The Kushnir Boot will not be changing feet this season.
The New Westminster Hyacks held on to the prized statuette following a 16-13 victory over the South Delta Sun Devils at Friday's home opening AAA varsity football game at Mercer Stadium.
"It (the game) was closer than I would have thought," said New Westminster " head coach Farhan Lalji. "It was an ugly, sloppy game." The game, played in honour of Bill Kushnir, would have likely made the longtime builder and B.C. Secondary Football Association honorary life member, who passed away in 2009, turn in his grave.
Kushnir founded both high school football programs in South Delta and earlier at Lester Pearson in New Westminster.
Athought sloppy as it was, the night was highlighted by an scintilating 88-yard kickoff return by Jonathan Lopez that stood up as the game-winning score.
New Westminster turned the ball over on its opening drive, but fared better on the second possession with a touchdown from quarterback Regan Eberding.
The Hyacks pivot scrambled into the end zone from 24 yards out to give the home team an early firstquarter lead.
New Westminster got the ball right back and put together another drive up field, but ended up fumbling the ball on the opponents' goalline.
Jonathan He forced a two-point safety on a quarterback sack, making the score 9-0 for the Hyacks.
But just before the end of the first half, a misread by the Hyacks' defence left a Sun Devil receiver wide open, allowing him to score easily from midfield.
In the second half, Lopez, the Prime Time Sports player of the game, ripped off one of the program's longest-ever special team's scores. He also picked off a Sun Devils pass on defence.
South Delta added a TD on the final play of the game.
Despite missing six starters, Lalji made no excuses for the team's uninspired play.
"We weren't half as good as we were against Citrus (Valley)," said Lalji, who added that the team felt better after last week's loss to the California school than they did after Friday's win.
Aldrin Asuncion rushed for his first 100-yard game, carrying the ball 14 times for 132 yards.
Eberding ran for 93 yards on nine carries.
On defence, linebacker Jordan Chin led the way with eight tackles, while Jeremy Wilson added seven stops from his defensive end position. Wilson also caught two passes at tight end.
Lineman Patryk Gaviola also played well for the Hyacks.
Next up for the Hyacks are the Terry Fox Ravens, who are coming off a narrow 20-18 victory at home to Salmon Arm.
Other Western Conference outcomes this past week included: W.J. Mouat 53-47 at Mt. Douglas, Notre Dame giving St. Thomas More a lastminute scare before falling 10-7 on a field goal on the final play of the game, Carson Graham edging last season's Okangan champion Kelowna 30-29 and West Vancouver blanking Handsworth 12-0.
No. 1-ranked Vancouver College Fighting Irish was also a winner, beating Renton, Washington 45-19 on the road last Thursday.
"Everyone feels that they have a chance every week," Lalji said. "We feel we'll be a lot better."
New Westminster will meet Fox in Port Coquitlam on Friday. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
On Saturday, New Westminster's 10th Avenue rival St. Thomas More Knights will play its annual homecoming game against the Fighting Irish.
Game time is 1: 30 p.m.
