LANGLEY — Welcome to Week 3 of the 2018 B.C. high school football season.
There’s a small handful of non-conference tests on tap tonight, but the heart of Friday Night Lights are its 10 conference clashes.
Keep checking back here tonight for updates.
Also, be reminded that Saturday evening university football locally may impact our ability to post reports by their usual early-evening times.
As always, we will do the best job we can.
FRIDAY
TRIPLE A
WESTERN CONFERENCE
No. 4 MT. DOUGLAS 12 at NOTRE DAME 15
BURNABY —The Notre Dame Jugglers welcomed the rain and then said ‘Hello’ to good, old-fashioned ball-control offence Friday, a fact that made head coach Denis Kelly a happy man, while at the same time harkening back to the glory days of former head coach and current assistant George Oswald.
Notre Dame (2-0) remained perfect in Western Conference play, opening the scoring on a run-dominated drive they capped with a 10-yard Teon Alexander-Amour rushing major en route to a 15-12 win over Victoria’s Rams (2-1).
“It was an emotional win for our guys because several of our key players suffered injuries in the game,” admitted Kelly of what was his biggest victory since assuming the head coaching reigns of B.C.’s most-decorated high school football program prior to the 2017 season.
“Teon was outstanding in the inside run game,” added Kelly. “He kept so many drives alive with key first down carries. And our quarterback (Will) Clarke continues to show his tremendous scrambling ability, turning routine pass plays into big gains on the ground.”
The convert, however, was blocked, and Mt. Douglas was able to knot the score at 6-6 when Zairech Kremler went around right end and found the end zone.
Notre Dame then flipped the field off an interception by safety Matt Glover which, while not leading directly to a score, allowed the tenacious Jugglers’ defence to back the Rams up to the shadow of their goal line.
From there, the combination of linebacker Cameron Mah and defensive end Austin Longstaff was able to sack Mt. Doug pivot Gideone Kremler for a safety and an 8-6 lead.
Just before the half, Clarke connected with Giancarlo Napoletano on a 30-yard TD strike and Alex Pinson’s point-after sent the Jugglers to their halftime locker with a 15-6 lead.
In the second half, the only score was a 35-yard strike on fourth down in the third quarter from Gideone Kremler to Sebastian Hansen.
“Mt. Douglas will rally and get stronger as the season progresses,” added Kelly, whose team also beat Mt, Doug last season in Victoria.
Grade 11 linebackers Ian Marin and Vinny Nardulli each stepped up in critical roles Friday for the Jugglers’ defence and helped to limit a very potent Rams’ attack.
“Notre Dame executed a great game plan, and earned and deserved the win,” said Mt. Douglas head coach Mark Townsend who got 109 yards rushing from Zairech Kremler. “Although we have a talented roster, it is the team that plays the best on any given day that will come away with the victory, and Notre Dame played the best today. Every Western Conference game is a tough contest, and we will learn from this loss, get better as a result and prepare for an outstanding Vancouver College team next week.”
Aidan Wold was terrific for the Rams recording six sacks while Zairech Kremler who registered nine tackles in another excellent performance. Dante Carbone and Enrique Del Alcazar chipped in with five tackles each, followed by Hansen, Cole Bunting, Peter Primeau and Nelson Carnell with four tackles each.
No. 3 NEW WESTMINSTER 36 at HANDSWORTH 6 (updates with Handsworth info)
NORTH VANCOUVER — The statement which best reflected the way in which the New Westminster Hyacks went about claiming their first conference road win of the season?
Said Hyacks head coach Farhan Lalji after his team improved to 2-0 in the West on Friday: “Right now, our offence runs through our defence.”
Yes, that was New Westminster running back Broxx Comia scoring two touchdowns on what basically amounted to runs of 30-plus yards.
Yet it was a Hyacks’ defence which registered seven sacks and 12 further tackles which resulted in negative Royals’ yardage, that made the game’s dominant statement.
And the leading man was New Westminster’s senior defensive lineman Evan Nolli, who got about as high a compliment as is possible to receive from a program now in its 16th season since rebirth and coming off the Subway Bowl B.C. AAA title.
