Handsworth quarterback Brett Birch-Jones hands off to star running back Robert Lutman on Friday, as the Royals came away convincing winners over the Windsor Dukes. (Photo by Blair Shier property of Blair.photo 2019. All Rights Reserved) (Photo by Blair Shier property of Blair.photo 2019. All Rights Reserved)
Feature High School Football

FINAL EDITION: Varsity Letters’ 09.13.19 B.C. High School Football Report has the lowdown from every Friday senior varsity game!

Welcome to Week 2 of Varsity Letter’s B.C.High School Football Report.

Please keep checking back on this posting over the course of the evening for all the reports from a busy schedule of games under Friday Night Lights.

SCOREBOARD

NON-CONFERENCE

FRIDAY

MT. DOUGLAS 20 at NANAIMO DISTRICT 0

NANAIMO — The Mt. Douglas Rams lowered their pads and rushed to victory Friday on the road.

Joe Lucas from eight yards out in the first quarter, Peter Primeau from five yards out in the second and finally, Luciano Coombs from four yards out in the third quarter accounted for the majors in a shutout win over Nanaimo District’s host Islanders.

Quarterback Hunter Swift finished 11-of-17 passing for 124 yards, with Lucas hauling in five of those completions for 72 yards.

Primeau had eight carries 55 yards as Mt. Douglas rushed for 147 yards on the night.

The Islanders presented some unique challenges for the Rams defence, as Mt. Douglas head coach Mark Townsend confirmed after the game.

“NDSS and their double wing is very tough to defend, and I thought our kids played it well, although we need to clean up our penalties,” said Townsend.

Oshan Thomas led the Rams defence with nine tackles, followed by Glen Rose with eight and Kai Harris with seven tackles and a fumble recovery.  Cole Bunting and Enrique Del Alcazar chipped in with five tackles apiece.

“Next week is our big Conference opener with New West,” said Townsend. “We will need a great week of practice, build on the good things we saw tonight and continue to improve as a whole.”

The host Islanders were left to rue missed opportunities after twice getting inside the Rams’ 10-yard line in the first half.

“Our offence had a couple solid drives, gnashing out first downs and moving the chains, but again, too many loose footballs stalling drives,” said NDSS head coach Nate Stevenson. “Defensively, we played solid as well, but too many penalties put the Rams in solid down-and-distance situations. It was a good look against a good opponent.  We are starting to see what we want and what we are going to be.”

Isles’ middle linebacker Jason Depka made seven tackles and a pick in the loss while tackle Cameron Gregory and inside ‘backer Ethan Anderson had five stops. Free safety Aidan Kozubal had four tackles.

G.W. GRAHAM 0 at NEW WESTMINSTER 40

NEW WESTMINSTER — It took the hosts perhaps a little longer than they would have preferred to find their stride, but once they did, in front of a huge throng of Mercer Stadium fans primed for a Homecoming celebration, the Hyacks did not disappoint.

“Once we got that first touchdown, we executed at a pretty high level on both sides of the ball,” said New Westminster head coach Farhan Lalji on a night in which his team rushed for 263 yards and five touchdowns, and took a big first step in establishing the dual danger which lurks in its offensive backfield.

Greyson Planinsic rushed for a pair of touchdowns and Michael Udo scored one apiece on the ground and through the air on a night which began with Planinsic’s one-yarder that had New West on top 7-0 after the first quarter. Udoh then scored off a 17-yard run.

Planinsic scored off a 40-yard run and quarterback Payton Myers soon after on a one-yard keeper for a 26-0 lead, with both majors coming over the final two minutes of the half, effectively breaking  the game wide open.

“Michael and Greyson are turning into that one-two punch we envisioned,” said Lalji, who watched as Udoh added a second major by catching a nine-yard TD pass from Myers for a 33-0 lead in the third quarter.

“Greyson is Greyson, we know what we are going to get from him,” continued Lalji of Planinsic who burst onto the senior varsity scene last season. “Michael hadn’t had as many opportunities so he’s just now finding his groove and he is showing he can be dangerous and dynamic.”

