W.J. MOUAT HAWKS - 37 SPECTRUM THUNDER - 0
A dominant defensive performance helped the Hawks improve to a 3-1 record on Friday afternoon.
The Mouat defence has now held the opposition to one touchdown or less in three of its four games, and have only allowed one touchdown in the last two games.
The Hawks scored on the game’s opening drive, as Ebiye Okoko scored his first of two touchdowns to give Mouat an early cushion. Kicker Arman Dhaliwal added a field goal to make it 10-0 Hawks after one quarter.
Okoko made it 17-0 after catching a short pass from quarterback Tyran Duval and rumbling in 45 yards for his second major. Duval then connected on a perfect pass to wide receiver Keenan Baker, who grabbed a 30-yard touchdown catch in the corner of the end zone to give Mouat the 23-0 lead at halftime.
Nathan Hausermann provided the offence in the second half, recovering a fumble for a major on defence and then adding a rushing touchdown near the end of the third quarter to make it 37-0.
Hawks head coach Travis Bell said it was his team’s best effort so far this season.
“It was definitely our most complete game of the year,” he said. “The defence played really sound and offensively we were able to get our passing game in gear. They stacked the box to take away our run and Duval [quarterback] played really well. We need him to make those completions and big plays, he also made some big plays with his feet today.”
Defensive lineman Ethan Erickson was a huge factor in the Hawks win, the Grade 12 student consistently busted through the Spectrum offensive line and racked up a handful of tackles and sacks.
“His first step is probably the best in the province,” he said, noting he had a great game. “He’s part of our aggressive defence that defensive coordinator Andrew Harder runs. The guys are buying into it and we have athletes who can make the other team pay.”
Dhaliwal has also been a bright spot for the Hawks, both as kicker and on the defensive line.
“We’re very confident with his kicking,” Bell said. “He’s kicking 50-yarders in practice and he could really go places with his kicking.”
Mouat next hosts Sullivan Heights on Friday, Oct. 5 at 7 p.m.
| Panthers running back Jalem Catlin darts around a Kelowna defender on Friday. (Ben Lypka/Abbotsford News) |
ABBOTSFORD PANTHERS - 29 KELOWNA OWLS - 10
After a rough showing in Mission last week, the Abbotsford Panthers returned to the win column today (Friday).
The Panthers hammered the Owls with a consistent running attack and got three interceptions from Ryan Street to control the ball and win 29-10 at Panther Field.
Jalem Catlin had three touchdowns, and Luke Szmutko scored the other major in the win.
Panthers head coach Jay Fujimura said his team’s game plan was to go hard with the run and hold onto the ball for as long as possible.
“Kelowna is a very skilled team and a lot of that skill is in their secondary,” he said. “After our first series, we wanted to keep them in the box and we went to a heavier set where we focused on running the ball and killing the clock. We wanted to keep out offence on the field as much as we could and we did that.”
Catlin also grabbed an interception to go along with his hat trick of touchdowns.
Fujimura said his team was more prepared than last week against Mission, and the team’s athleticism should allow them to compete with any team in the AAA’s Eastern conference.
“We’re just coming together now and I think we have the skill to compete against Boucherie [next week],” he said. “We just need to put the time and effort in.”
The Panthers improve to 1-1 in regular season play with the win. The club next travels to Kelowna to battle the aforementioned Mt. Boucherie Bears under the Friday Night Lights. That game kicks off at 6 p.m.
| Bateman's Ryan Sztuhar fights a Barbsy defender on Friday. (John Morrow/Abbotsford News) |
ROBERT BATEMAN TIMBERWOLVES - 9 JOHN BARSBY BULLDOGS - 25
At Bateman Field, the Timberwolves fell victim to three busted coverage plays on long yardage situations that led to touchdowns and ultimately spelled doom for the home club in an exhibition game against Barsby.
Wolves quarterback Logan McDonald and wide receiver Markus Rauch connected for the team’s lone touchdown, with Rauch adding an interception on defence.
Bateman next opens the regular season in Chilliwack against the G.W. Graham Grizzlies on Oct. 12. The home opener for the Timberwolves occurs on Oct. 19, when they host the Frank Hurt Hornets.
For more on all the games, visit bchighschoolfootball.com.