“Evan Nolli played as good a defensive game as we have ever had,” said Lalji after Nolli not only scored a 20-yard touchdown off his own fumble recovery, but registered four sacks and four other tackles for loss of yardage. “He was pretty impressive. He was everywhere.”
The Hyacks’ defence knows it will have to be at its best this coming week as its schedule hits the meat-grinder stage with a clash against South Delta and its outstanding pivot Ben McDonald.
However Friday’s game also brought a blue-chip threat in Handsworth receiver Keelan White, the outstanding receiver who had a little of his stinging ability neutralized by the wet conditions.
“Defensively, the whole focus was to take away Keelan White,” Lalji volunteered as Handsworth fell to 1-2 in conference play. “And between our defensive line and the weather, we were able to do that. It was difficult for either team to throw the ball, but they had to try because of Keelan. We were able to find other ways to win.”
Comia opened the day with a 27-yard scoring run, and Nolli’s defensive score made it 14-0 after the first quarter.
Handsworth made it 14-6 off a 92-yard touchdown catch-and-run, before Hyacks’ pivot Kinsale Philip rushed 20 yards for a score to make it 22-6 at halftime.
Comia scored off a 40-yard rush, and later Michael Udoh off a 25-yard rush to wrap up the scoring in the third quarter.
New Westminster rushed for 254 yards as a team while holding Handsworth to negative yardage. Michael Kingsley, while not finding the end zone, led the winners with 107 yards on 17 carries.
Saahil Bhambra had two sacks for the winners, while Shaye Rathjen had one.
Ryan Jensen hit Steele Young with a 92-yard touchdown pass for the Royals’ only points.
Despite facing triple-team coverage much of the way, Handsworth receiver Keelan White still gained 84 yards in receptions
James Mooney led the Royals with seven tackles while Theo Benedet blocked a Hyacks’ punt.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
No. 1 LORD TWEEDSMUIR 78 at CENTENNIAL 7
COQUITLAM — After testing themselves against a pair of quality U.S foes in the preseason, B.C.’s No. 1-ranked AAA team was ready for the start of conference play, winning by what was likely the greatest margin in program history.
The Panthers got five rushing majors (Jumeiz Omerkodi 10 yards, Noah Anderson 50 and three yards, Kojo Odoom 70 yards and Kyle Dodd two yards), two via the air (Yosef Drysdale 50 yards, Jaden Simon 33 yards), two more via interception returns (Terrell Jones 10 yards, Davis Lutterodt five yards), one via fumble recovery (Drysdale five yards) and another by kickoff return (Drysdale 75 yards). They added four more points via safeties.
No. 2 TERRY FOX 41 at KELOWNA 0
KELOWNA — The host Owls put together a solid three quarters of defence they’ll be able to lean on through just about any film session head coach Chris Cartwright convenes this season.
The fourth quarter?
If you don’t play sound, PoCo’s Ravens will make you pay.
Coming off a 50-7 win the week before over AA No. 1 Vernon, Terry Fox hit the road and struggled mightily to find their flow.
In the words of Fox head coach Martin McDonnell: “The Ravens travelled to Kelowna but forgot to get off the bus for the first quarter. Kelowna played tough and our kids were lazy and played horribly.”
In the words of Kelowna’s Cartwright: “I am really impressed with how our defence played. We were able to hold them off for a lot of the game. I hope our team realizes that we can play with anyone. We have to commit to the process week in and week out.”
The score was just 14-0 in Fox’s favour — with both TDs coming from Cade Cote — heading into the fourth quarter but then the levee broke.
Cote’s third TD came off a 40-yard strike from quarterback Matt Lew-Henriksen to make the score 21-0.
Matt Hewa Baddege scored on a five-yard rush, Ethan Shuen caught a 35-yard strike from Lew-Henriksen, and Alex Malcic finished things off with a pick-six.
“We did not play well at all, bottom line” concluded McDonnell. “The score was not indicative of the game. Kelowna played tough and deserves credit. We played below our potential as well.”
Added Cartwright: “We need to be better on offence all round. The weather made it difficult for us, but that can’t be the excuse as to how we execute our responsibilities. We need to plan better so we can play like we know we can on offence.”
