LANGLEY — Welcome to the Saturday morning updated version of the Friday Night Lights edition of Varsity Letters’ B.C. High School Football Report.
We’ve added late reports from Vancouver College vs. Lynden (Wash.) and Westsyde vs Salmon Arm.
Looks for our Saturday edition later today with all the results from today. A full schedule of today’s game leads us off!
SATURDAY
TRIPLE A
WESTERN CONFERENCE
1 p.m. — Kelowna at Mission
1:30 p.m. — Seaquam at South Delta
DOUBLE A
WESTERN CONFERENCE
1 p.m. — Windsor at Ballenas
1:30 p.m. — Howe Sound at Holy Cross
NORTHERN CONFERENCE
12:30 p.m. — College Heights at Nechako Valley
THIS WEEK
FRIDAY
TRIPLE A
NON-CONFERENCE
No 4. VANCOUVER COLLEGE 16 at LYNDEN (Wash.) 38
LYNDEN (Wash.) — It’s hard to imagine that a short trip across the U.S. border could be fraught with as many problems as the Vancouver College Fighting Irish (7-1,6-0) were forced to endure Friday, yet despite it all, the locals looked, at one stage, set to pull an upset over the talented, host Lions.
The team’s bus had radiator and coolant system issues just five minutes from the border, forcing the coaches and players to sit for over an hour and wait for a new one to arrive.
Unbeknownst to the Irish, however, the coolant had leaked into the storage bay under the bus.
“What a trip,” said Irish head coach Todd Bernett. “We had jerseys and equipment marinating in Prestone. By the time we arrived, we had about a 30 minute warm-up. We weren’t fazed or looking for excuses. We kept our poise and went in down a point at halftime.”
More than that, the Irish had built a 16-0 lead before the Lions finished the game on a run of 38 unanswered points.
Basil Schincariol, on runs of 12 and 25 yards, put the Irish on top 13-0 in the first quarter before Connor Louis booted a 20-yard field goal in the second.
“We had a great start offensively, and we went punch for punch with a tough and talented opponent,” added Bernett, whose team was taking a respite from the rigours of the Western Conference schedule. “The wheels came off a little in the second half because of penalties and turnovers.”
Nonetheless, Bernett loved his team’s will and passion on defence.
“Our defense played with guts and courage,” he said. “(Defensive coordinator) Ron Turner worked hard on this one. He had our D prepared for their 2-QB system, which has threats in the air and on the ground. This was an opponent that will help us grow and play faster and more physically in future games.”
Schincariol rushed 13 times for 101 yards and two scores and Louis caught five passes for 64 yards.
Quarterback Eric Zychlinski went 10-of-13 for 88 yards.
On defence, Matt Hoag led the Irish with 17 tackles, while Adan Simpson had 10. Robert Mendez’s seven tackles were all primary stops. Jason Soriano returned an interception 11 yards.
Vancouver College plays host to Handsworth this coming Saturday in its final home regular season game.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
No. 2 TERRY FOX 21 at No. 4 ST. THOMAS MORE 28
BURNABY — Unranked to start the season, the St. Thomas More Knights are suddenly in every conversation when it comes to AAA Subway Bowl title contenders.
Quarterback Dario Ciccone rallied the Knights (6-1, 4-1) from a 21-14 deficit in the second half, manufacturing a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown drives as STM beat the visiting Terry Fox Ravens (6-2, 3-2).
It was the kind of game in which the Knights took a figurative hit in the mouth before they knew what hit them.
Cade Cote’s kick-off return to start the game has the Ravens on top 7-0.
STM didn’t take too long to respond.
Ciccone connected on a hitch screen with Michael Simone, and the Knights’ receiver took it downfield in dynamic fashion, going 90 yards before being chased down near the goal line by Fox’s Cote and Jaden Severy.
Ciccone wound up taking it in from two-yards out to tie the game, before hitting Ricky Parsons with a 20-yard touchdown pass that gave the hosts a 14-7 halftime lead.
The Ravens came back in the third quarter with back-to-back majors in the third quarter for a 21-14 lead.
