Welcome to the Friday Night Lights edition of the B.C. High School Football Report.
Please check back on this posting throughout the evening from the latest scores from around the province.
First a scoreboard, then our game reports:
FRIDAY
AAA EASTERN CONFERENCE
Lord Tweedsmuir 54 Mission 0
Mt. Boucherie 46 Kelowna 22
W.J. Mouat 44 Centennial 14
St. Thomas More 15 Terry Fox 8
AAA PACIFIC CONFERENCE
Nanaimo District 29 West Vancouver 6
AAA WESTERN CONFERENCE
Mt. Douglas 28 Belmont 13
Notre Dame 48 Carson Graham 0
AA EASTERN CONFERENCE
Abbotsford 49 Samuel Robertson 14
G.W. Graham 19 Langley 0
Pitt Meadows 16 Robert Bateman 0
AA WESTERN CONFERENCE
John Barsby 21 Ballenas 13
Windsor 25 Hugh Boyd 14
AA OKANAGAN
Clarence Fulton 45 South Kamloops 7
Vernon 59 Westsyde 0
NON-CONFERENCE
7:30 p.m. — Rutland at Valleyview
SATURDAY
AAA WESTERN CONFERENCE
12 p.m. — New Westminster at Seaquam
4 p.m. — Vancouver College at South Delta
AA PACIFIC CONFERENCE
1:30 p.m. — Argyle at Holy Cross
AA NORTHERN CONFERENCE
3 p.m. — Nechako Valley at Prince George
SUNDAY
AA NORTHERN CONFERENCE
12:30 p.m. — Kelly Road at College Heights
AAA EASTERN CONFERENCE
ST. THOMAS MORE 15 at No. 1 TERRY FOX 8
COQUITLAM — Over a week in which they lost one of their own, the St. Thomas More Knights not only won a football game, they remained undefeated by handing B.C.’s No. 1-ranked team its first in-province loss of the campaign.
“On the heels of losing Coach Kully this past weekend, the boys came out tonight and gave their all for him,” said STM head coach Steve De Lazzari following a 15-8 win over the defending Subway Bowl champs and No. 1-ranked Terry Fox Ravens of Port Coquitlam. “I am sure it is a victory that will live in their hearts for a very long time.”
Bernie Kully, the senior varsity head coach who guided the team as recently as last season, lost a battle with cancer this past weekend.
Running back Tyler Eckert had 19 carries for 102 yards and two touchdowns in the win, one off an eight-yard rush set up by a 50 yard interception return by Ethan Austin.
Quarterback Dario Ciccone, who passed for 107 yards, threw a two-point covert to David Osho. Michael Simone and Taylor Dal Monte, his two favourite targets, combined to give balance to the offence with a number of big catches.
Ravens’ quarterback Jevaun Jacobsen rushed for 114 yards and threw a touchdown pass to Albert Arecena. Running back Jaden Severy rushed for 71 yards.
The going was tough against an STM defence which played to its potential and beyond.
“Tonight’s game was one of the most impressive defensive performances I have ever seen in my 16 years of coaching football,” said De Lazzari. “Our defense managed to keep Severy and Jacobsen out of the end zone tonight and they are both very dynamic and explosive runners.”
Nose tackle Sam Steele finished with 15 tackles including five sacks, while Eckert had eight tackles, including two sacks, from his rush end spot.
Strong safety Jonah Fridfinnson once again had a strong performance from his strong safety position making six tackles, while both Luke Benedet and Mateo Carteri had four tackles each.
“It was a pretty special victory for our team this evening and we spent a little time soaking up the victory,” said De Lazzari.
CENTENNIAL 14 at W.J. MOUAT 44
ABBOTSFORD — Nathan Hausermann carried 26 times for 298 yards and four touchdowns and Ethan Erickson registered four sacks as the host W.J. Mouat Hawks got into the win column in conference play for the first time this season with a decisive win over the Centaurs.
