The 2025 Sault Ste. Marie Junior High School Football playoffs are set to kick off on Thursday, October 16th at Superior Heights Field, featuring two exciting semifinal matchups. The opening game will see the top-seeded St. Mary’s Knights (5-1) take on the fourth-seeded White Pines Wolverines (0-6), followed by a battle between the second-place Korah Colts (5-1) and the third-place Superior Heights Steelhawks (2-4). Both games are scheduled for 4:45 p.m. kickoffs, promising an evening of competitive football as teams look to punch their ticket to the 2025 Sault Ste Mare High School Junior Football championship on Thursday, October 23rd at 7:30 p.m.

SMC Knights
Coach – Tony Boniferro
The St. Mary’s Knights junior football program wrapped up the Sault Ste. Marie High School Football regular season with an impressive 5-1 record, securing first place in the standings thanks to a points-for and against advantage over the Korah Colts. It’s been a strong and rewarding campaign for the Knights, who have shown consistency and resilience throughout the season, earning their top spot heading into the playoffs.

One of the biggest areas of growth for the Knights this year has been their overall depth. With 24 different starters seeing time on the field, every player has had the opportunity to develop and contribute. “We are a young team and watching them progress this season has been exciting,” said the coaching staff. That ability to rotate players and maintain performance has made St. Mary’s one of the most balanced teams in the league.

For the Knights, success has come from focusing on execution and preparation. The team’s leadership group has played a crucial role in keeping everyone locked in and motivated throughout the grind of the season. “We have some amazing leaders this year, and they are keeping the team focused and engaged,” added the staff. “When your captains are your best players and lead by example, everything else just falls into place.”

Looking ahead, the key for St. Mary’s will be staying healthy and maintaining their high level of play. This year’s league has been physical, with hard-hitting matchups every week and top talent across all schools. The commitment from these student-athletes has been remarkable — balancing early mornings, long school days, and demanding practices before heading home to complete homework or play other sports like hockey. “It’s not easy playing high school football,” the coaches said. “We need dedication to practice for the next two weeks.” With that mindset, the Knights are ready to make a strong playoff push.

Korah Colts
Coach – Marco Bernabucci
The Korah Colts wrapped up the regular season ranked second overall only the standings while finishing with a 5-1 record and narrowly behind the St. Mary’s Knights due to head-to-head standings. Throughout the season, the Colts have shown tremendous growth as a team, particularly in their ability to adapt when faced with injuries and setbacks. A standout storyline has been the impact of their grade nine players, who have embraced their roles with maturity beyond their years. Their commitment to doing the little things right and eagerness to learn what it takes to succeed has brought a renewed energy to the program and strengthened the team’s depth.

Heading into the playoffs, composure remains a key focus for Korah. The Colts have battled through adversity in several games this season, often relying on their experienced leaders to steady the team in high-pressure moments. That leadership, combined with a veteran coaching staff that has been together for over a decade, provides a sense of stability and confidence heading into the postseason. The collective experience and commitment of this group will be crucial as the games get tighter and the stakes grow higher.

As the Colts prepare for their next challenge, execution and consistency will be at the forefront of their goals. They’ve shown flashes of what it takes to win at the highest level, and now the task is to sustain that performance across all four quarters. Toughness—both physical and mental—remains a defining trait of the Korah program. Staying composed, disciplined, and focused in every moment will be essential if the Colts are to make a deep playoff run and challenge for another championship.

Superior Heights Steelhawks
Jared Klooster
The Superior Heights Steelhawks wrapped up their regular season in the Sault Ste. Marie High School Junior Football division with a 2-4 record, finishing third overall. It’s been a season of learning, growth, and steady improvement for a team that began the year with many first-time players. “We started with a lot of players that have never played football before,” the coaching staff said. “Our coaches spent a great deal of time in the first three weeks teaching the fundamentals of the game.” That investment in development has paid off, as the Steelhawks now enter the semifinals with confidence and a group of players ready to compete against a tough Korah squad.

Over the past few weeks, the Steelhawks’ focus has shifted to maintaining health and sharpening their game plan for the playoffs. With the wear and tear of the season behind them, the coaches have emphasized rest, recovery, and preparation. “We have focused on staying healthy so that we could put our best foot forward in the semifinal game,” the staff shared. In addition, the team has dedicated time to studying film — both to correct their own mistakes and to better understand their opponent’s tendencies heading into the big matchup.

That commitment to preparation has helped the Steelhawks develop the composure and football IQ needed for postseason play. The team has grown not just in skill but also in confidence, communication, and trust. Players who were learning the basics just weeks ago are now contributing meaningfully in all phases of the game. Coaches credit the players’ hard work and willingness to learn as key factors in their steady progress throughout the season.

As the Steelhawks prepare for their semifinal showdown, the message remains simple — stick to the fundamentals. “It really comes down to sustaining good blocks, making solid tackles, executing on offense, and staying aggressive and alert on defense,” the staff emphasized. If the team can execute these core principles, the Steelhawks believe they have every chance to find success and make some noise in the playoffs.

White Pines Wolverines
Coach – Will Basawa
With a roster of just over 20 players, the White Pines Wolverines faced an uphill battle throughout the regular season, finishing with an 0-6 record. Despite the challenges that come with limited depth, the team has shown noticeable growth from Week One to now. The Wolverines have become more consistent and disciplined across all three phases of the game—offense, defense, and special teams. That steady improvement in execution has built a foundation of confidence as they head into the playoffs, knowing that their progress has been real and earned through hard work and perseverance.

Heading into the postseason, the focus for White Pines is on staying present and playing their game. The team’s preparation throughout the year has been built on repetition, fundamentals, and trust. In key moments, composure becomes just as important as skill, and the coaching staff continues to remind players to lean on their training and rely on one another. Staying calm under pressure and executing what they’ve practiced is the key to turning effort into results.

To keep momentum and compete at their best, the Wolverines will need to control the line of scrimmage, protect the football, and take advantage of every scoring opportunity. Execution and effort remain the driving forces behind their approach. With each player committed to giving their all on every snap, White Pines looks to build on their season-long growth and finish strong—proving that resilience, discipline, and heart can compete with any opponent.