The W.J. Mouat Hawks exacted a bit of revenge on Saturday afternoon, blowing out the Mission Roadrunners 66-21 on the road in high school football action.
The Roadrunners, the top-ranked AA team in the province, upset the AAA powerhouse Hawks last season.
Denis Kelly's squad was a very focused group in the rematch, and they were led once again by a massive rushing performance by tailback Maleek Irons. One week after lighting up the Robert Bateman Timberwolves to the tune of 324 yards and five touchdowns, he gashed the Roadrunners for 302 yards and four TDs.
Through three non-conference games, Irons has found the end zone a remarkable 13 times, and Kelly suggested the Grade 11 speedster has the potential to follow in the footsteps of Hawks legend Boseko Lokombo (currently a starting linebacker with the University of Oregon Ducks) and earn an NCAA Div. I scholarship.
"He's talented enough to play at that level," asserted Kelly, whose team improved to 3-0. "He's highly motivated to go on."
Mouat quarterback Mario Narte (pictured below) ran for three majors while running back Crysthian Rivas rushed for two of his own, and Clovis Lumeka caught a TD pass from backup QB Hunter Struthers.
Kelly noted the defending B.C. AA champion Roadrunners are a banged-up group. Mission QB Kevin Wiens returned from injury to throw a scoring pass to Jesse Walker, and Hyatt Smith had two kickoff-return majors.
"They (Mission) played well last year, beat us in a close game, and I think our kids wanted to make up for that on behalf of last year's Grade 12s," Kelly said.
BATEMAN 44, SOUTH KAMLOOPS 5
Coming off a 64-34 loss to Mouat the previous week, the Bateman Timberwolves bounced back to crush South Kamloops at home on Friday afternoon, with their entire student body looking on.
"The support was wonderful," said T-Wolves coach Alfred Brathwaite, whose team leveled its record at 1-1. "The boys were at centre stage, and I think that tends to bring the best out of them.
"They executed quite well, offence and defence both."
Quarterback Tanner Friesen had an efficient day throwing the ball – he completed 4-of-7 passes, three of which went for touchdowns.
Friesen also rushed for a major, while Ben Cummings racked up 119 yards and two TDs on the ground.
The defensive leaders were Riley Davis (three sacks), Kole Lochbaum (six tackles) and Cole Brien (five tackles).
JOHN BARSBY 40, ABBY SENIOR 0
The John Barsby Bulldogs, ranked No. 2 in AA, made a pair of key defensive stands in the red zone in the first half, en route to victory over the Abby Senior Panthers in Nanaimo.
With Barsby holding an 8-0 lead late in the second quarter, the Panthers blocked a punt and advanced to the Bulldogs' one yard line. But the Bulldogs made an impressive goal-line stand, then drove the ball 99 yards for a touchdown.
Barsby's ground-and-pound offence wore down Abby Senior (0-2) in the second half.
"In the first half, we played them pretty tight," Panthers coach Jay Fujimura analyzed. "We set up these tough games to see where we need to be at, and to build our character."
Panthers QB Carter Williams had a solid day throwing the ball, passing for 150 yards.
DUCHESS PARK CANCELS ON HANSEN
The Rick Hansen Hurricanes (1-0) saw their Saturday home game against Duchess Park cancelled – the Prince George squad is apparently battling a litany of injuries.
"To take a week off this early in the year is not something we wanted to do, but it's out of our control," Hansen coach Paul Gill said.
HAWKS TO HOST VAN COLLEGE
Mouat, ranked No. 2 in AAA, hosts a high-profile match-up on Friday, as the No. 3 Vancouver College Fighting Irish come to town (7:30 p.m., Mouat Field).
Elsewhere in Abbotsford on Friday, Bateman hosts Hugh Boyd of Richmond (3:30 p.m.), while Hansen hosts Salmon Arm (3:45 p.m.).
Abby Senior heads across the border to face the Squalicum Storm in Bellingham (Saturday, 1 p.m.).