“This game showed the high character of the kids that we are working with,” said Hawks head coach Travis Bell. “The start to our season has been anything but easy, but they’ve stuck together. They had a great week of practice which helped to produce an evening that was our most complete game of the season.”
Mouat led 28-0 at halfitme and 37-0 heading into the fourth quarter.
Eddie Escobal also rushed for one score while Ezra Garcia carried five times for 70 yards and another.
Defensively, Liam Jarvis had six tackles, and Escobal four to go along with a blocked punt.
MISSION 0 at LORD TWEEDSMUIR 54
SURREY — On Buy-Out Day, the host Panthers showed complete buy-in.
With its sidelines engulfed by its student body, all of whom had made donations to the Canadian Cancer Society to miss their last class of the day, Lord Tweedsmuir (3-0) scored early and often, building a 22-0 halftime lead en route to a 54-0 win over visiting Mission (1-2), which was held scoreless for the second straight week.
“It was great to see so much of the student body at the game and so involved,” said Tweedsmuir co-coach Kurt Thornton. “Thanks to all who supported the fundraiser.”
Quarterback Trey Jones threw touchdown passes of 40 yards to Kojo Odoom and 50 yards to Dawson Marchant, and also scored on a sneak.
Running back Derek Best was once again a game changer behind his offensive line, doing the early damage that gave the Panthers their third straight conference win.
Best carried nine times for 75 yards and touchdowns of three, five and 11 yards. Braeden Hutchinson rushed for a 29-yard TD.
Mission was stymied on a fourth down in the opening half by a Tweedsmuir defence led by Zacc Davies who recorded nine tackles, including a sack, on the day.
Jaden Simon and Marchant each recorded interceptions in the game while Cole Irwin had a fumble recovery.
AAA WESTERN CONFERENCE
CARSON GRAHAM 0 at NOTRE DAME 48
BURNABY — Cameron Mah set the tone and the rest of his Notre Dame Jugglers teammates kept pace as hosts forged a convincing win over their North Vancouver visitors under the lights at Burnaby Lakes.
Mah ripped the ball away from the Eagles on the first play from scrimmage, setting the stage for the first of three rushing touchdowns from Brice Pumares.
Dylan Rachel hauled in a 35 yd pass from quarterback Will Clarke for one touchdown and Clarke himself scored on a 15-yard keeper as part of a 21-0 halftime lead.
In the second half, tight end Pauljeet Dhami made a major contribution to the Notre Dame attack, using his feet to turn a reception from Clarke into a 40-yard major.
Pumares added touchdowns of a yard and 20 yards for the Jugglers whose last major was scored by back-up running back Giancarlo Napoletano on an eight-yard run off left tackle midway through the fourth quarter.
Alex Pinson was six-of-seven in conversions.
“We got outstanding efforts from many sources tonight,” said head coach Denis Kelly of the likes of Clarke, Rachel, Pumares, Dhami and Mah, the latter capping his night with a 50-yard interception return in the second half.
“Notre Dame is a good, well-coached football team,” said Eagles head coach Brian Brady. “Today they were tougher and they executed routinely. They made big plays and we didn’t.”
Mahyar Hosseini made 10 tackles along the Carson defence while Zack McMinn had two sacks.
AAA PACIFIC CONFERENCE
NANAIMO DISTRICT 29 at WEST VANCOUVER 6
WEST VANCOUVER — On a day when it’s defence was the story, it seemed fitting that a defensive end could put the exclamation mark on a big road win for the Islanders.
Zephyr Melnyk returned a blocked punt 17 yards for the game’s final score, capping a day in which he recorded a pair of sacks and collected a fumble recovery in the Pacific Conference opener for both teams.
“I thought our defence played exceptionally well this afternoon,” said Nanaimo District head coach Nate Stevenson of a group that procured three fumble recoveries. “We managed to put a lot of pressure on the West Van offence and create numerous turnovers. The defensive unit was a highlight for us today.”
On offence, quarterback Maren Bradbrooke threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Liam Colbourne and rushed for a 20-yard score himself.
