St. Augustine’s College (AUGUSCO) has once again proven that they are a force to reckon with at the 2025 National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ).
In a nail-biting semifinal contest that tested wits, endurance, and composure, the Cape Coast giants came from behind to defeat Pope John SHS and Minor Seminary (POJOSS) and Amaniampong SHS, earning their ticket to the grand finale.
The victory marks a defining moment for the two-time champions, who are now within touching distance of their third NSMQ trophy after triumphs in 2007 and 2019.
The early stages belonged to POJOSS, who looked sharp and confident, pulling ahead with 13 points.
St. Augustine’s College followed with 9 points, while Amaniampong SHS trailed closely with 8 points, setting the tone for a tight race.
POJOSS maintained their momentum, inching further ahead with 15 points, while AUGUSCO and Amaniampong trailed with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
At that stage, the Augustinians appeared unsettled, but the crowd knew better; this was a team known for its resilience under pressure.
The tides began to turn as AUGUSCO demonstrated their academic prowess, scoring a perfect 10/10 in the ‘Problem of the Day’, matching POJOSS point-for-point.
Amaniampong, however, failed to score, widening the gap between them and the front-runners.
The fourth round was the moment the comeback began.
AUGUSCO stormed through the round with calculated precision and speed, overtaking POJOSS for the first time in the contest.
They ended the round with 37 points, just two ahead of POJOSS, who followed with 35 points, while Amaniampong held on with 23 points.
The auditorium erupted and it was clear the momentum had shifted.
With composure and teamwork, St. Augustine’s sealed their dominance in the final round, wrapping up the contest with 46 points, while POJOSS ended with 38 points and Amaniampong SHS finished with 23 points.
Their spirited comeback has now earned them a place in the grand finale, where they will face off against defending champions Mfantsipim School, who earlier booked their own slot after outclassing GSTS and Mankranso SHS.