The shootout of all shootouts; Hawks put up 76 in historic offensive duel
Remember last week when I said the matchup between the New Westminster Hyacks and WJ Mouat Hawks was likely to be an old-fashioned shootout? Well, I was wrong. This was no mere old-fashioned shootout; this was the highest scoring game in BC High School Football history as the Hawks emerged victorious 76-53 over the Hyacks in an all-time offensive duel.
Both teams’ defences were at a loss most of the night. Both teams’ units had three stops apiece, but the biggest difference was on special teams. The Hyacks fumbled two kickoff returns, the first being after Mouat had taken a 22-21 lead. Those two costly mistakes led to the Hawks’ deadly offence getting extra possessions and as they did all game, they made the Hyacks pay.
Elijah Black, Max Pratt and Santiago Llarena were unstoppable for the Hawks. Black found both Pratt and Llarena over and over as the Hawks racked up points through the air. When the Hyacks sold out to stop the trio, Charlie Franson churned out yards on the ground, breaking away for multiple long touchdown runs.
The Hyacks’ defence tried everything to slow down Black. When they sent all-out pressure, Black stayed poised and found Pratt, who made multiple ridiculous catches and was unguardable one-on-one. When they doubled, Pratt Llarena came up with huge catches on the sidelines. In the rare moments when both players were covered, Black would extend plays with his legs, keeping drives alive or scoring on his own.
The Hyacks’ offence started their attack on the ground. Mateo McDonell attacked the edges of the Hawks’ defence, scoring on jet sweeps. Kah’ri Johnson did his thing, attacking up the middle in the ground game, while Gavin Rai found Eli Smith through the air for massive chunk plays, including a long touchdown.
Once the Hawks got ahead by a couple of scores, the Hyacks had no chance of catching them. Every time the Hyacks would answer a Hawks major, Mouat would score mere plays later in deflating fashion.
“I’m so proud of how our players fought till the final whistle. We knew we needed to play near perfect to win this game and after those turnovers and being down multiple scores, it would’ve been easy for the players to quit, but they refused,” said Hyacks’ head coach Andrew McKechnie.
“I’d like to thank our seniors for all the hard work they’ve put into this program. Our coaching staff is so proud of how far they’ve come as individuals.”
The Hawks will now head to the dome to take on the South Delta Sun Devils next Sunday. With their passing attack being the most explosive I’ve seen in the province’s history and the perfect conditions of BC Place at their side, the Hawks will be the team to beat in the final four.
Panthers’ defence dominant in convincing win
The Lord Tweedsmuir Panthers found themselves with a tall task on Friday. That being contain, Notre Dame Jugglers quarterback Caleb Parrotta, who has been driving defensive coordinators up the wall all season long. The Panthers didn’t just contain Parrotta, they flat-out shut him and the Jugglers’ offence down on their way to a 35-9 victory.
The Panthers’ defence didn’t give the Jugglers’ signal caller a chance all afternoon. The second the ball was snapped, it was a party in the Jugglers’ backfield.
LT’s defensive line attacked with impeccable discipline in their rush lanes, and because of it, even Parrotta, who has had dozens of Houdini-esque escapes this season, had no lane to exit the pocket or time to find his targets.
Major credit must go to the Panthers’ pass rushers. Including Tyler Jones, who had 8 tackles and 2 sacks, Finn Meberg with 4 tackles and 2 sacks (one being a strip sack) and Kingston Miskinis with 2 tackles and 2 sacks.
Those Panthers’ defenders led their defensive unit to finish with a staggering 6 sacks and zero points allowed on the day (As all of the Jugglers’ points were scored on defence). Hudson Brynjolfson capitalized on the pressure up front, grabbing 2 interceptions.
As dominant as the Panthers’ defence was, a pick-six by Jugglers outside linebacker Klyde Tan kept his team in this game as the Panthers led by just a single score at the half, 14-7.
Needing a spark to get their offence going, the Panthers put the ball in their star tailback’s hands. Jerin Harinen took control of the game and the Panthers never looked back. Harinen finished with 21 rushes for 167 yards and 4 scores on the day.
Quarterback Chase Thurston turned things around after that early pick-six, finishing 10/17, for 174 yards passing and one major, while adding 7 Rushes for 80 yards on the ground. When dropping back, Thurston often turned to his favourite target Logan Wager, who had 6 receptions for 110 yards and a score.
“In a game where some things didn’t go right initially, I thought our players did a good job of refocusing and getting back on track. We’re looking forward to the opportunity to play in BC Place on Sunday in the semi-finals,” said Panthers head coach Michael Carter post-game.
The Panthers will get back to work and will have till next Sunday to prepare for their rematch against the Vancouver College Fighting Irish, a game in which the Panthers won earlier this year 23-10.
Sun Devils on to Semi-Finals
In the playoffs, the formula towards victory is typically running the football, leaning on your star players, playing stout on defence and special teams, while winning the turnover battle. The South Delta Sun Devils and Centennial Centaurs followed that plan to an equally effective level in all but one phase.
If you look at the box score, the stats were equal in all but one category, turnovers. The Sun Devils forced 5 of them on the night and took full advantage of their extra possessions, winning 21-7 and punching their ticket to the Semi-Finals.
In a game that matched the 4th- and 5th-seeded teams and a rematch of an early-season exhibition game that Centennial won 22-20, both teams knew this would be a tight battle.
