Sun Devils On to AAA Finals after winning battle of dynamic duos
Who doesn’t like a good shootout? Sometimes, it doesn’t matter how well a defensive unit plays, there’s just nothing you can do about a perfectly-placed pass or a flawlessly executed run play. In the AAA SemiFinal game between The W.J. Mouat Hawks and the South Delta Sun Devils, South Delta’s offense proved to be exactly one point better in a 43-42 barn burner in one of the best games at the dome in recent memory.
This one was a battle between both team’s dynamic duos. For the Sun Devils, it was the Dumas Brothers leading the way for their team once again. For the Hawks, starting pivot Elijah Black and running back Joel Muller were all over the field, making life miserable for the Sun Devils defense all game.
Muller may have been the best player on the field. Playing on both sides of the ball, the running back/ linebacker was everywhere. Muller made solo tackles in space, pressured Dumas when blitzing, and flew around the field on every snap. The star did all that while also serving as the Hawks’s primary ball carrier on offense.
For the first three-quarters, every time one set of stars would find the endzone, the other set would respond quickly. Dominic Dumas had another amazing game, spreading the ball around to his targets, especially Holden Hunter, who had multiple huge catches on the night.
Right after Dominic would find one of his targets for a score, Black would do the same for the Hawks. Black stayed calm in the pocket all night. Unphased by the pressure the Sun Devils threw at him, the starting pivot delivered the ball on time all night with pressure in his face and moved the chains for the Hawks.
Muller showcased his versatility as a back all night. Whether it was running the ball hard between the tackles, hitting the jets on outside runs, or catching the ball out of the backfield, Muller had massive chunk plays on what seemed like every other drive.
Sun Devils back Damian Dumas also knows how to make big plays. The AAA MVP had multiple long runs on designed carries and had huge chunk plays in the screen game to match Muller’s big day.
Both team’s stars battled it out to a 28-28 score to start the fourth quarter before all hell broke loose. After Damian capped off a long Sun Devils drive to make the score 35-28, it was time for the Hawks to respond again.
Like they had all night, Black and Muller took control. Black stood tall in the pocket and delivered strikes to his targets on critical passing downs. Muller ran hard between the tackles and finally broke a twenty-plus-yard run on a critical third down.
A couple of plays later, the Hawks used Muller as a decoy. Faking a toss to the right, Muller pulled multiple Sun Devils defenders away as the Hawks ran a counter back the other way to Santiago Llarena, who got tackled at the one-yard line on a twenty-yard gain. Black would pull the ball on a zone read one play later, and the game was tied at 35.
The ensuing drive would see a very rare occurrence, a Sun Devils three and out. With Mouat’s defense coming up big and holding the Dumas brothers at bay, the Hawks offense had the ball back with 2:10 to go on the clock.
Black made multiple tough throws on a line on deep out routes to the field and got the Hawks moving. Then, on a third and six and the 37-yard line, it was time for the dynamic duo of Muller and Black to make the biggest play of the game thus far.
The Sun Devils blitzed Black and played man coverage behind their pressure. The Hawks coaching staff made the perfect play call and sent Muller out of the backfield to the flat and had their receivers set a pick for him. Muller caught the ball in stride, and as Two Sun Devils attempted to bring the back down, they crashed into each other and fell into a heap. Muller took it the distance for a major as the crowd at BC place erupted.
With 1:09 left in the game, the Hawks led 42-35. With the ball now back in the Sun Devils hands the team knew their whole season came down to this one drive.
Starting at their own 35, Dominic faded back to pass on first and ten. The Sun Devils pivot found Koen Hubbard on a crossing route across the middle, and after breaking a tackle, Hubbard had the ball all the way to Mouat’s 36-yard line.
With 45 seconds left in the game, it was time for some Dumas Brothers magic. Dominic dropped back to pass and faced immediate pressure. Dominic stepped up into the pocket but was wrapped up by a Hawks defender. Unphased, he shoveled the ball to his brother Damian, who broke a tackle and took the ball inside the ten-yard line on a crazy backyard football play.
On second and goal with just twenty seconds remaining, the Sun Devils called on Damian again, this time within the structure of the playbook. Damian caught a screen pass on the right sideline, made a Hawks defender miss, and dove across the right pylon to make the score 42-41.
Now, for Sun Devils Head Coach Ray Moon, it was decision time. Do you kick the extra point and go into overtime? Or do you go for two and the win? Moon chose the ladder, and the Sun Devils lined up for the two-point conversion.