Kelowna quarterback Isaac Athans went 14-of-33 for 74 yards but threw two interceptions. Defensive back Colby Miletto led the defence with four tackles.
ABBOTSFORD 8 at MISSION 30
MISSION — Losing out-of-conference to Langley last week lit a fire in the Mission Roadrunners.
“We’re a young team with a lot of grit and toughness but not the most-skilled team around and with a first-year quarterback,” head coach Danny Jakobs said Friday. “So we decided to go with the double-wing (offence) which really plays to the strengths of our team. And we managed to grind out a win today.”
Jackson Trask threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Tyson Bongo, and Keegan Royal rushed for 92 yards and two majors as Mission opened conference play with an impressive win over the neighbouring Abbotsford Panthers.
On defence, Grade 11 Cody McMahon had seven tackles including a sack.
“Cody was very impressive today,” said Jakobs. “He’s an aggressive kid that is super athletic and I’m looking forward to watching him progress over the next couple of seasons.”
Luke Szmutko rushed for 62 yards to lead the Panthers while Conner Meher led the Abby defence with 12 tackles.
“Mission was ready to play and came out more aggressive than us,” admitted Panthers’ head coach Jay Fujimura, whose charges had played No. 1 Terry Fox and No. 3 New Westminster over an extremely challenging non-conference slate.
“It’s a tough offence to prepare for, especially on a short week,” said Jakobs of the Panthers, “but really, the stars of our team are the guys up front who really played well today.”
MT. BOUCHERIE 0 at No. 5 ST. THOMAS MORE 41
BURNABY — St. Thomas More opened conference play looking every bit as dominant as they did over the preseason.
The Knights (3-0 overall, 1-0 conference), have parlayed their shutout tendencies on defence with a razor-sharp, ultra-efficient points-per-snap ratio that surely leads the province, and the combination gave the Burnaby squad its second shutout of the season and goose eggs in 11 of their first 12 periods of the campaign.
For the Knights’ offence, quarterback Dario Ciccone was a proficient 8-of-11 passing for 140 yards and three touchdowns, two of which were snared by sure-handed receiver Michael Simone (5, 22 yards).
Ciccone also connected on a 70-yard score to Vasco Repole, while calling his own number for a score from three yards away.
Julian Valerio and Ricky Parsons showed the overall depth of the group, each rushing for a score and combining to total 84 yards along the Burnaby Lakes turf.
On the defensive side of the ball, Daniel Auld led the way with four tackles and a sack.
Simone had an interception, while Matthew Lemp had two fumble recoveries from his defensive end spot.
“Although Mt. Boucherie was low in numbers, they certainly came to play and were a hard-hitting football team,”said STM head coach Steve De Lazzari.
PACIFIC CONFERENCE
W.J. MOUAT 0 at NANAIMO DISTRICT 7
NANAIMO — Maybe you can count the red-zone defensive efforts of the W.J. Mouat Hawks on Friday as one of the best in program history.
Host NDSS (1-1) made five trips into the Hawks’ red zone Friday but were denied each time, finally winning the game on their sixth trip when halfback Kyle Lindsey finally found the end zone’s hallowed ground from four yards out midway through the final quarter.
“Our defense gave us every opportunity to come out with a win,” said Hawks’ head coach Travis Bell. “Unbelievable grit by so many guys today. Depth was really tested today at all positions and a lot of guys really answered the challenge. But full credit to NDSS for grinding it out on offence and being really tough defensively. We’ll dust ourselves off and get ready for next week.”
Lost in Mouat’s defence, was Nanaimo District’s defence.
“In the second half we seemed to get ourselves organized and started moving the ball really well,” said Isles’ head coach Nate Stevenson. “I felt our defence played reallly well because Mouat has some play-breakers and we were able to slow them down.”
Ethan Andersen, Finn Bradbrooke and Jordan Racette-Wilson all tallied four tackles apiece for the winners, while Anthony Comas made an interception.
SARDIS 24 at SPECTRUM 0
VICTORIA — D.J. Stephens is helping set a tone for the Falcons’ first-year franchise.
The Sardis standout extended his season-long interception streak to three games with a pick as part of his team’s 20-0 win over the host Thunder on Friday in the provincial capital.
