Football championships bittersweet for Belleville family

The Moira Trojan Senior Fooball team hold up the COSSA trophy. They beat the Adam Scott Lions of Peterborough 30-13. Photo By: Austin McKay

By: Austin McKay

When your two kids play football for two seperate teams you find yourself in some odd situations. For Paul and Lee Bonsall there are just some things you can’t avoid.

“What are you going to do? One team has to lose right. It had to happen, it’s good it happened this way,” said Lee Bonsall.

The mother of Tim and Colin Bonsall is referring to the COSSA (Central Ontario Secondary Schools Association) title her son Tim lost but Colin won.  The senior team won in a convincing 30-13 victory, but the juniors fell 28-21 in overtime. Having only trophy coming back to the house could cause problems.

“We’ll see what happens when we get home,” she added.

The loss puts Tim Bonsall out of football duties for now, but for older brother Colin, the best is yet to come. With the seniors advancing they become the first senior team in 21 years to win a COSSA title for Moira. Now as the senior team moves forward that means even more football for the Bonsalls.

Tim Bonsall (left), Paul Bonsall (centre), and Lee Bonsall (right) stand together for photos after Tim and the juniors lost the COSSA final.t

“The more you’re surrounded by football the more interested and involved you get,” said Lee Bonsall.

The family is usually at something football related between the boys being on the school and a separate Kingston team. The boys are respected players on their clubs with all the experience they bring. Tim plays both offense and defense for the juniors as Colin plays a key role in the senior’s offensive line.

Watching their kids play is more important than who wins, they said.

“It doesn’t matter if they went and lost every game, I’d still be sitting here, it’s a bonus that they’re doing well” said Paul Bonsall.

Both teams were up against the Adam Scott Lions of Peterborough. The Peterborough school has become somewhat of a rival for the Moira Secondary School. Leading up to this year the junior team has beaten the Lions for the past two seasons while the seniors have lost three years running.

This year the tables turned. The game was close until the fourth quarter when the turnovers for the Lions finally caught up to them. The Trojan defense caught four interceptions wearing out the Lions defense and giving the Trojans multiple chances to advance in the game.

“At least [Tim] and the juniors have next year to go for it again. For Colin, they’re seniors – they may not have this chance again,” said Lee.

Tim Bonsall is a Grade Ten standout for the Moira Trojans junior team. The sour taste of defeat hit the junior squad hard. After winning it all in the National Capital Bowl a year ago, the crushing blow of losing in overtime was the only thing on the mind of Bonsal.

Tim Bonsall (right) accepts the second place after losing the COSSA final to Adam Scott of Peterborough.

“It really sucks and it feels terrible. I don’t know what to say other than yah it sucks,” said Bonsall.

The Trojans trailed for the entire first half by seven points.  That’s when Bonsall took the spotlight and scored off a beautiful 20-yard pass from quarterback Cain Brown. Tim was also on defense playing off the line as the two squads each scored again to push the game to overtime.

But the juniors gave up their title of Ontario champions in overtime. For Bonsall it meant not taking home the same prize as his older brother.

For now, the senior Trojans will be focused on winning their next game. The opponent isn’t determined but Moira should receive home field advantage once again. The winner will advance to the Rogers Centre in Toronto to battle in the National Capital Bowl.