On a rainy Friday evening, the W.J. Mouat Hawks senior varsity football team’s running game was put to the test in week one of B.C. high school football regular season AAA action, and the two-headed monster of Nathan Hausermann and Ebiye Okoko-Chomseng passed with flying colours.
The pair fuelled the Hawks offence in a dominant 41-6 win over the Earl Marriott Mariners at Latham Field on Friday, collecting over 400 yards and combining for four touchdowns. Aidan Lal, the third piece of the rushing puzzle for Mouat, added 37 yards and one touchdown. Running back Amani Pullar-Dyck also scored a major.
The Hawks overcame a solid, but shaky at times first half that saw them lead 15-0. Despite the lead, Mouat fumbled the ball three times in the red zone. Things calmed down for the club in the second half, and they cruised to the win.
“Offensively we were really able to control the line of scrimmage and that was our game plan coming into today,” said Hawks head coach Travis Bell. “After the first half it was really still a two-score game because we gave the ball up so many times, but the second half was much better.”
Bell said he likes what he saw from the Hawks ground game.
“We have three guys that can run the ball - two guys with power and one who’s a speedster,” he said. “As long as our offensive line is able to open up some holes, we have some athletes who can do something with that.”
Despite the win, Bell said his club needs to clean up the turnovers and protect the ball better. He also said that quarterback Tyran Duval didn’t get a chance to air out the ball because of the poor weather, but that he’s confident he will impress when he gets the chance.
Mouat was led defensively by Amani Dyck and Okoko-Chomseng, who each recorded five tackles.
The Hawks next travel to Vancouver to take on the Eric Hamber Griffins on Friday. The next home game for the club is on Sept. 28 when they host the Spectrum Thunder.
Meanwhile in Vernon, the Robert Bateman Timberwolves opened the exhibition schedule with an impressive 40-8 win over the Clarence Fulton Maroons on Friday.
Wolves quarterback Logan McDonald threw for four touchdowns and 244 yards in the win. Wide receiver Ryan Sztuhar grabbed a pair of majors and collected 122 yards receiving, with Phoenix Moller catching one and running for one. Sam Davenport caught one touchdown and also scored a pick-six.
Moller also led the way defensively with 11 tackles.
Bateman continues the exhibition schedule on the road against the Windsor Dukes on Friday. The club hosts exhibition games on Sept. 21 and 28 and then opens the AA regular season at home on Oct. 5.
Over at Panther Field, the Abbotsford Panthers senior varsity club fell 35-7 to the Terry Fox Ravens in an exhibition game on Friday.
The exhibition schedule continues for the Panthers on Friday, when they travel to New Westminster to battle the Hyacks. The regular season begins on Sept. 21 for Abbotsford, when they travel to Mission.
For more on the Timberwolves and Panthers, read a future print edition of the Abbotsford News.