Julien Perri (1) of the Windsor Dukes was a touchdown-scoring machine on Friday as his North Van team wrapped up a perfect regular season. (Varsity Letters photo by Howard Tsumura)
Feature High School Football

11.04.17: Varsity Letter’s Saturday night B.C. High School Football Report

Welcome to Saturday night’s B.C. high school football report! 

Varsity Letters is excited about the next month of Subway Bowl playoffs. Here’s a look at what transpired on the final day of 2017’s regular season:

SATURDAY

AAA WESTERN CONFERENCE

MT. DOUGLAS 35 at No.3 SEAQUAM 28

NORTH DELTA — The comeback of the season in B.C. high school football came on the final day of its regular campaign.

Victoria’s Mt. Douglas Rams (5-4, 4-3), slowed by injuries but showing the resilience of a champion, stormed back from a pair of 21-point deficits to beat the host Seaquam Seahawks (6-2, 4-2).

“Seaquam is a very talented team, and we definitely put ourselves in a hole in the first half,” said Mt. Douglas head coach Mark Townsend. “Having said that, we are really pleased with the resiliency and poise of our players. There was no panic and we were able to chip away at the lead.”

Quarterback Gideone Kremler threw a 38-yard strike on fourth down to receiver Hayden Naylor with under 30 seconds remaining, setting up a much-needed insurance touchdown on a six-yard run by Zairech Kremler.

Trailing 28-7 late in the first half, Gideone Kremler opened the rally with a 13-yard TD pass to Sebastian Hansen.

In the second half, back-to-back rushing touchdowns of six and then five yards by Ben Pierik pulled the Rams ahead 28-27.

“We lost our focus in the second half of the game,” said Seaquam head coach Navin Chand. “This is a blessing in disguise. It’s going to teach our players not to be complacent.”

Mt. Douglas’ first touchdown came with the Rams trailing 21-0, and it featured a nine-yard Kremler-to-Kremler strike.

Naylor had seven catches for 138 yards while Zairech Kremler had seven catches for 69 yards, and also rushed for 54 yards. Pierik rushed for 75 yards.

Jalen Philpot rushed for a pair of Seaquam touchdowns, finishing with 148 yards on 17 carries and also scored off an 85-yard pick-six.

Tyson Philpot had 13 tackles and also returned an interception for a score.

Isiah Jay had 10 tackles while Dedaar Jhooty had nine tackles including one for a sack.

“Credit needs to go to our defense,” said Townsend. “They played a terrific game and were able to come up with some critical stops. Seaquam has done a great job making the jump from Double A to Triple A, had a terrific regular season and they will be a force in the playoffs.”

The Rams defense was led by Soren Hallschmid who recorded eight tackles and had a fumble recovery. Isaiah Cardilicchia had his best defensive game of the season with seven tackles and an interception. Zairech Kremler had seven tackles.

No. 2 ST. THOMAS MORE 21 at MISSION 7

MISSION — The Eastern pennant was already theirs, and they’ve played with a fever pitch that has been the envy of teams around the province.

On Saturday, with a pair of its top stars not dressed, and with the playoffs just around the corner, the Knights (9-0, 7-0) capped a perfect regular season with a win over a Mission team that has improved each and every week.

“It was definitely our most underwhelming performance of the year,” admitted STM head coach Steve De Lazzari. “I think we played like a team knowing they had a bye into the playoffs rather than a team that was hungry to finish strong going into the playoffs.

“Perhaps playing without (running back) Tyler Eckert for the second week in a row due to illness and missing (tackling leader) Sam Steele for the first time this year, who are the heart and soul of this team had a definite effect on the overall performance of our players.

“But I want to give 100 per cent credit to Mission and their coaches in making it an extremely difficult game for us. They played hard-nosed football for all four quarters and ground out some tough yards. They made our offence work for every yard.”

Dario Ciccone threw a 40-yard TD pass to David Osho on the final play of the first half, then rushed for a five-yard score in the second.

Sandwiched in-betwen, Osho stripped the ball from the Roadrunners and took it 30 yards into the end zone.

Jonah Fridfinnson had an outstanding game from his strong safety position, wracking up 14 tackles on the day along with a forced fumble. He was followed by Mateo Carteri with eight tackles and Luke Benedet and Sajjun Shokar with five apiece.

AA NORTHERN

KELLY ROAD 0 at NECHAKO VALLEY 35

PRINCE GEORGE — Coming off a tough one-point loss the previous week to College Heights, Vanderhoof’s Vikes not only pitched a shutout, but took some great karma into the off season.

In his final high school football game, quarterback Corbin Brown morphed back to his original position at fullback, rushing for three scores and also catching a two-point convert.

Coleson Jensen also rushed for a score while pivot Kostas Bach threw a TD pass to receiver Will Pippy.

On defence Pippy had a pair of picks.

FRIDAY

AAA EASTERN CONFERENCE

TERRY FOX 75 at CENTENNIAL 6

COQUITLAM — Cade Cote enjoyed football’s version of baseball’s famed hitting for the cycle.

The Grade 11 from Terry Fox scored touchdowns via rush, catch, kick-off return and interception as the Ravens (6-3, 5-2) topped crosstown Centennial. 

Cote rushed three times for 123 yards and caught a 42-yard TD pass.

Jevaun Jacobsen continued his return from injury, rushing for three majors and throwing for three more. Liam Cumarasamy rushed for 110 yards.

Defensively, Mason Reeves recorded five tackles and Mike Evans had four including two sacks.

AA WESTERN CONFERENCE

BALLENAS 14 at No. 1 WINDSOR 61

NORTH VANCOUVER — Ryan Baker completed all five of his pass attempts for 208 yards with four of those completions going to Julien Perri for four touchdowns as Windsor (7-0, 5-0) scored early and often in a win over Parksville’s visiting Ballenas Whalers (2-7, 1-4).

Perri, incredibly enough, also returned a pick to the house.

“I thought our offensive line once again had a great performance,” said Windsor head coach Jim Schuman of the Dukes’ foundation. “Ben McMichael and  Brad Royce both contributed by making key plays or blocks throughout the game.”

Dimitri Volev went 4-of-5 for 86 yards and a score while Ryan Werbowski rushed 10 times for 121 and two majors.

If you’re reading this story or viewing these photographs on any other website other than one belonging to a university athletic department, they have been taken without appropriate permission. In these challenging times, true journalism will survive only through your dedicated support and loyalty. VarsityLetters.ca and all of its exclusive content has been created to serve B.C.’s high school and university sports community with hard work, integrity and respect. Feel free to drop us a line any time at varsitylettersbc@gmail.com.

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