Udoh carried eight time for 98 yards, Planinsic six times for 76 yards, and Deakon Young once for 30 yards and the game’s final touchdown ahead of a scoreless fourth quarter.

Vishaan Narayan at nose tackle led the team with seven tackles, including four for negative yardage, while also recording a sack.

Andros Dancey, between his time at outside linebacker and on special teams, also put forth an impactful performance with seven tackles and two sacks.

G.W. Graham lost star receiver Logan Buchwitz to what appeared to be a leg injury in the second quarter.

MISSION 14 at JOHN BARSBY 12

NANAIMO — Josh Bucholz and Matt Roadhouse scored first-half touchdowns on respective runs of two and 40 yards, and the visiting Roadrunners made them stand, holding off the host Bulldogs after building a 14-0 lead.

Cody McMahon led the defence with six tackles and three sacks, while Connor Alward was able to come up with an interception to snuff out Barsby’s final drive.

Afterwards, for the home team it was all about the rally that fell short.

The host ‘Dawgs scored on the final timed play of the opening half to make it 14-6 when Tyson Vollas hit slot receiver Dakota Lous with what turned out to be a 29-yard touchdown.

The 14-6 halftime score held through a scoreless third quarter, and in the fourth, Mission had a great goal-line stand, stopping Barsby on foutth down at their one yard line.

Several plays later Barsby forced a fumble on the Mission 18-yard line and drove in for a 10-yard touchdown run by Vollans.

The Mission defence came up big, stopping the Bulldogs’ two-point rushing covert attempt just inches from the plane of the goal line.

“We had a very solid team effort in all phases of the game,” said Barsby head coach Rob Stevenson. “The coaching staff is very proud of the improvement we have made as a team the past two weeks. There is lots of football ahead of us this season and we are going back Monday to the practice field to compete to be our best selves. Personally, as a coach, I wouldn’t trade this team for any other group on the planet.”

RUTLAND 0 at KELOWNA 42

KELOWNA — A return to health added up to a confident stride for the Kelowna Owls, who welcomed back the likes of quarterback Isaac Athans and defensive back Nate Beauchemin from injury in a decisive win over the crosstown Rutland VooDoos.

“Very proud of the boys and we feel good getting a bunch of guys back from injury,” explained Owls’ head coach Chris Cartwright. “It was a good win to have before going into our conference schedule.”

Athans’ return was impossible to miss, as he rushed for a pair of scores and threw for two others as part of an 8-for-16, 206-yard evening through the air.

Nolan Ulm had 97 yards in grabs and a touchdown while running back Tariq Brown scampered for 112 yards, including a five-yard score.

Nathan Gilbert lead the defence with 11 tackles and a sack.

LORD TWEEDSMUIR 21 at BLAINE (Wash.) 0

BLAINE (Wash.) — Surrey’s Lord Tweedsmuir Panthers acquitted themselves in winning fashion under Friday Night Lights, U.S. style, and in the end, returned home to Canada with a huge, collective smile.

“Really proud of the team effort,” said head coach Kurt Thornton after the Panthers got great play on both sides of the ball to blank the Borderites. “It’s always a thrill to play is the U.S. and we thank Blaine for hosting us.”

Quarterback Terrel Jones ran for 85 yards, scoring all three of his team’s touchdowns.

Jones capped LT’s first two drives of the game with scores from four yards and one yard, then did the same from nine yards out on the opening series of the second half.

Hadyn Stomperud carried 13 times for 139 yards.

Nathan Gernon had 11 tackles and Kyle Dodd nine to help lead the defence.

“It was a messy night but I loved the end of the game,” said Thornton. “Our backups stayed in and had a goal-line stand.”

VANCOUVER COLLEGE 27 at ST. THOMAS MORE 0 (adds STM quotes, information)

BURNABY — A non-conference affair at Burnaby Lakes was called at the half after the host Knights forfeited the second-half due to injuries.