But Ciccone led the Knights on a fourth-quarter rally, first hitting Parsons with an eight-yard swing pass for the score, then later calling his own number from two yards out for the winning major.
Ciccone had perhaps his best game of the season, rushing for 90 yards and two scores, while passing for 292 yards and two scores.
Simon had nine catches for 207 yards, while Parsons finished with seven catches for 70 yards and two majors.
“The game was a back-and-forth battle with a lot of intense, physical play and hits,” stated STM head coach Steve De Lazzari. “They are a very well-coached football team and their size on the line along with their run game was giving us some trouble tonight. Cade Cote and Liam Cumarasamy were a difficult one-two punch to stop.”
STM could have used the run-stopping ability of tackle Sam Steele, but De Lazzari said he is close to returning.
The Knights trail No. 1 Lord Tweedsmuir (5-0) by one game in East.
St. Thomas More is at Kelowna next week and at home to Mission to finish the regular season. Tweedsmuir plays at Mission next week and closes at Abbotsford.
Terry Fox closes out with two home games, first against Abbotsford and then against Centennial.
ABBOTSFORD 55 at CENTENNIAL 12
COQUITLAM — Four different players rushed for eight touchdowns Friday as the Abbotsford Panthers (3-4, 3-2) moved over .500 in conference play, its resounding victory over the host Centaurs (0-6, 0-5) solidifying its identity as a churning, multi-pronged pony express.
“I thought we came out of the gate quickly and the line did an outstanding job this week,” said Panthers’ head coach Jay Fujimura as Abby won for the third time in its last four games. “We were setting our levels and creating lanes for Luke and Jalem all night.”
He’s speaking, of course, about running backs Jalem Catlin, who rushed for 265 yards and four touchdowns, and Luke Szmutko, who rushed for 125 yards and two TDs.
Quarterback Jalen Edwards rushed for 65 yards and his first major score of the season. Additionally, Calum Rowsell rushed for his first TD of the season in the fourth quarter, this one from 40 yards out.
“On defense I thought our line put pressure on the quarterback all night and forced them to keep the ball in the air,” added Fujimura whose charges meet Terry Fox on the road next Friday. “Our secondary did well against their quick receivers (with interceptions by Catlin and Conner Mehrer)”.
Jeff Vanderwerff controlled the middle of the line with three tackles and three batted balls, one of which was intercepted.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
HANDSWORTH 6 at No. 5 NOTRE DAME 49
BURNABY — Six straight wins and counting.
As they have gotten healthier at the skill positions, the Notre Dame Jugglers have grown into an imposing football team.
On Friday at Burnaby Lakes, the Jugglers (7-1, 6-0) got four touchdowns from running back Teon Alexander-Amour who found the end zone on runs of 40, 35, 15 and five yards, in a comfortable win over North Vancouver’s visiitng Handsworth Royals (1-6, 1-5).
Quarterback Will Clarke had touchdown passes of 80 yards to Jerrell Cummings and 60 yards to Giancarlo Napoletano. The Jugglers’ other touchdown was a fourth-quarter run by Grade 9 quarterback Aiden Domino.
“That was a tremendous team win for us as we got contributions from many sources,” said Jugglers’ head coach Denis Kelly. “Defensively, it was our finest outing of the season. Our pass rush was intense and our defensive backs played well, especially against (Handsworth star) Keelan White. I thought our linebackers Cam Mah, Vincenzo Nardulli, Ian Marin and Luca Ripoli also played well tonight.”
Notre Dame took the opening kickoff and drove the ball 70 yards, capping things with a five-yard Alexander-Amour score.
Handsworth then hit the score sheet for the only time as their defensive end scooped up a Clarke fumble and scored from midfield.
Cumming’s long catch-and-run score turned the tide in the Jugglers favour and then Napoletano added his 60 yard touchdown reception, making it 21-6 after the first quarter.
In the second quarter, the Jugglers added two more touchdowns, a 40-yard Alexander-Amour scamper and then another from 15 yards out for a 35-6 lead at the break.
