Knights’ top finish in the regular season gives them confidence, but the Colts have shown they can rise to the occasion, defeating Superior Heights in the semis. Expect disciplined play on both sides, with leadership, execution, and physicality all playing key roles. This championship clash isn’t just about records—it’s about which team can perform under pressure and claim the ultimate bragging rights in Sault Ste. Marie junior high football.
Watch the 2025 Sault Ste. Marie Junior High School City Championship live or on-demand on Saultsports TV.
Korah Colts
Coach Marco Bernabucci
Growth across all three facets of the game has been a major factor in the Korah Colts’ start to the season. Coach Marco Bernabucci emphasized the importance of flexibility, noting how shifting players around has led to better production in key areas. “Overall, I can’t remember a year where we’ve had this many grade nine influential starters on the field,” he said, highlighting the blend of youth and experience that has helped the team find success.
Looking ahead to their championship matchup against St. Mary’s, Bernabucci stressed the need for focus and precision. “St. Mary’s is a solid team. They have some star-studded talent, no question,” he said. “We have to be sharp in all three facets of the game, or they will make us pay. Assignments on each play have to be dialed in—there’s no room for error.”
Physicality remains at the core of Korah’s identity, especially in high-stakes playoff football. “Physicality has to be present in playoff football, at least for the teams that want to be successful,” Annett explained. “Korah needs to play Korah ball—that’s our foundation. We have to stick to what we do best and bring intensity on every play.”
Finally, Coach Bernabucci acknowledged the challenge of facing a tough St. Mary’s squad, while reminding fans that each season brings a new team and a new group of players. “Every year is a new cohort of kids coming through the system,” he said. “Our kids want it just as bad as any other crew that has come through the program. But wanting it and doing it are two different things. We haven’t had an opponent like this in a long time. Thursday night is going to be a battle, and we have to treat it as such.”
St Mary’s Knights
Coach Tony Boniferro
The biggest key to the Knights’ success this season has been dedication and leadership, according to Coach Tony Boniferro. “We have an outstanding leadership group, and when your best players are also your hardest workers, it goes a long way,” he said. That commitment and work ethic have set the tone for the team as they head into the junior city championship matchup.
Facing a perennial powerhouse like Korah adds another layer of challenge and excitement. “Korah has been the dominant junior team in Sault Ste. Marie for over a decade,” Boniferro said. “Coach Booch and his staff do a terrific job teaching fundamentals and their system. Part of playing Korah is having the confidence you can play with them. Beating them earlier in the regular season was a huge confidence boost for our team and program. It’s about keeping that momentum and not being complacent.”
Defense has been the backbone of the Knights all season, especially with eight Grade 9 starters anchoring the blue line. “Coach Cady and Coach Hayes have done a remarkable job with this group. They are two of the best defensive coaches in the city, and there’s no one I’d rather trust running that group,” Boniferro said. Limiting big plays will be critical, as Korah always has a few tricks up their sleeve in finals matchups. Discipline and preparation will be the key to containing their high-powered attack.
For Boniferro, bringing a junior city championship back to St. Mary’s would be incredibly meaningful. “But all we are focused on is this game and what needs to be done. We aren’t allowing ourselves to look ahead. We’ve played Korah in the championship game more times than I care to remember. It’ll be a fun battle Thursday, and we are looking forward to it,” he said, emphasizing both the challenge and excitement of facing a familiar rival in a high-stakes matchup.