Running back Kyle Lindsay, who carried 14 times for 98 yards, also rushed for an 11-yard score.
“Not a lot to say about this one,” said West Vancouver coach Pooya Dourandish. “We came out flat and stayed that way for the rest of the game. We showed flashes here and there but never came close to our usual production on both sides of the ball. Pair that with Nanaimo showing up to play and it leads to a long day. We will need to forget about this one and move on fast in order to right the ship.”
AA WESTERN CONFERENCE
No. 4 JOHN BARSBY 21 at BALLENAS 13
PARKSVILLE — Cameron Wright’s 12-yard touchdown pass to tight end Zach Taylor with 10 seconds remaining in the first half helped carry the day and keep the visiting Bulldogs undefeated on the season.
“Defensively, with the exception of two big plays, we took care of business and a special credit has to go to our offensive and defensive lines for their stellar play,” said John Barsby head coach Rob Stevenson of the annual Border Battle.
Ballenas’ Logan Pepper broke free on the second play from scrimmage to score a 68-yard touchdown, but the Bulldogs answered back with three straight first-half touchdowns.
First, tailback Steen Rassmussen capped a long drive with a two-yard run, then Wright connected on a 55-yard strike to Kole Postema, before Taylor’s late major wound up holding as the winning points.
Ballenas quarterback Ben Robinson connected with Isaac Laroque-Wall on a 40-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter.
Robinson marched his team down the field late, but with three minutes remaining and a potential opportunity to knot the score, the Whalers turned the ball over.
Barsby then ran out the clock after avoiding a safety deep in their own end with a 60-yard pass from their three-yard line.
“I’m proud of how are kids are always competing and playing with anyone,” said Ballenas head coach Dan Smith, “but we need to get more consistency if we are going to come way with more wins.”
Pepper finished with 95 yards on eight carries, but Robinson, averaging 131 yards per game on the ground, was held to just 42 by Barsby.
Kolby Jack with nine tackles led the Ballenas defence.
HUGH BOYD 14 at No. 1 WINDSOR 25 (adds Hugh Boyd stats, quotes)
NORTH VANCOUVER — Ryan Baker threw three touchdown passes to Julien Perri, then rushed for the winning score himself as the No. 1-ranked Dukes rallied in the fourth quarter to beat back Richmond’s relentless Hugh Boyd Trojans as the pair opened their Western Conference slate on Friday.
“We know how well-coached Hugh Boyd always is,” admitted Windsor head coach Jim Schuman, whose team remained undefeated on the season at 3-0 overall. “It was no surprise that they had a great defensive game-plan ready for us. It was an important take-away for us that we showed the ability to cope and respond.”
After Baker’s first scoring strike to Perri, Hugh Boyd answered with a 40-yard scoring strike of their own on a 45-yard hook-up between quarterback Byron Ruvalcaba and receiver Zach Jackson.
Then after the second Baker-to-Perri connection, Windsor was able to take a 13-7 halftime lead.
The Trojans opened the third quarter by taking a 14-13 lead on an eight-yard strike from Ruvalcaba to Isaiah Daniels.
Baker, however, hit Perri on a 40-yard seam route for a 19-14 lead. Then after holding the Trojans and fourth down and taking over deep in opposition territory, Baker called his own number from 10 yards out to wrap up the scoring.
Baker led the Windsor defence with eight tackles while inspired play on that side of the ball came from rush end Jack Meyers, tackle Colby LaLonde and free safety Sean Werbowski.
“We’re close,” said Hugh Boyd head coach Bill Haddow. “But close doesn’t count in sports. There are no points awarded for playing well and losing.”
Daniels was a force on both sides of the ball for Hugh Boyd, catching a number of balls, and playing a shutdown corner on defense. Ryan Jensen was also a force from his inside linebacker spot, making numerous tackles.
Things don’t get any easier next week as the Ballenas Whalers come calling.
“They have had our number the last few years,” said Haddow. “It would be nice to turn the tables on those guys. We’ll go back to work and prepare as best we can. The Western Conference offers no cupcakes this year.”