On the day, despite a slow start brought on by ferry-boat legs, the Falcons forced four total turnovers.
Quarterback Josh Jansen passed for a pair of touchdowns and ran for another in the victory.
“I was impressed with the way our defence played today,” said Sardis head coach Adam Smith. “Their execution and discipline is coming along after only three games. I am proud of our guys, as a first-year team, starting the season at 2-1. It’s a big accomplishment.”
DOUBLE A
WESTERN CONFERENCE
WINDSOR 32 at ARGYLE 0
NORTH VANCOUVER — Many of the faces have changed but don’t tell the Windsor Dukes they don’t have the horses to get the job done… again.
B.C.’s unranked, reigning Subway Bowl AA champs pitched a collective shutout Friday over the crosstown rival Pipers in the AA Western Conference opener for both teams.
“Argyle did a good job offensively keeping us on our toes with their balanced run/pass offence,” said Dukes’ boss Jim Schuman. “Defensively, we improved greatly from the week before with all players being more responsible and accountable for being in position. The score doesn’t properly reflect the fact that they had several extended drives throughout the game as well as dropped pass attempts at key moments.”
Windsor, for its part, executed.
The Dukes’ offensive line led by Coby LaLonde, Dylon Lloyd and Samson White-Bear George once again had a strong performance, paving the way for 305 team yards on the ground.
In his first game of the year, Daniel Cruz carried just six times but exploded for 120 yards and two scores while workhorse tailback Ryan Werbowski ground out 127 yards on 13 carries.
Dimitri Volev was just three-of-four through the air, but two of his completions went for touchdowns. Volev went 60 yards to Jeremy Sincalir and 10 yards to Werbowski.
Mitch Townsend was once again dominant from his defensive end position.
NON-CONFERENCE
No. 1 VERNON 57 at SALMON ARM 0 (late Friday file)
SALMON ARM — The Vernon Panthers took the memory of a mass of exchange errors and fumbles back to the Okanagan following their 50-7 nightmare loss against Triple A Terry Fox last Saturday in Port Coquitlam.
By Friday night, AA’s No. 1-ranked team seemed to have its house sorted out.
“We were finally able to get our passing game in sync,” admitted Panthers head coach Sean Smith after Vernon found both balance and purpose within its offensive attack.
Vernon’s 10 pass completions on the day each went for 15-plus yards in its comfortable win against a host Golds program playing an independent exhibition schedule this season. “We’ve been off so far this year and I think we found a bit of rhythm. Our O-line was able to keep a clean pocket which allowed us to push the ball downfield.”
So while starter Thomas Hyett went 8-of-20 for 277 yards and two touchdowns, and back-up Zack Smith 2-of-2 for 53 yards and another score, running back Charles Lemay was able to provide the balance, breaking the century mark along the ground with nine carries for 101 yards, and TD scampers of six and 11 yards.
Lemay also had a touchdown catch, an 80-yard scoring hook-up with Hyett which actually tied for the longest scoring play of the day.
That’s because Caden Danbrook was exceptional.
Danbrook took the game’s opening kick-off 80 yards for a score, then caught six passes for 192 yards, including a 25-yard scoring catch.
Vernon led 43-0 at halftime, and its defence maintained an intensity throughout.
Trey Defoor had five tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery for a touchdown. A.J. Maher had six tackles while Liam Reid had four.
“I thought that Nathan Vasconcelos brought it on defense with the opportunities he was given at defensive end,” added Smith. “He set the tone and was able make some nice plays on the edge. Overall, I think we are still in early season mode and have lots of room to improve.”
Vernon’s effort to continually find ways to challenge its team and promote growth continues this week.
The Panthers are Alberta-bound, travelling to Okotoks to face tradition-laden Foothills Composite on Friday. As part of the deal, they will have play three-down Canadian style.
“This is going to be an interesting experiment,” said Smith. “They are a strong team and we’ve got a week to learn new rules and figure out what to do with an extra player. It’ll be good to see how our boys can adjust and compete on the big field.”
WESTSYDE 0 at ROBERT BATEMAN 27 (updates with Westsyde info)
ABBOTSFORD —All phases of play were working Friday for the Timberwolves who put the defensive clamps on over the second half en route to a shutout non-conference win over their Kamloops’ guests.
