Vancouver College running back Tommy Carvaolho, picutred here in the team's season-opening win over Carson Graham, rushed six times for 46 yards in a shutout win over visiting Seaquam. (Photo by Howard Tsumura property of Varsity Letters 2021. All Rights Reserved)
Feature High School Football

Fighting Irish making O’Hagan their fortress! No. 1-AAA Vancouver College stays perfect at 5-0 following shutout win over Seaquam Seahawks!

VANCOUVER — In case you’re wondering, it’s been 749 days since the Vancouver College Fighting Irish last lost a football game.

That’s over two years and counting, and although we know the pandemic wiped out the entire 2020 season, the smart money — based on the way the Irish has picked up in 2021 where it left off in 2019 — would have been on the Irish keeping the streak alive even if they had played games.

On Saturday, despite the stormy conditions, head coach Todd Bernett’s squad won its 15th straight following a 38-0 victory over North Delta’s visiting Seaquam Seahawks at O’Hagan Field.

Over that 15-game win streak, defensive coordinator Ron Turner’s crew has churned out 10 shutouts.

Against the Seahawks, Irish quarterback Alex Zychlinski threw for a pair of scores, and rushed for another two, all before the half.

Tack on a special team’s major, four PAT’s by Mattias Eastman, a two-point conversion, as well as a safety, and all 38 of the team’s points were registered over the first half of play

“Climate change is real… these fall storms we are having are as ferocious as I have seen,” said Bernett. “This is our second home game that has been greatly impacted by weather. It was a sloppy day, and the team that handles it better has a chance. Seaquam had a few snap issues early on that pinned them deep, and surrendering a safety gave us some early momentum.

“Our defense once again kept giving us chances to overcome the weather and poor execution on offense. We found a way to move the chains and ended up figuring out a few things on offense.”

In the first quarter, a safety was sandwiched by first, a 22-yard Zychlinski touchdown pass to Chris Joseph, then a one-yard keeper by the pivot.

In the second, the explosive Jospeh returned a punt 48 yards for the score, Callum Hansen hauled in a 47-yard scoring strike from Zychlinski and then the quarterback called his own number again, this time from 10 yards out to round out the scoring.

Michael Jospeh added the two-point conversion on Hansen’s score.

Thomas Roberts caught three passes for 78 yards, Zyclinski, who later gave way to Billy Takumis, went 7-of-10 for 112 yards and two TDs against no interceptions.

Matteo Trasolini had a standout game on defence with four solo tackles, a fumble recovery and a sack. Tommy Carvalho rushed just six times for 46 yards.

Vancouver College’s last loss came on Sept. 21, 2019 when it fell 38-23 in Tsawwassen against South Delta.

The Irish, set to face Belmont this Saturday (1:30 p.m.) at home, haven’t lost a game at O’Hagan Field since the 2017 Archbishops Trophy game in which it fell 28-7 on Nov. 3 of that year to the Notre Dame Jugglers.

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