With the ball on the left hashmark, Dominic took the snap from the gun and sprinted to his right. As multiple Hawks defenders converged on him on the right sideline, not allowing him to turn the corner, he flipped the ball over their heads to a wide-open Damian, who kept both his feet in bounds for the game-winning conversion.
In a game where both teams laid it all on the line, the Sun Devils had one more play in them to eke out a 43-42 win and punch their ticket to the AAA Finals next week.
The Sun Devils now get their second crack at the Vancouver Fighting Irish. South Delta gave VC its toughest test of the year back in early October and hopes things turn out differently this time around.
Who will prevail next week? The incredible depth of VC or the star power of the Dumas brothers and the Sun Devils? Only time will tell.
Irish on their way to the AAA finals for the third straight year
The Vancouver College Fighting Irish continue to be inevitable. At the dome on the big stage, the Irish handled business as per usual with a 31-8 victory over the Lord Tweedsmuir Panthers in a AAA Semi Finals matchup.
The best teams are never satisfied with the status quo. Despite being unbeaten on the season, VC pulled out various new looks on both sides of the ball to keep the Panthers guessing.
The Irish pulled out some brand new motions and formations on a long opening drive that Tristan Perdido capped off with a seven-yard rushing score.
On defense, the Fighting Irish pulled out a 3-3 stack look and pressured the Panthers masterfully on passing downs. Panthers quarterback Chase Thurston, who’s been on fire all playoffs long, struggled to find a rhythm with VC throwing various different looks his way.
Those different defensive looks lead to two early interceptions by the Irish defense. First, it was Noah Lowden staying disciplined in zone coverage and snatching the ball away from the Panthers. Then, on the very next drive, Lucas Gonzales baited Thurston into throwing into a tight window on the run and made him pay with a pick of his own.
Now, you might think that, being up 7-0 and getting those two interceptions deep in the Panthers’ territory, the Irish would be up big early on. Well, the Panther’s defense stepped up big time, forcing a punt after the first interception and then forcing a field goal attempt after the second turnover that missed; the score remained 7-0.
Avoiding early disaster, the Panthers were still in the game. After moving the ball from deep in their own end to midfield, a big fourth and seven decision awaited the Panthers. Tweedsmuir made a gutsy fake punt call that was sniffed out perfectly by the Irish two yards short of the first down marker.
With the ball back at midfield, the Irish dialed up a play to their star wideout. Quarterback Parker Orr uncorked a deep ball into the middle of the field. Nathan Lowden, who had a Panthers defender all over him, went up and over to snag the ball for a ridiculous contested catch deep into Panther’s territory.
The Irish would ultimately have to settle for another field goal attempt, this one going through the uprights to give them a 10-0 lead, but it was clear momentum had shifted in VC’s favor.
After the Irish defense got another stop VC had the ball back and decided it was time to pound the rock. VC’s offensive line took over the game, creating holes for Perdido to run through before powering his way to extra yards after contact.
After Perdido and the offensive line had worn the Panthers down, it was time for some trickery. Running back Ryder Quintana checked into the game and sprinted outside to his right on what appeared to be a toss play. Quintana pulled up mid-sprint and threw the ball 30 yards into the corner of the endzone to a wide-open Nathan Lowden for six.
Down 17-0 at the half, the Panthers knew they were running out of time. Thurston and the Panthers offense responded emphatically on the first possession of the third quarter.
Thurston hit receiver Tristan Ford on a dart over the middle for a big gain to start the drive. A couple of plays later, Peyton Mansfield bounced off Irish defenders on his way to a physical run, resulting in the Panther’s first points of the game.
After both teams traded interceptions, the Irish had the ball at the Panthers 35-yard line. It took only one play for Perdido to bounce a trap play outside, patiently following his blocks for another Irish score to put his team up 24-6.
To start the fourth quarter, the Panthers were down to their last of nine lives. With four shots from the one-yard line to cut into the Irish lead, they were stuffed by VC’s defense each and every time. The Irish’s defense had stepped up big time once again.
The Irish would use their thunder-and-lightning backfield duo of Perdido and Quintana the rest of the way, add another score, and bleed the clock down to zero.
With their 31-8 victory, the Fighting Irish will take on the South Delta Sun Devils with a chance to three-peat as AAA Champions. The Sun Devils gave the Irish the best run for their money earlier this season when they led 10-9 in the fourth quarter before VC’s offense exploded in the final frame for a 31-10 win.
With both teams playing at the top of their game, this matchup is one you don’t want to miss. Tune in next week to see if the Irish continue their dynasty or if the Sun Devils can hand VC their first loss in three seasons.
Panthers punch their ticket to AA Finals
The Vernon Panthers continue to show why they’re the team to beat in AA. The Panthers dominated their Semi Final matchup against the College Heights Cougars 36-14 in a game they controlled from the opening snap.