“Unfortunately, entering into tonight’s game we had been devastated by injury and illness, and we were short 10 starters, four of whom go both ways,” said STM head coach Steve De Lazzari. “I could not be prouder of the way our boys played. In fact, shortly before the end of the first quarter, there was no score in the game. However, Vancouver College had a long rushing touchdown to end the first quarter, and they started to roll thereafter.  

STM lost a further five players to injury before the half.

“Vancouver College is an outstanding team, and you can truly see why they are they number one-ranked team in the province,” added the Knights’ coach.

LANGLEY 28 at TERRY FOX 7

COQUITLAM — On a big day in Langley Secondary football history, PoCo’s Terry Fox Ravens were tipping their collective hats to the Saints’ big boys up front.

“Even though we are a young team we were happy with our compete level,” said Ravens’ head coach Martin McDonnell. “Langley has a big, tough team and should do really well this year.”

Langley, en route to earning it’s first-ever senior varsity win over the Ravens, rushed for 386 yards on 44 carries.

Kia Thomas led the way with 16 carries for 164 yards and one touchdown. Trenton Warren rushed 13 times for 113 yards and two scores while Harshaad Jouhal carried 11 times for 93 yards.

Quarterback Josh Goesen also rushed for one score.

“The offensive line completely took the game over from the opening drive,” said Saints’ head coach Ryk Piche. “The boys played physical and aggressive all game. I can’t say how proud I am of our coaching staff, and these boys. They have a real identity, and they are proud to wear it on their sleeve. They have bought into our new offensive system and there is a real sense of pride in what these boys are accomplishing.”

Matt Lew-Henrickson had 85 yards passing with 97 yards rushing for the Ravens, whose lone score came on a two-yard run by Alex Malcic.

Peter Shazin made three receptions for 54 yards from his tight end spot.

“Our offence moved the ball well and our QB Matt Lew played really well,” added Fox’s McDonnell. “The turnovers hurt us but we will clean those mistakes up and continue on.”

NECHAKO VALLEY 0 at SOUTH KAMLOOPS 35

KAMLOOPS — South Kamloops welcomed its home crowd with a victory on Friday, putting up 338 yards of total offence while holding Vanderhoof’s visiting Vikings to just four total yards of first-half offence en route to a shutout win.

Running back Mike MacDonald shone in all three phases, rushing for 95 yards and score, catching 32 yards worth of passes and returning a punt 40 yards for a touchdown. He also added three tackles on defence.

Quarterback Eric Crawford threw for 138 yards and three touchdowns, including a pair to receiver Matt Lefrenier (nine and 78 yards) and one to tight end Tristan Wandler (19 yards).

Defensively, Sheldon Gerlib led the way with four tackles and two sacks while Cohen Freeze and Kayden Crawford also had three tackles apiece.

“Hats off to Nechako Valley for coming out and playing tough football for four quarters,” said Titans head coach JP Lancaster. “They’ve got a young-and-inspired coaching staff with the Brown brothers. They’re doing great things for Northern football and we have appreciated this exhibition series.”

HOLY CROSS 0 at VERNON 40

VERNON — The Double-A No. 1-ranked Vernon Panthers cruised to a 40-0 win over the visiting Holy Cross Crusaders in exhibition play at Greater Vernon Athletic Park.

Dual threat quarterback Zack Smith passed for 159 yards, going 14-of-21 through the air.

Zack had a great dual-threat game today,” said Panthers head coach Sean Smith. “They brought consistent pressure off the edge, but he was able to escape and either run it for big gains or pass on the run when scrambling.”

The aerial assault was abetted by Caden Danbrook who hauled in three passes for 72 yards, including a 45-yard touchdown bomb.

Smith led all rushers with 115 yards rushing on nine carries, including rushing touchdowns of 10 and two yards.

Matthew Reich added 87 yards on 11 carries, scoring touchdowns from seven and 10 yards.

On defense, the Panthers stuffed the Crusaders and held them off the scoresheet.

Trent Charlton and Matthew Reich led the Cats with five tackles apiece while Grade 10 standout Roan Reid had four tackles to go along with an interception.

