LANGLEY — Welcome to Varsity Letters’ Saturday night B.C. High School Football Report.
It’s an abbreviated schedule with three games.
Thanks to photographer Blair Shier for venturing out into the elements to provide out readers with great realism from the action.
AA COASTAL
ARGYLE 15 at WEST VANCOUVER 7
WEST VANCOUVER — Wise and sensible scheming kept the ball on the ground on a day traction proved to be anything but a stable proposition.
That and hanging onto the football were clearly key as a long-standing local rivalry in the Coastal resumed between two teams hungry for their second conference victories of the campaign.
Pipers’ Grade 11 running back Nick Golasovsky scored once as part of a 110-yard rushing day, while senior quarterback Max Bougie ran 15 yards for another in the one-score win.
“West Vancouver played hard to the very last play and they scored a late touchdown to make it a very tight game,” admitted Argyle head coach Shane Sheehan, whose team moved to 2-4.
That touchdown came from Highlanders’ running back Bruce Jones, who ran for 170 yards on the day.
“Nail biter,” said West Van head coach David Hollinshead, whose Highlanders (1-4) were led on defence by lineman Sam Theil with eight tackles and linebacker Jeff MacGregor with six tackles.
“I’m proud of my guys who came together and fought hard in the mud,” Hollinshead added. “But you can’t turn the ball over five times and expect to win.”
WINDSOR 6 at HOLY CROSS 10
SURREY — In a battle of teams still searching for their first conference wins, the host Crusaders (1-4) played off the energy of its defensive line to claw their way to a win over North Vancouver’s visiting Dukes (0-5).
“Defensively, our guys up front were able to bring constant pressure on their quarterback,” said Holy Cross head coach Conrad Deugau of a group which included Kwame Aseid, Isaiah Brown, Nico Scoates and Samir Victor. “They made it tough for them to really sustain drives other than the opening drive.”
Nothing was pretty about the game, however, a fact magnified by the wet conditions.
Holy Cross quarterback Josh Celso scored the game’s only touchdown on a one-yard sneak. The rest of the Crusaders points came on the ensuing two-point convert and a safety.
“I’m super proud of my guys,” said Deugau. “We were disciplined. We executed properly and overall it was a good experience for the boys.”
AAA PACIFIC
SARDIS 18 at EARL MARRIOTT 7
SURREY — The host Mariners (3-1) put together the kind of start every team scripts for, yet the visiting Falcons (3-0) wrote their kind of ending Saturday.
The Earl Marriott defence came out fast and physical for a big stop and then the offence landed a haymaker when Grade 11 quarterback Bud Beliveau droped a dime in behind coverage for speedy Grade 11 wide-out Lucas Biondic, allowing him to race 70 yards down the right sideline for the opening score and a 7-0 lead.
From their, the Falcons won a grinding defensive battle, trailing 7-6 until scoring twice in the fourth quarter, pitching a shutout over the second half en route to the win.
“This game was a hard fought battle.,” said Sardis head coach Sukh Parmar as Grade 12 slot Sawyer Tether both fired a 30-yard touchdown to fellow senior D.J. Stephens, then made a spectacular catch from senior quarterback Aidan Saunders for another major.
Running back Billy Hunter rushed for a 10-yard touchdown.
“Coach (Todd) Fenwick should be proud of his players,” said Parmar. “They battled hard and we had to earn this one.”
Hunter, who also had an interception, and senior linebacker, Zach Wolter, were prominent in the Sardis run defense.
From a physical and toughness standpoint, senior offensive and defensive tackle Travis Richley was dominant start to finish.
The Mariners took a lot away from the game, especially in the ways in which they remained steadfast in the face of the Falcons’ physicality.
“We punched them in the mouth. I’m proud of all our guys,” said Fenwick. “It was like a championship game for us and very entertaining. Very proud of what we have become as a team.”
Marriott managed a third-quarter drive in the third quarter all the way to the Sardis one-yard line with a chance to take a crucial lead.
The Mariners failed to punch it in when a snap went through the hands of Grade 12 wildcat quarterback Aidan McInnes for a big loss.
Grade 11 kicker Braeden Aronons’ 37-yard field goal attempt rang off the left upright and Sardis counter-punched to score early in the fourth, before adding a third score late in the frame.
Mariners’ defensive ends Jakob Doucette (six tackles, three for loss, forced fumble, sack) and Thomas Cizmok (five tackles, two tackles for loss, fumble recovery) were key in the loss.
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