In the second half the Notre Dame attack was slowed by penalties but they still had another Alexander-Amour touchdown in them, this one from 35 yards out.
In the fourth quarter, Domino took over at quarterback and, aided by a spectacular 50-yard run by back-up running back Levi Austria, took it the rest of the way, from five yards out for the touchdown.
All seven of the Notre Dame touchdowns were converted by Tristan Torresan.
“Now the toughest part of the schedule,” said Kelly, of games at South Delta a week from Saturday, and at home to Vancouver College in the Archbishops clash Nov. 2.
Kelly addressed the fact that first up, it’s the Sun Devils.
“Ben McDonald is elusive,” Kelly said of the South Delta pivot, “and he has a host of fine receivers.They also play an aggressive style of defence and will be a great challenge for us.”
MT. DOUGLAS 32 at CARSON GRAHAM 27
NORTH VANCOUVER — The Mt. Douglas Rams needed their Sudden Sam, and they got him in all his glory Friday in North Vancouver.
Running back Sam Mosky hinted at what was to come with a 38-yard first-quarter rushing touchdown for visiting Mt. Douglas.
But it was in the second half, when the Rams rallied for a 32-27 win over the Carson Graham Eagles, that Mosky was at his very best.
“Sam Mosky was outstanding on the offensive side of the ball,” said Rams head coach Mark Townsend after his back rushed for 183 yards and three touchdowns on the night, and also caught three passes for 44 more yards. Mt. Douglas improved to 5-2 ahead of a bye week and a regular-season ending clash with the New Westminster Hyacks.
“And kudos to our offensive line for their stellar play in the rushing game,” Townsend added as Mosky rushed for a 75-yard TD score in the third quarter, then added another from eight yards out in the fourth.
Zairech Kremler also hit the century mark with 112 yards on the ground, rushing for the team’s final score from 10 yards away.
Quarterback Gideone Kremler passed for 110 yards, including a 26-yard scoring strike to Sebastian Hansen.
“In the second half, Mt. Doug capitalized on opportunities that we didn’t,” said Carson Graham head coach Brian Brady whose team dropped to 2-5 in the conference. “We had a couple of opportunities in the red zone where we were unable to score.”
Carson’s offensive line helped bring balance to the attack, allowing quarterback Charlie McMillan to go 14-of-30 for 285 yards and three touchdowns, two of which went to Liam Scott, who hauled in six passes for 137 yards.
Parker Henderson rushed 18 times for 85 yards and a touchdown.
“This was a hard-fought, back and forth, well-played game,” added Townsend whose defence was led by the 12 tackles of Peter Primeau, and seven tackles and two sacks from Aidan Wold. Mosky also had four tackles.
PACIFIC CONFERENCE
WEST VANCOUVER 17 at SARDIS 14
CHILLIWACK — The expected show of offensive fireworks never materialized Friday.
Instead, special teams heroics by the visiting Highlanders (4-3 4-2) wound up carrying the day in a dramatic Pacific Conference clash decided on the final play of the game.
Midway through the fourth, a West Vancouver scoring drive filled with third-down conversions was capped by quarterback Ben Welsh’s touchdown pass to Aidan Izadi which tied the score 14-14.
Sardis got into scoring position with four minutes remaining in the game, but after the Highlanders stuffed the Falcons on three plays inside the 10-yard line, Sardis lined up to kick the go-ahead field goal.
West Vancouver’s Connor Chapman, however, came through with a huge block, giving his team new life.
“He is always there to make a play when you need him and right on cue on their field goal attempt, Chapman broke through off the edge and made a game saving block,” said Highlanders’ head coach Pooya Dourandish. “Our offence took over with no intention of ending the game in a tie.”
West Vancouver moved the ball with a keen eye towards managing the clock, got to the 13-yard line with four seconds left and then walked off with a win after Izadi drilled the winning field goal through the uprights as time expired.
“All credit to Sardis,” said Dourandish. “For a first year program they are a hell of a football team and were fantastic hosts for such an important game.”