With their season on the line, the Sun Devils team continued to lean on Damian Dumas. The quarterback had 100 yards rushing, nearly as many yards through the air and kept drives alive for South Delta all game on offence. Dumas was also a force on the defensive side of the ball, finishing with 6 tackles and two fumble recoveries.
Dumas didn’t do it all, though. Will Jollymore played the game of his life, accounting for 2 of the 3 Sundevils TDs on hard-fought physical runs.
On special teams, Luke Dunn did it again. The oh so rare Offensive Guard/linebacker/kickreturner caught a kickoff in stride, hit the sideline and raced into the endzone for his second Kickoff return touchdown of the year. Dunn added 9 tackles and a fumble recovery on defence.
The Centaurs had another strong performance by Jasper Baron, who had the team’s lone score, but were unable to overcome their 5 costly turnovers. Centaurs head coach Dino Geremia was proud of his team postgame despite the loss.
“We have to be proud of our season and the growth we have shown as a program. We as coaches could not be prouder of our players.”
With their victory, the Sun Devils will now take on the undefeated WJ Mouat Hawks next week at BC Place with a spot in the championship game on the line.
Titans Outlast Bulldogs in 49–41 Shootout to Advance to AA Semifinal
Courtesy: Barrie de Boer
NANAIMO, B.C. — Friday, December 13 (11 a.m.) — the Kamloops Titans varsity football team battled their way to a thrilling 49–41 AA quarterfinal victory over the John Barsby Bulldogs, earning a spot in next weekend’s semifinal.
Both teams wasted no time, scoring on their opening drives. The first major momentum shift came when standout defensive end Jayden de Boer burst through for a blocked extra-point attempt, giving the Titans the earliest edge in a contest where every point mattered.
Offense Ignites Early and Often
Quarterback Cole Rigler delivered a masterclass performance, going 29-for-33 for 381 yards and 5 touchdowns, carving up the Bulldogs’ secondary with precision and poise.
Linebacker/receiver Derian Dyck was spectacular on offense hauling in 6 receptions for 123 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Running back Lloyd Heggen powered the offense with 150 all-purpose yards and a touchdown, providing crucial production on the ground and through the air.
One of the game’s most electrifying moments came when Jayden de Boer—already making his mark defensively—added a touchdown on a hook-and-ladder play that stunned the Bulldogs’ defense.
Defense Delivers Game-Changing Plays
The Titans’ defense matched the offense’s intensity. Linebacker Devin Price led the unit with an incredible 17 tackles, anchoring the group during critical stretches.
Derian Dyck, pulling double duty, added 10 tackles, solidifying his status as one of the game’s most impactful two-way players.
Defensive back Mason (chuck) Gozda provided a game-breaking highlight with a pick-six, swinging momentum firmly toward Kamloops in the second half.
Titans March Forward
With their 49–41 victory in Nanaimo, the Kamloops Titans now advance to the AA semifinal next Sunday, one win away from the provincial final.
Fighting Irish Win Defensive Battle in Abbotsford, Advance to BC AAA Semi-Finals
Semi-Finals By: Jacob Mallari (VC Football Communications)
ABBOTSFORD, BC — The Vancouver College Fighting Irish earned a gritty 10–6 victory over the #3-ranked Robert Bateman Timberwolves on Friday afternoon in Abbotsford, clinching their spot in the 2025 AAA Provincial Semi-Finals.
In a matchup defined by physicality and defensive excellence from both sides, the Irish leaned on resilience and timely execution to survive one of their toughest tests of the season. The first half set the tone for a defensive struggle.
Neither offence found early momentum, as both teams traded stops and field position. Vancouver College broke the stalemate with a well-struck field goal, but Bateman’s defence made every yard hard to come by.
Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator Regan Oey (VC ’16) noted the quality of their opponent, saying Bateman “showed that they are one of the best programs in the province…well prepared, physical, and deserving of credit for an outstanding season.”
That strength was on full display throughout the game, keeping the Irish offence in check early. Bateman struck back in the second quarter, scoring their lone touchdown of the game. But the Irish special teams delivered one of the game’s most important plays, blocking the PAT to keep the deficit at three.
That swing would prove crucial, as Vancouver College began to regain momentum. The offence responded with a steady, composed drive capped by Grade 10 running back Rogan Bromley powering in from seven yards out to give the Irish the lead for good. From there, the Irish defence took over.
Special Teams Coordinator Ben Kolb (VC ’21) highlighted the unit’s composure under pressure, noting that the “Defence played outstanding, making big stops in key moments and setting the tone throughout the game.”
Including a massive goal-line stand earlier in the contest. Their toughness would be tested once more in the dying minutes, when Bateman converted a fourth down near midfield to keep their hopes alive. But on their second fourth-down attempt of the drive, with less than 30 seconds remaining, Grade 10 defensive back Alejandro Lando broke up a pass in tight coverage, sealing the win and allowing the Irish to kneel out the clock.
Coach Oey emphasized that those stops were the difference in such a tight playoff game, adding that “our defence made stops on critical downs, and that was the difference in the game.”
Kolb echoed that sentiment, calling the performance a “gritty team effort” and a strong foundation to build on heading into the next round.
With the victory, the Fighting Irish advance to the BC AAA Semi-Finals, where they will face the Lord Tweedsmuir Panthers on Sunday, November 23rd, 2025, at BC Place. Kickoff time is to be determined.