“We were able to have a pretty balanced attack today and I liked that we could move the ball in chunks down the field, chewing up the clock,” added Smith. “Our run game is starting to come around and we are making improvements each week. In the passing game we were able to hit them over the top once, but otherwise made some quick throws and took what was there.”

CENTENNIAL 38 at SULLIVAN HEIGHTS 0

SURREY — Passing efficiency was off the charts Friday as the Centaurs hit the road and secured their first win of the season over Surrey’s second-year Stars.

Quarterback Kayle Cowley went 3-of-5 for 56 yards and a touchdown, while also calling his own number five times for 43 yards and score.

In addition, fellow pivot Jovyn Sangha went 3-of-3 for 52 yards and two touchdown passes.

Brandon Wong caught a pair of one-yard touchdown passes.

Cole Kashino carried eight times for 71 yards while Ziad Sabry rushed six times for 61 yards.

“We got a very solid defensive effort,” said Centaurs’ head coach Dino Geremia, noting the efforts of both linebacker Howard Jiao (four tackles) and defensive end Stathi Tsangaris (five tackles).

 HANDSWORTH 41 at WINDSOR 8

NORTH VANCOUVER — Robert Lutman supplied over 200 yards of total offence, churning up the gridiron in impressive fashion Friday as the visiting Royals topped the host Dukes in convincing fashion, scoring all of its points in unanswered fashion.

Lutman not only carried 17 times for 142 yards and three scores, he also caught four passes for 82 yards and another.

On the day, the numbers added up to 224 total yards of offence and four touchdowns.

“Overall it was a good effort with next week’s Buchanan Bowl approaching,” said Handsworth’s first-year head coach Darren Benning.

The defense was led by linemen Ethan Rabiner and Jacob Castely who each recorded a trio of sacks. As well. A.J. Crookshank returned an interception for a touchdown and made three tackles.

QB Brett Birch-Jones had a clean pocket all day and went 16-of-24 for 230 yards behind an offensive line led by Aria Bahrami.

Justin Lefevre led the receivers with five catches for 108 yards and touchdown.

ROBERT BATEMAN 18 at W.J. MOUAT 21

ABBOTSFORD — Tyran Duval threw two touchdown passes to receiver Dhag Mora, and also called his own number once en route to the end zone as the W.J. Mouat Hawks scored all of their points in the second half to claim a comeback victory over its crosstown rivals, the Robert Bateman Timberwolves.

“I am very proud of the resiliency our squad showed this week to bounce back from another slow start, and score 21 second-half points,” said first-year head coach Andrew Harder. “We improved on a lot of the little details we needed to from our last opponent to shut down their run game. We played much more physical than last week.”

Harder was referencing a 34-14 loss to another in-city rival, the Abbotsford Panthers.

On Friday, both teams had trouble generating productive first-half offence, with the Timberwolves, behind a touchdown pass from quarterback Ty Martens to receiver Conner Martin holding a 6-0 halftime lead.

Duval hit Mora to tie the score in the third quarter, then put his team up 14-6 when he rushed for an eight-yard score which was accompanied by a two-point convert.

Bateman running back Phoenix Moller broke a host of Mouat tackles en route to a 60-yard scoring run that pulled the Wolves to within 14-12, but on a third-and-30 play in the fourth, Duvel hit Mora for what would be the winning score.

Martens’ short pass to Andy Tran made it 21-18.

“It is always frustrating to lose a game when you have so many self-inflicted wounds,” said Bateman head coach David Mills, whose team was 0-for-3 converting touchdowns, had a punt blocked and then gave up the big third-down play late in the contest.

“Kudos to Mouat for capitalizing on our mistakes and forcing us into some,” added Mills. “We knew their QB and RB were really good athletes and we knew shutting them down would be the key to winning.”

Duval went 10-of-19 for 164 yards and two touchdowns, while Mora’s two scoring grabs came as part of a five catch-90 yard day.

Andy Ofosuhene had 14 carries for 32 yards, as well as three tackles and a forced fumble on defence. Zac Badke and Anthony Jaruchik each added four tackles.