Added Falcons head coach Adam Smith: “It was a hard-fought game tonight. West Van really impressed me how hard they played and how much sportsmanship they showed. I was proud of our guys for battling back from last week’s loss (to Nanaimo District) and playing way harder this week.”
Nick Butler caught a TD pass for his sixth straight game in the loss and now has eight on the season.
NANAIMO DISTRICT 31 at EARL MARRIOTT 8
SURREY — The head coach wasn’t satisfied, yet the Nanaimo District Islanders did themselves a huge favour in their run to Subway Bowl playoffs.
Only the top two teams from the nine-team Pacific Conference will secure post-season berths and the chance to tussle with the more established AAA programs residing in the East and West.
Yet despite some rough moments, Nanaimo District’s 31-6 win at Earl Marriott (3-5, 3-3) moved the Islanders (6-1, 5-1) into first place in the conference with two more game remaining.
If the Islanders can get past Eric Hamber and Sullivan Heights, they would win the Pacific.
Said NDSS head coach Nate Stevenson: “ A beautiful day for football, however the game did not match the weather. We fumbled far too many times and put out a sloppy, demoralizing performance. We need to play and execute much much better as playoffs look to be just around the corner.”
Quarterback Finn Bradbrooke continued to act as the offensive catalyst.
Bradbrooke rushed for touchdowns of six and 69 yards, adding both extra points as the Isles led 21-0 at the half.
Bradbrooke then booted a 12-yard field goal for a 24-0 lead before Marriott quarterback Byron Ruvalcaba scored on a two-yard keeper, then added a successful two-point convert making it 24-8. Ruvalcaba had primed the drive with a 40-yard pass to Sean Meurens.
Bradbrooke later thew a 32-yard TD pass to Liam Colbourne to wrap up the scoring.
On a day when the Islanders carried 19 times for 263 yards, halfback Kyle Lindsay turned his eight carries into 154 yards, 80 of which came on Nanaimo District’s only other touchdown.
Bradbrooke went 7-of-13 for 115 yards with a touchdown pass and an interception.
NDSS linebacker Jamie McColm not only made five tackles, he registered three sacks.
The Mariners are back in action a week from Saturday in Kelowna against the Rutland Voodoos.
SPECTRUM 32 at ERIC HAMBER 16
VANCOUVER — Their last meeting came on the final Saturday of last November under the dome at B.C. Place Stadium.
That day, in the Subway Bowl B.C. Tier 2 championship final, Vancouver’s Eric Hamber Griffins came away with a 28-21 win over the Spectrum Thunder of Victoria.
On Friday, the pair clashed as members of the AAA Pacific Division, and this time, the Thunder (2-4, 2-4) emerged 32-16 winners over the Griffins (1-5, 1-5).
Eric Hamber’s Jack Heath returned the opening kick-off 85 yards for a touchdown.
From there, however, it was all Thunder.
Spectrum quarterback Cam Ross rushed five times for 104 yards and two touchdowns, while fellow senior receiver/returner Bryden Holt returned a kick-off 65 yards for a touchdown, while also carrying 12 times for 74 yards and another major.
“We used the bye week to our advantage and came in well rested and competed well today,” said Spectrum head coach Darren Vaux, whose team finishes the regular season with a pair of home games, beginning with a clash this coming Friday against West Vancouver.
“We’re a little banged up at this time of the season and really needed to rely on some Grade 10s who were able to step up for us. We only traveled with 19 today, but the 11 players we put on the field played with heart and perseverance.”
Added Hamber head coach Bobby Gibson, whose team gets its toughest test of the season this coming Friday as it travels to first-place Nanaimo District: “We struggled to maintain any momentum on either side of the ball. Consistency in effort and execution eluded us, and Spectrum came in with intensity and a good game plan. They were able to dictate the flow of the game. Full credit to their players and coaches.”
DOUBLE A
NON-CONFERENCE
WESTSYDE 39 at SALMON ARM 14
SALMON ARM — Darlington Murasiranwa rushed for three touchdowns as the visiting Blue Wave (5-2, 2-0) topped the host Golds (0-4) in exhibition action.