AA OKANAGAN
WESTSYDE 0 at No. 2 VERNON 59
VERNON — The host Panthers started off by showing how human they can be, executing a laundry list of miscues from three botched snaps, multiple penalties, three missed assignments and two dropped touchdown passes. all of which combined to leave the favourites scoreless after the opening quarter.
Once they got it all together. however, they looked like the Subway Bowl title contenders they’re being pegged as.
Vernon’s answer, in the Okanagan Conference opener for both teams, was a 35-point second quarter, all part of a 59-0 win over Kamloops’ visiting Blue Wave.
Charles Lemay carried 10 times for 156 yards, including touchdowns runs of 68 and 36 yards, while quarterback Thomas Hyett went 7-of-10 for 156 yards and two touchdowns.
Tristan Baker and Kael Black also rushed for scores while Braden Barnard notched a touchdown off a pick-six.
Receiver Brad Hladik has five catches for 107 yards, all in the first half.
Drew Mackenzie led all tacklers with six while Grade 10 Zack Smith managed an interception as the Panthers took a 52-0 lead into the fourth quarter.
AA EASTERN CONFERENCE
LANGLEY 0 at G.W. GRAHAM 19
CHILLIWACK — A G.W. Graham defence which yielded just 23 yards of offence and scored a touchdown off a 67-yard fumble recovery by Andrew Locke, emerged with a shutout win over the Langley Saints.
“This was a tough physical Saints team,” said GW Graham head coach Laurie Smith. “They gang tackled every play and fought very hard at the line of scrimmage. Every yard was hotly contested.”
Von Richardson had 17 carries for 132 yards and a touchdown while Darius Kelly rushed for another.
Defensive linemen Jake Troyan, Colin Campbell and Cooper Middleton all collected sacks and provided constant pressure at the line of scrimmage.
SAMUEL ROBERTSON 14 at No. 3 ABBOTSFORD 49
ABBOTSFORD — A tough non-conference schedule had the Abbotsford Panthers sitting with an 0-3 mark, but the preseason No. 1-ranked squad opened East action Friday with a decisive win over the crosstown Titans.
Quarterback Ethan Anderson went 6-of-6 for 131 yards and three touchdowns, throwing strikes of 10 yards to Karl Von Einsiedel, 39 yards to Owen Parker and 48 yards to Luke Smzutko.
Anderson also rushed 23 yards for one of four Panthers’ majors scored via the ground.
Running back Samwell Uko, who carried nine times for 101 yards and two touchdowns, now has 557 yards and six majors on the season.
Smzutko also rushed three times for 69 yards and a major.
“The offensive line was banged up but did a good job moving people up front and creating opportunities for our running backs and receivers,” said Abbotsford head coach Jay Fujimura.
The defense was led by linebacker Johnny Stevenson who recorded 11 tackles and forced a fumble. Parker had five tackles, a trio of pass deflections and an interception.
The Panthers remain at home this coming Friday when they host Pitt Meadows while SRT (1-1) hits the road, facing Langley at McLeod Athletic Park.
ROBERT BATEMAN 0 at PITT MEADOWS 16
PITT MEADOWS — The host Marauders got ball-hawking picks from Brandon Hunt and Ryan Crockett as part of a stellar defensive effort, blanking the host Wolves in the conference opener for both teams on Friday.
“Bateman was a very well coached team and it was a very physical game and I am very proud of how our team responded to that,” said Pitt Meadows head coach Bubba Montabello. “It was a great team win with both offensive and defence doing their part.”
Angus McDonald’s blocked punt led to a touchdown strike from Tayden Mountford to Tato Ferreyro.
“It was a very disappointing game for our program,” said Bateman head coach David Mills. “Same story different week though. It’s tough win when you drop passes, fumble the ball, throw INT’s, and get a punt blocked deep in your own end.”
Defensively Bateman played well, holding Pitt to 187 yards of total offence.
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