Leading 13-0 at the break, free safety Andres Guzman reinforced the fact with a pick-six interception.
Quarterback Logan McDonald wrapped up the scoring later in the third quarter when he scored on a short sneak.
Sam Davenport had booted a pair of field goals to get the show going before McDonald connected on a long pass to Ryan Szthar.
“Westsyde played some really tough defense today,” said Bateman head coach David Mills. “They did a great job getting pressure on the QB, and were tough against the run. I’m proud of our defense pitching a shutout. We bent a couple of times, but didn’t break.”
For Westsyde, Darlington Murasiranwa took a kick-off return 80 yards, however his team was unable to turn it into points.
Murasiranwa left with a lower body injury later in the first half and the rest of the squad was never able to get back on track.
“I felt we played hard for the entire game, but we clearly need to execute much better on offence,” said Westsyde head coach Cory Bymoen, whose team was coming off a 42-0 win over Frank Hurt last week. “But clearly, we need to execute much better on offence and this will only come with more practice.”
Westsyde’s two defensive tackles out forth productive efforts. Greg Griffiths had two sacks and Brennan Ettinger six tackles.
THURSDAY
DOUBLE A
NORTHERN CONFERENCE
NECHAKO VALLEY 28 at D.P. TODD 12
PRINCE GEORGE —Twenty unanswered fourth-quarter points carried the Vikings to victory in the conference opener for both teams.
Fullback Kam Shoesmith’s rushing major pulled Nechako Valley back in front 14-12 and running back Owen Teichroeb extended the margin with a rushing touchdown.
Then, the capper came when Vikings’ safety Addison Miller-Gauthier intercepted a Trojans’ pass and in the end zone to set up Teichroeb’s 70-yard touchdown.
Coleson Jensen had scored a touchdown for the winners in the first half.
SATURDAY
TRIPLE A
WESTERN CONFERENCE
1:30 p.m. — Carson Graham at Vancouver College
2:30 p.m. — Belmont at Seaquam
PACIFIC CONFERENCE
10 a.m. — Sullivan Heights at Eric Hamber
1:30 p.m. — Rutland at West Vancouver
DOUBLE A
WESTERN CONFERENCE
1:30 p.m. — John Barsby at Howe Sound
CROSS TIER
12 p.m. — Holy Cross at Earl Marriott
NON-CONFERENCE
11 a.m. — Kelly Road at South Kamloops
3 p.m. — G.W. Graham at Ballenas
LAST WEEK
THURSDAY
DOUBLE A
NORTHERN CONFERENCE
College Heights 12 Kelly Road 12 (OT)
FRIDAY
TRIPLE A
WESTERN CONFERENCE
South Delta 34 Carson Graham 18
Mt. Douglas 36 Handsworth 19
PACIFIC CONFERENCE
Earl Marriott 34 Sardis 20
W.J. Mouat 33 Eric Hamber 20
Spectrum 7 Sullivan Heights 6
Rutland 28 Nanaimo District 17
EXHIBITION
Kelowna 40 Salmon Arm 13
Lynden (Wash.) 23 Lord Tweedsmuir 0
Meridian (Wash.) 49 Mission 0
New Westminster 40 Abbotsford 6
Wenatchee (Wash.) 70 Mt. Boucherie 0
CROSS TIER
Ballenas 30 West Vancouver 20
St. Thomas More 30 Samuel Robertson 6
DOUBLE A
NON-CONFERENCE
Windsor 35 Robert Bateman 21
John Barsby 34 Langley 21
Omak (Wash.) 52 Clarence Fulton 7
SATURDAY
TRIPLE A
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Notre Dame 26 Seaquam 21
Vancouver College 41 Belmont 0
DOUBLE A
NON-CONFERENCE
Terry Fox 50 Vernon 7
G.W. Graham 42 Prince George 12
Argyle 27 Valleyview 6
Westsyde 42 Frank Hurt 0
South Kamloops 27 Nechako Valley 0
If you’re reading this story or viewing these photos on any other website other than one belonging to a university athletic department, it has 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 howardtsumura@gmail.com.