Cameron Treadwell turned a short completion from quarterback Derek Wrabel into a long touchdown, while Ryan Jennings also rushed for a major score.
A.J. McInniss kicked a 30-yard field goal as part of the win.
“Defensively we played fairly solid but we were forced to move some players around due to injuries,” said Westsyde head coach Cory Bymoen, “and with only 19 players dressed, the musical chairs caught up with us a bit at times.
“Salmon Arm has definitely improved and their size along the line in certain formations was tough to deal with at times,” added Bymoen.
The Golds are B.C.’s only true independent, playing a complete exhibition schedule this season.
Westsyde plays at powerhouse Vernon this Friday while Salmon Arm visits Clarence Fulton.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
G.W. GRAHAM 7 at LANGLEY 58
LANGLEY —The dynamic rushing duo of the Langley Saints each brought their ‘A’ games to the turf at McLeod Athletic Park.
Kori Johnson turned 19 carries into 173 yards and four touchdowns, while Kai Thomas carried 13 times for 154 yards and two touchdowns as the Saints (4-1, 2-0) overwhelmed Chilliwack’s visiting Grizzlies (3-5, 1-2).
“The boys played their best game to date on both sides of the ball,” said Langley head coach Ryk Piche. “We have yet to give up a defensive touchdown this regular season, and we rushed for over 300 yards on the evening.
“I feel our offence is really finding their identity and groove,” continued Piche, whose charges hit a bye week ahead of its regular-season finale against Robert Bateman on Nov. 2. “I was very impressed with our offensive line tonight, they seemed to be hungry and enjoyed re-establishing the line of scrimmage. We as a staff are extremely proud of the boys, but know we need to bring our ‘A’ game if we want to compete with Bateman in two week’s time.”
Langley finished the night with 35 carries for 355 yards and six majors.
Johnson led the defence with nine tackles, including three sacks.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
ARGYLE 0 at JOHN BARSBY 42
NANAIMO — The John Barsby Bulldogs took their 21-6 loss last week against the Holy Cross Crusaders to heart.
“We talk a lot about having bounce with our program,” Barsby head coach Rob Stevenson said Friday after the Dawgs’ (5-2, 3-1) got back on the winning track and kept alive their hopes for a conference title following a 42-0 win over North Vancouver’s Argyle Pipers (1-3. 0-4).
“When you get knocked down, you don’t lay there and cry the blues, you bounce high and get back into the fight,” continued Stevenson, whose team faces defending B.C. champion Windsor next Friday in Nanaimo.
“The team really bounced this week at practice and we were much more focused and intense than last week. We found our better ‘football angels’, I reckon.”
With a bye week scheduled for Nov. 2, Barsby’s regular season ends against Windsor. The Dukes play Ballenas in a huge test Saturday.
Ballenas, Windsor, Holy Cross and Barsby have all taken turns beating each other this season and thus a very confusing divisional finish will likely come down to the final weekend of play.
“Defensively we played a very complete game with very good pursuit and tackling,” said Stevenson. “Coverages were also disciplined against a very good passing team in the Pipers. Our offence was balanced and we ran the ball well today. Next week against a very tough and supremely well-coached Windsor team will be a definitive game for us.”
INTERIOR CONFERENCE
No. 1 VERNON 38 at SOUTH KAMLOOPS 0
KAMLOOPS —Befitting their status as Double A’s No. 1-ranked team, the Vernon Panthers (5-1, 2-0) scored on each of their first five series, building a 35-0 halftime lead en route to keeping a perfect Interior Conference mark with two more games remaining.
“I thought our execution tonight was outstanding,” said Vernon head coach Sean Smith. “South Kam (3-3, 1-2) can bring pressure and we were able to pick it up most of the time and (quarterback) Thomas (Hyett) was great at finding the open man. Our receivers were great at getting separation which was key against their man defence.”
Hyett carved up the Titans’ defence to the tune of 15-for-23 for 251 yards and three touchdowns.
Zack Smith was his main target with six receptions for 98 yds and a touchdown. Smith also ran one in from the two-yard line.