BELMONT 0 at BALLENAS 21

PARKSVILLE — The host Double-A Whalers opened at home Friday with a second straight win to begin the 2019 season, and both have come against Triple A competition.

After some tough early defence in the red zone, the Whalers opened the scoring on an eight-yard run by Demar Hohnstein.

Ballenas quarterback Ben Chomolok then recoverd his own onside kick, and later that series hit 6-foot-4 receiver Jacob Stockton with a 46-yard strike off a well-run slant.

In the fourth quarter, Chomolok found Stockton again, this time on a 20-yard fade to the back of the end zone on fourth-and-seven.

Belmont was marching down the field but interceptions by cornerbacks Joe Chaput and Jayden Haftner snuffed their momentum.

“Overall we are very happy with all phases of the game,” said coach Jeremy Conn. “We made adjustments that the players picked up, and that worked really well. Belmont is very well-coached and they have some great athletes so it was not an easy victory for sure.”

Hohnstein finished with 16 carries for 124 yds and a touchdown. Chomolok threw for 134 yards and two scores. Jack Giroux led the defense with seven tackles while Adrian Friesen had four. Hohnstein added four tackles and a sack.

SARDIS 24 at WEST VANCOUVER 13 (adds West Vancouver stats, quotes)

WEST VANCOUVER — The visiting Sardis Falcons got a halftime wake-up call, and it steeled their resolve to rally for victory Friday against the host Highlanders.

West Vancouver scored an 80-yard touchdown on the final play of the first half pull within 12-8, but the Falcons saved their best for last en route to an 11-point win.

“Proud of my team tonight as they answered me calling them out at the half and came out Falcon Tough in the second half,” said Sardis head coach Adam Smith.

Myles Joinson highlighted a productive day on the ground with two rushing majors while Noah Saunders had a score and a pick.

Aidan Saunders lead the way on defence for the Falcons with seven tackles and two knockdowns.

Receiver Jay Armitage led the Highlanders with six receptions for 176 yards and a touchdown. Armitage also had an interception on defence.

JV call ups Matthieu Theil and Bruce Jones also stood out in the losing cause. Theil completed all five of his passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns while Jones had seven receptions for 54 yards and a touchdown.

Great defensive play was also turned in by West Van linebacker Phillip Ho who supplied six tackles and suffocating press coverage.

“We’ll regroup and shift our focus to Argyle,” added West Vancouver coach David Hollinshead.

ARGYLE 0 at CARSON GRAHAM 26

NORTH VANCOUVER — Pitching a shutout a week before the start of conference play is something that will put a smile on the face of any head coach.

“I was really happy with how we played in all three phases,” said Eagles’ head coach Brian Brady after a convincing victory over its crosstown rivals. “On offense, I was happy with our efficiency, which is attributed to our offensive line. We ran the ball well and made good choices in the passing game.

“On defence we flowed well to the ball and played well as a team,” Brady added. “This is the aggressiveness we will need when we start conference play next week.”

Carson Graham scored on four of its six possessions including its first, as running back Trent Skill found the end zone from five yards out.

Skill added his second major of the game on an 18-yard run before halftime.

Argyle had the ball the entire third quarter but did not score, setting the stage for a pair of fourth-quarter TDs by the Eagles.

Lucas Granger scored on a 19-yard run, and Orly Pajarillaga threw a 38-yard strike to Nick Scott.

Granger finished 11-of-16 for 157 yards, Skill carried five times for 82 yards, and James Curleigh caught five passes for 72 yards. Mitchell Seiler had four tackles while Logan Weidner added three more and a sack.

SATURDAY

NON-CONFERENCE

12 p.m. — South Delta at Seaquam

1:30 p.m. — Notre Dame at Abbotsford, Eric Hamber at Frank Hurt

2 p.m. — Mt. Boucherie Earl Marriott

DOUBLE A

INTERIOR CONFERENCE

2:30 p.m. — Okanagan Mission at Clarence Fulton

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