LANGLEY — Week 6 of the BCHSF season is now upon us, and as conference races become a little more focused, the action picks up in intensity.
Here’s a look at five games to watch, plus full schedules by conference and last week’s scoreboard below:
1 ABBOTSFORD (2-1) at No. 5 ST. THOMAS MORE (3-0)
Triple A
Friday, 7:30 p.m., Burnaby Lake
The skinny — This Eastern Conference clash has all the makings of a classic, yet there is one key question to consider: Will Abby running back Jalem Catlin play?
Panthers’ head coach Jay Fujimura told VarsityLetters.ca late Thursday morning that he is unsure.
Catlin, who leads AAA football in rushing yards, and averages 236 ypg overall this season, suffered a leg injury in last week’s 28-6 loss at Lord Tweedsmuir.
Catlin’s status will likely be game time, meaning Silvestro Aging and Connor Meher may be pushed into heavy duty.
The Knights, coming off a 16-13 win over Kelowna last week, have played solid defence in concert with its growing balance on offence, where quarterback Anthony De Lazzari and running back Nick Osho, among others, have shone.
2 No. 2 SOUTH DELTA (3-0) at NOTRE DAME (1-2)
Friday, 5 p.m., Burnaby Lake
Triple A
The skinny — No other way to say it, this one is a gut check game for the host Jugglers. Coming off a 34-0 loss last week at Mt. Douglas, Notre Dame needs to play their best game of the season here, win or lose, to get themselves back on track in what is the province’s toughest league. The Sun Devils are big favourites behind splendid senior quarterback Ben McDonald and his cache of sure-handed playmakers. Given the pedigree of both rosters, the history of both programs and the two coaching staffs involved, it should be a battle.
3 No. 3 VANCOUVER COLLEGE (2-1) at CARSON GRAHAM (1-2)
Triple A
Friday, 3:45 p.m., Carson Graham Secondary
The skinny — The Fighting Irish enter has heavy favourites, and with their dynamic offensive weapons, like Daesaun Johnson and Jason Soriano, they are capable of putting points on the board in a hurry. Where the intrigue lies is in the growing improvement which has been shown by the host Eagles’ Air Raid offence. Last week in a 35-12 loss to No. 1 New Westminster, it generated 469 yards of offence. That is impressive, but so has been the play of the VC defence, last week led by Marcus Teoli’s game-high six tackles in a shutout win over Belmont.
4 W.J. MOUAT (1-0) at EARL MARRIOTT (3-0)
Triple A
Friday, 3:30 p.m., Earl Marriott Secondary
The skinny — It’s a huge clash between unbeatens in the Pacific Conference’s North Division,.
Surrey’s host Mariners have jumped out to a 3-0 lead atop the league, and they will try to take a stranglehold on the proceedings against a 1-0 Mouat team.
The Hawks are coming off an impressive 44-28 win last week against Nanaimo District where quarterback Tyran Duval led the way with 253 yards passing and four touchdowns.
The quarterback on the other side has also been pretty darn good.
Sam La Roue threw three scoring strikes, and combined to both rush and pass for 331 yards.
5 No. 2 LANGLEY (1-0) at No. 5 ROBERT BATEMAN (0-0)
Friday, 3 p.m., at Robert Bateman Secondary
Double A
The skinny — Both teams have scheduled tough in the non-conference portion of their respective seasons, but the visiting Saints, the surprise of the season in B.C. high school football, have been especially dominant on the ground as RB-1 Kai Thomas has rushed for 693 yards and seven touchdowns over the Saints’ 4-0 (1-0 league) overall start.
“We have to try to slow the run game, it’s their bread and butter,” said Bateman head coach David Mills. “We have to make them work for it and limit those big chunk plays, make them go 10-to-12 plays down the field if they are going to score.”
THIS WEEK
AAA
FRIDAY
PACIFIC CONFERENCE
SOUTH DIVISION
5 p.m. — Sardis at Sullivan Heights (Cloverdale Athletic Park)
6:30 p.m. — West Vancouver at Rutland (Apple Bowl)
NORTH DIVISION
3:30 p.m. — W.J. Mouat at Earl Marriott
WESTERN CONFERENCE
3:45 p.m. — Vancouver College at Carson Graham
5 p.m. — South Delta at Notre Dame (Burnaby Lake)
7 p.m. — Mt. Douglas at Belmont (Goudy Field)
7:30 p.m. — Handsworth at New Westminster (Mercer Stadium)
EASTERN CONFERENCE
3 p.m. — Terry Fox at Mission (Mission Sports Field turf)
4 p.m. — Centennial at Kelowna (Apple Bowl)
7:30 p.m.— Abbotsford at St. Thomas More (Burnaby Lake)
SATURDAY
PACIFIC CONFERENCE
SOUTH DIVISION
2 p.m. — Eric Hamber at Mt. Boucherie
EASTERN CONFERENCE
12 p.m. — Lord Tweedsmuir at Seaquam
NON-CONFERENCE
LAST WEEK
AAA
PACIFIC CONFERENCE
SOUTH DIVISION
Rutland 10 Eric Hamber 0
Mt. Boucherie 43 Sullivan Heights 0
NORTH DIVISION
Earl Marriott 42 West Vancouver 0
W.J. Mouat 44 Nanaimo District 28
WESTERN CONFERENCE
South Delta 30 Handsworth 6
New Westminster 35 Carson Graham 12
Vancouver College 36 Belmont 0
Mt. Douglas 34 Notre Dame 0
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Seaquam 28 Terry Fox 14
St. Thomas More 16 Kelowna 13
Lord Tweedsmuir 28 Abbotsford 6
Mission 30 Centnenial 14
NON-CONFERENCE
Sardis 53 Okanagan Mission 21
AA
FRIDAY
WESTERN CONFERENCE
2 p.m. — John Barsby at Argyle (William Griffin Park)
EASTERN CONFERENCE
3 p.m. — Langley at Robert Bateman
7 p.m. — Holy Cross at G.W. Graham (Exhibition Stadium)
INTERIOR CONFERENCE
6 p.m. — South Kamloops at Salmon Arm (Little Mountain)
7 p.m. – Okanagan Mission at Clarence Fulton (Greater Vernon Athletic)
NORTHERN CONFERENCE
4:30 p.m. — Nechako Valley at College Heights (Masich Stadium)
7 p.m. — Prince George at Kelly Road (Masich Stadium)
SATURDAY
NON-CONFERENCE
1:30 p.m. — Windsor at Frank Hurt
LAST WEEK
AA
FRIDAY
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Ballenas 26 John Barsby 14
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Langley 46 Holy Cross 6
INTERIOR CONFERENCE
Vernon 49 Salmon Arm 7
South Kamloops 28 Clarence Fulton 6
NON-CONFERENCE
Sardis 52 Okanagan Mission 21
Robert Bateman 42 Argyle 13
SATURDAY
EASTERN CONFERENCE
G.W. Graham 42 Frank Hurt 0
NORTHERN CONFERENCE
Nechako Valley 15 Prince George 0
College Heights 46 Kelly Road 16
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.