Caden Danbrook not only had four catches for 69 yards and a 33-yard touchdown, he netted 156 yards on five punt returns.
Riley MacGillivray made four catches for 67 yards including and a 33-yard touchdown.
“Vernon’s execution tonight was exceptional,” said Titans head coach J.P. Lancaster. “I thought we had put together a solid game plan to slow them down on offence but we weren’t able to elevate to their level of play. Credit to our boys for playing hard in the second half and limiting them to just three points.”
The Vernon defense was smothering all night allowing just two first downs. Defensive end Kael Black had an outstanding game with seven tackles and two sacks. Matthew Reich provided the same performance at the second level of the defence, recording six tackles. Drew Mackenzie had an interception.
“Hats off to South Kam,” added Smith. “They gave it to us in the second half and played much better than the score indicated. J.P. and his staff are doing a great job there and I think they are a program to watch out for in the years to come.”
VALLEYVIEW 6 at CLARENCE FULTON 31
VERNON — Bouncing back from a tough overtime loss to Westsyde a week ago, the host Maroons (3-4, 2-1) built a 21-0 halftime lead and never looked back en route to a win over the Green Wave (0-6, 0-5).
Evan Trottier from a yard out and Colby Eisenhauer from 22 yards out each scored along the ground, before Trottier hit Cayden Coombs with a 20-yard scoring strike to account for the first-half damage.
Quin Williamson’s five-yard touchdown run and Trottier’s 20-yard field goal increased the margin of victory in the second half.
“This was a good team victory for us,” said Maroons’ head coach Mike Scheller. “We played well in all three phases of the game, we ran the ball effectively and we got 247 yards rushing from a variety of players.
“Our passing attack also picked up and we made some gains throwing the ball,” he continued. “Our offensive line (Seiji Bott, Logan Higgs, Carson Harrower, Brennan Kennedy and Liam Funk) all had great games.”
The Fulton defence, over its last four games, has not allowed more than one touchdown to the opposition and Friday’s effort had Scheller feeling good about their progress.
“Defensively we played well,” he said. “Their quarterback is a very dangerous runner and a tough kid. We contained him well.”
Defensive tackle Liam Gombrich and linebackers Williamson, Ethan Schiman and Dayton Ingenhaag were all really good versus the run.
THURSDAY
DOUBLE A
NORTHERN CONFERENCE
KELLY ROAD 14 at PRINCE GEORGE 39
PRINCE GEORGE — A Polars’ offence that was decidedly hot put up 475 yards of offence en route to a win over the crosstown Roadrunners.
Quarterback Braden Reed carried 20 times for 247 yards and three scores, while Gavin Murray rushed 25 times for 123 yards and one score. Brayden Michell also rushed for a touchdown.
Reed also made six tackles and forced a fumble while Gage Barnard and Gavin Murray each made interceptions, Bernard’s coming along with six tackles.
SCOREBOARD
LAST WEEK
FRIDAY
TRIPLE A
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Mt. Douglas 34 Seaquam 7
Notre Dame 33 Carson Graham 13
South Delta 33 Handsworth 0
Vancouver College 42 New Westminster 0
EASTERN CONFERENCE
St. Thomas More 21 Abbotsford 14
Terry Fox 54 Mt. Boucherie 0
Lord Tweedsmuir 21 Kelowna 20
Mission 42 Centennial 7
PACIFIC CONFERENCE
W.J. Mouat 19 Rutland 12
Nanaimo District 42 Sardis 13
West Vancouver 34 Sullivan Heights 6
DOUBLE A
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Windsor 42 Howe Sound 6
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Robert Bateman 28 G.W. Graham 27
INTERIOR CONFERENCE
Westsyde 11 Clarence Fulton 9 (OT)
Vernon 55 Valleyview 6
NON-CONFERENCE
South Kamloops 12 Salmon Arm 0
SATURDAY
TRIPLE A
PACIFIC CONFERENCE
Earl Marriott 42 Eric Hamber 0
DOUBLE A
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Holy Cross 21 John Barsby 6
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