Dolphin Secondary dethrones Chase Academic in epic Milo/Massy U18 final thriller

Apr 30, 2025 Sports

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Kaieteur Sports- In front of a roaring crowd and under stormy skies, Dolphin Secondary finally had their day in the sun or in this case, rain, clinching the coveted 2025 Milo/Massy Under-18 Schools Football title with a breathtaking 3-2 triumph over defending champions Chase’s Academic Foundation on Sunday at the Ministry of Education ground.

Dolphin Secondary dethrones Chase Academic in epic Milo/Massy U18 final thriller

Dolphin Secondary carts off with 2025 Milo/Massy U18 Football title.

Both powerhouses entered the final unbeaten, but it was Dolphin’s hunger, some years in the making; that made the difference on a drama-filled evening. The script was tight, the tension high, and when it mattered most, Seon Grant turned the tide with a brace that will live long in school football folklore.

Dolphin’s Ezekiel Frank-David (right) receives MVP award from sponsor representative during Sunday’s epic culmination.

The match sparked to life almost instantly. Chase’s Damani Hardy stunned the crowd just two minutes in, curling in a beauty from 18 yards to give his team the perfect start. But Dolphin, unfazed by the early blow, struck back quickly. In the 6th minute, Grant powered through a shaky Chase backline to make it 1-1, signaling that the contest was far from over.

Still reeling from the red-carded captain Bryan Wharton and midfield anchor Isaiah Ifill not in the starting lineup, Chase rallied again in the 17th minute. Neeiaz Baksh sent a thunderbolt into the net from long range to regain the lead — 2-1.

But Dolphin kept coming. In the 44th minute, a clumsy tackle inside the box gave Dolphin a lifeline. Brian Brower, the rock between the posts and team captain, calmly stepped up and slotted home the penalty. Level at 2-2 going into halftime, the defending champs found themselves on unfamiliar ground.

Bryan Wharton (left) cops Golden Boot despite 3-2 upset. MoE, Head of Allied Arts Unit, Nicholas Fraser assisting with trophy presentation.

The second half was a relentless tug-of-war. Dolphin’s Brower made clutch saves, while Ezekiel Frank-David buzzed around the final third creating chances. Then came a twist; Dolphin’s Jamal Williams was sent off with ten minutes left, reducing them to 10 men. Yet even with the odds stacked, Dolphin stayed resilient.

As the clock hit 90, the moment of magic arrived. Grant, the evening’s undisputed hero, struck again, a clinical finish that sent the Dolphin camp into raptures and sealed a long-awaited 3-2 title win.

“We’ve been waiting on this moment for quite some time,” an emotional Brower said post-match. “I’m extremely proud of this group of guys.”

The awards mirrored the excitement of the final. Chase’s Bryan Wharton took home the Golden Boot with 20 goals, Dolphin’s Ezekiel Frank-David was named MVP, and Brower rightly earned the Best Goalkeeper award for his match-saving heroics.

The tournament, a Petra Organisation masterpiece, was backed by Nestle Milo and Massy Distribution, with support from MVP Sports, the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, and sanctioned by the Ministry of Education.

Chase’s defenders swam Ezekiel Frank-David during Dolphin’s title hunt Sunday last at the MoE ground.

Dolphin Secondary didn’t just win a title; they earned their place in school football history. What a swim. What a story.

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