The Panthers play disciplined, sound, and physical football in all three phases of the game. Their defense flies around the field, making sound tackles, covering receivers, and filling the run with sound gap control.
The team’s offense has plenty of weapons, including receiver Anderson Bicknell and running back Jonah Lee. Their offensive line, coached by former BC Lion Angus Reid, is physical and as well-coached as you’ll see at the high school level.
Sounds like a team ready to repeat as AA champs, right? Well, if all that didn’t convince you, they also had AA MVP Cole Budgen at quarterback.
Budgen can make any throw on the field. The strong-armed quarterback showcased his arm strength on the game’s first two drives. On the Panther’s first possession, Budgen dropped back after faking to his running back and launched a 50-yard moon ball to receiver Jeff Curtis to open up the scoring.
Not satisfied with that gorgeous deep ball, on the Panther’s next drive, Budgen threw a perfect pass to Bicknell on a double move, and the Panthers were up 14-0 just five minutes in.
The Panthers wouldn’t look back from there. They’d go up 30-0 in the second half before the Cougars would get on the board twice for a 36-14 final. Vernon now has the chance to repeat as AA Champions when they take on the Windsor Wolves next week.
Budgen was asked about his team’s chances post-game.
“We have a good group this year, a lot of grade 11s returning,” said Budgen.
“I think we just have to find where they’re weaker and where we’re stronger and play a good game and execute.”
The Panthers got the best of the Wolves back in September 21-0. next week’s game will be a great look at how far these teams have grown since then. The quarterback matchup of Budgen and the Wolf’s Emmet Ward will be a must-watch.
Will the Wolves get their revenge? Or will the Panthers continue their dominance? We’ll find out next weekend.
Smith and Ward lead the Wolves to AA Championship game
Deep in the playoffs, your star players have to show up when it matters most. In the AA Semi-final matchup between the Robert Bateman Timber Wolves and the Windsor Wolves, Windsor’s stars stepped up their game and led their team to a 44-28 victory, punching their ticket to the AA Final game.
Running back Brady Smith was the first star to shine for Windsor. Smith ripped off a sixty-yard run and opened the scoring for the Wolves. After Bateman’s Cade Handy plowed into the endzone to cut the lead to 7-6, it was Smith’s turn to respond.
On the ensuing drive, Windsor ran a counter play to the short side of the field. Bateman’s defense appeared to play it absolutely perfectly as only a sliver of a hole was created. Smith cut through that minuscule opening and ripped off another 60-plus yard run down the left sideline for another score.
With 11:47 still to go in the first half, Smith already had over 130 yards of rushing and had his team up 15-6. For the rest of the half, it appeared that both team’s defenses had finally figured it out. With Bateman’s offense struggling, their special teams unit stepped up big time, with time ticking down in the second frame.
With Windsor punting from their own endzone, Bateman returner Dante Meyer stood at midfield. Meyer took the bouncing kick down the left sideline and took off with his blazing speed. Finally, a Wolves defender angled him out of bounds inside the 20-yard line. Jackson Kliewer rewarded Meyer for his efforts and cut the deficit to 15-13 going into the half.
Now, most teams would be ecstatic to have a star like Smith alone. Windsor must be counting their lucky stars because they also have Waterloo commit Emmet Ward at the helm. With Bateman’s defense finally figuring out Smith, Ward took matters into his own hands.
Ward makes plays out of structure you just can’t teach. He’ll roll out of the pocket and seem to be sprinting towards the sideline but throw a laser across the field at the last second for a big completion. The quarterback has an uncanny ability to extend plays. No play is ever over with him under center.
Ward drove his team all the way downfield and punched the ball in himself deep in enemy territory to start the second half and put Windsor up 22-13.
Kliewer and the Timberwolves would strike right back and would make the score 22-20. With the ball back in his hands, Ward was poised to show off his arm.
Ward rolled to his right on a sprintout pass. Much to the dismay of Bateman’s defense, Ward stopped up and unleashed a bomb down to the left sideline. The pass fell perfectly into the hands of Smith, who was running a wheel route all by himself, and after making one defender miss, it was another score for Windsor, and it was 29-20.
In the fourth quarter, Ward put away the game for good. First, he extended a play in the pocket and found receiver Xavian Washington across the middle. Washington made multiple defender misses and found the endzone again for Windsor.
Ward then capped off his incredible day by launching the ball over 40 yards to a wide-open Oscar Rouillard to put the game away for good.
With their 44-28 victory, Windsor is now one game away from a BC Highschool AA Championship.