South Delta quarterback Ben McDonald threw three TD passes and rushed for another in his No. 2-ranked team's win over Handsworth. (Photo by Blair Shier property of Blair.photo)
Feature High School Football

FINAL EDITION: Varsity Letters’ 10.05.19 Saturday Night B.C. High School football report

Saturday night’s edition of the Varsity Letters’ B.C. High School football report is now complete.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

HANDSWORTH 6 at No. 2 SOUTH DELTA 30

TSAWWASSEN — The South Delta Sun Devils may have scored their final 22 points in unanswered fashion Saturday to remain a perfect 5-0 on the season.

Yet it was one of those days when nothing came easy, and when it was all said and done, head coach Ray Moon was tipping his cap to the visitors from North Vancouver.

“We had a bad week of practice and it showed on the field,” said Moon. “Handsworth came out ready to play and they are tough. They came out and fought us hard. The game started to slow down in the second half when the play became a little chippy and flags started to fly.”

Through it all, however, quarterback Ben McDonald was commanding in the host huddle, throwing three touchdown passes as part of a 168-yard day through the air, and also tucking it 10 times to the tune of 106 yards and score.

McDonald threw dual 14-yard TD passes to receiver Evan Paterson in the first and second quarters, went 42 yards for another scoring strike in the third quarter to Ethan Troniak and then called his own number from a yard out in the fourth.

McDonald also threw two-point convert passes to Cailean Oulette, Damon Bordenhurst and Troniak, the latter leading the pass-catching cadre with seven grabs for 88 yards.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

TERRY FOX 14 at SEAQUAM 28

NORTH DELTA — On a normal given Saturday, three scoreless trips into the red zone can prove to be fatal in a high school football team’s quest for victory.

The Seaquam Seahawks, however, were playing like an offensive juggernaut, and that is something that can cure a whole lot if ills.

Grinding behind the cohesion of its offensive line and bell-cow running back Christian Carlon-Diaz, who rushed for 302 yards and three touchdowns, the Hawks handed Terry Fox’s re-building Ravens a 28-14 loss in Sunshine Hills.

“We need to take better advantage of our scoring opportunities,” said Seaquam head coach Navin Chand, “but now we’re ready to go and have a great week of practice as we get ready to host Lord Tweedsmuir.”

On the day, Seaquam totalled 539 yards of offence,with Carlon-Diaz carrying a workmanlike 25 times to earn his 300-plus total. Justin Eng carried five times for 45 yards and a score, while quarterback Jay Mather went 11-of-22 for 181 yards, including six completions to Brandon Johnson for 67 yards.

Ravens’ quarterback Matt Lew-Hendrickson thew touchdown passes to Kyle Huish and Peter Sazhin, while Ethan Shuen returned from a spring injury to carry for a two-point convert.

Defensively, Seaquam’s Eng had 11 tackles while Carlon-Diaz had two key interceptions. Both he and Taaj Jhooty had four tackles, with the latter also registering a sack.

The Fox defence was solid at times led by Alex Malcic, Kyle Huish and Sean Olenik.

FRIDAY

TRIPLE A

PACIFIC DIVISION

RUTLAND 10 at ERIC HAMBER 0

VANCOUVER — The host Griffins did some great scheming to limit Rutland running back Jhavoun Blake, so VooDoos quarterback Liam Attwood decided to do all the scoring himself.

Attwood’s 10-yard first-quarter run was the game’s only touchdown. The major, along with the ensuing PAT and the 19-yard field-goal he kicked in the second quarter stood as the game’s only points.

“Hamber scouted us well and their defence bottled up Jhavoun for most of the day,” said Rutland head coach Peter McCall after the standout Blake carried 18 times for 71 yards.

“That kid is an amazing athlete,” said Hamber head coach Bobby Gibson of Blake. “He’s big, powerful and fast. If Rutland was going to beat us, we didn’t want him to factor into it. I feel we were able to accomplish that because he didn’t have any big runs and we held him in check in the passing game.”

Grade 11 linebacker Thomas Iverson took the assignment to shadow Blake the entire game and Gibson said he played “brilliantly.”

Instead, however, Attwood went to the air and was 10-of-20 for 132 yards, including four completions to Brad Koebel who finished with 61 yards.

“He took some tough hits in there and fumbled once early on which would have been returned for a touchdown if Koebel hadn’t hustled for back for the tackle,” McCall said of Attwood.

McCall noted that Eric Hamber got to the Rutland one-yard line, but for a second straight week a goal-line stand was anchored with great effort from tackle Garrett McCarthy.

Linebacker Dan Tran had a strong day for Rutland with eight tackles, as did fellow ‘backer Kai Brydon (five tackles and a sack).

Tyson Sherriff, Ryan Jackson, Jian Suniga had sacks, too.

“We had to deal with short fields a couple of times, but the guys wouldn’t let them in,” McCall said. “It was an early game and the travel effected all of us. It was pretty slippery out there, too. Our focus and intensity was lacking, but we got the W.”

For the Griffins, senior Ryan Vijayaretnam has three receptions including one on a late 60-yard bomb.

Defensively, solid veteran play came from the senior troika of safety Luke Lee, linebacker Mathis Henderson and end Jacob Goodwin.

If you’re reading this story or viewing these photos on any 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.

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