Here’s our look at Saturday’s action in the world of BC high school football.
SUNDAY
PRINCE GEORGE 23 KELLY ROAD 9
PRINCE GEORGE — In a game that was much closer than the final score would indicate, PGSS’ Polars scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns to turn a tight 9-6 lead into a decisive victory.
“We made a lot of mental mistakes and didn’t get into our game until the fourth quarter,” said Polars’ head coach Don Williams, whose team got a pair of rushing majors from Gage Bernard and another from quarterback Blake Reed.
“Hats off to Kelly Road,” continued Williams. “They gave us a good game and did some things which took us awhile to adjust to. Their quarterback (Josiah Harder) played really well and was an outstanding player.”
Harder, a Grade 11, passed for 234 yards, including a 44-yard TD strike to TJ Nyberg, and also carried 14 times for 101 yards.
“Our defence played hard as a unit and stuck to the game plan and was causing trouble for the Polars offence all game,” said Kelly Road head coach Ryan Bellamy of a unit that created four turnovers. “Our offence was continually improving and had it not been for some penalties in key moments this game could have gone the other direction.”
Noah Williams had two interceptions and four tackles for the winners while teammate Ben Reed managed two sacks, two fumble recoveries and a safety.
Nyberg, Trenton Griffith, Justin Richard and Logan Devauld each finished with five tackles in the loss.
SATURDAY
No. 5 LORD TWEEDSMUIR 14 at VANCOUVER COLLEGE 17
VANCOUVER — Nathan Hawes kept his best for last.
The Vancouver College running back peeled off his longest run of the day, going 39 yards through the Lord Tweedsmuir defence to score the decisive major with 2:15 remaining as the Fighting Irish rallied past the No. 5-ranked Panthers in a thriller at O’Hagan Field.
“In the end, VC made more plays offensively than we did and it was enough for them to win,” acknowledged Panthers head coach Kurt Thornton. “It’s good for our guys to be in tight games in tough environments like this early, but not so good to be on the wrong side of the final score.”
The LT run defence was solid the entire game, limiting the Irish to just 2.6 yards-per-carry on the game.
However Hawes, who rushed for 91 yards on the game, won the game with his team’s play from scrimmage the entire afternoon.
The Irish’s other touchdown came in the first quarter on a four-yard run by Gavin Lunny.
Tweedsmuir quarterback Walter Dingwall also scored in the opening frame off a one-yard sneak.
That score was set up by a 70-yard, game-opening kick-off return by Derek Best, who would score the go-ahead points on a two-yard rush in third quarter.
In turn, that score was set up by a 30-yard interception return by Dalton Sawyer.
Zachary McRae booted a 22-yard field goal for the Irish.
James Greig led Vancouver College with nine tackles while Lunny had eight.
Mike Hampton and Graeme Godard led the Lord Tweedsmuir defence with nine tackles. Dalton Sawyer had eight tackles while Adison Sadler, Jacob Stebbings and Derek Best each had seven tackles and a sack. Griffin O’Connor had seven tackles including three sacks.
“Our defense played well all game, including several stands close to our own goal line,” added Thornton. “We struggled running the ball with a makeshift offensive line as two starters were sidelined with injury. Momentum shifts and adversity seemed to be the themes of the day.”
CENTENNIAL 28 at SEAQUAM 61
NORTH DELTA — The Seaquam Seahawks have followed last season’s Subway Bowl Double A title with a winning streak in their newly-minted status as a Triple A program.
On Saturday, the Seahawks won their home opener 61-28 over Coquitlam’s Centennial Centaurs.
Jello Juacato led the offence, rushing for four touchdowns on just 16 carries.
Both Antonio Pamintuan and Jalen Philpot scored two touchdowns apiece while Brody Clark led the defence with a Pick-6 major.
Xavier Cole went 7-of-8 on converts.
HANDSWORTH 21 at CARSON GRAHAM 61
NORTH VANCOUVER — Buchanan Bowl 2017 went to the hosts as the Carson Graham Eagles sit with a 3-0 record to start their season.
“I was really proud of how the boys’ attitude and effort was consistent throughout the game,” said head coach Brian Brady after his charges played tight defence and scored nine touchdowns, including one on special teams.
“Our boys played well on offence and defence and rallied to the ball,” added Brady. “This was an emotional win for our team and now it’s time to set our sight on a challenging Western Conference schedule.”
There will be plenty of time to try to figure out a way to slow South Delta quarterback Michael Calvert this coming week.
Yet the Sun Devils have no doubt heard of the start that Eagles’ quarterback Charlie McMillan is off to.
McMillan enjoyed his third straight productive outing, going 25–of-34 for 295 yards and three touchdowns against one interception.
One of those touchdowns was a 55-yard strike to Liam Scott, the versatile one who also returned. kick-off 90 yards for a major, and threw a touchdown pass himself.
Adam Larisch caught two passes for 40 yards and both grabs went for TDs. Nick Rich (95 yards) and Jospeh Spooner (74 yards) each caught eight passes including one apiece for touchdowns.
Simon Kim carried for 68 yards and two touchdowns while Liam Clark rushed for 64 yards and a score.
Mahyar Hosseini had six tackles, a sack and an interception, while Parker Henderson had eight tackles and three sacks.
“The game was close in the first half,” said Handsworth head coach Richard White. “Carson’s quarterback was the difference.”
Keelan White led the Royals with seven catches for 196 yards and two touchdowns, one of which came on a 72-yard catch-and-run.
White, who also had three tackles, scored on a 75-yard interception return.
Evan Currie and James Mooney led the team with 15 tackles while Jake Bennett returned seven kicks for 210 yards.
MISSION 0 at No. 3 SOUTH DELTA 35
TSAWWASSEN — Michael Calvert didn’t need video game numbers this week to lead his team to victory.
One week after passing for over 600 yards and seven touchdowns in a loss, the Sun Devils’ pivot went 18-of-23 for 202 yards and three touchdowns in a shutout win over the Roadrunners.
Calvert fired a 14-yard touchdown strike to Jacob Kirk to open the scoring.
Running back Andrew Kraft carried three times for 58 yards and touchdowns of 50 and five yards.
NOTE — Our top 10 performances of the week follow on Monday
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