After a disappointing loss last week to B.C. champs, Mount Douglas (35-23), the Hyacks varsity football team came back with a win 42-14 over Handsworth Secondary Friday night (Oct. 10) in the Royals’ North Vancouver castle.
The Hyacks rushed off to a good start in the first quarter.
Running back Brian Cagampan opened the scoring with a 13-yard touchdown. The other Cagampan, Adrian, made it 14-0 with a two-yard run.
Late in the first, the Royals scored to make it 14-7.
In the second quarter, the Hyacks ran into offensive trouble.
New West was driving to the Royals’ 25-yard-line and fumbled.
The Hyacks paid for the mistake. Handsworth scored to tie the game at 14.
Hyacks quarterback Jamie Shiho made amends by scoring on a one-yard run. It was 21-14.
Handsworth tried to return the favour by hammering on the Hyacks’ defence and drove to the one-yard line before time ran out in the half.
“After jumping out to an early lead our kids lost their focus and Handsworth took advantage,” said Hyacks head coach Farhan Lalji, by email.
“We couldn’t get off the field on third downs (they converted eight of 10 in the first half), and we were fortunate to get that stop at the end of the half.”
In the second half the Hyacks’ offence gained control, silencing Handsworth for the rest of the game.
Jordan Guzman ran 13-yards for the touchdown, to make it 28-14 in the Hyacks’ favour. It was the Hyacks again when Grade 12 running back Tyrone Morgan scored a touchdown on a three-yard run.
Still in the third quarter Hyacks defensive tackle Harper Sherman intercepted the ball, leading to a Shiho 35-yard touchdown run. It was a 42-14 victory for the Hyacks.
“In the second half we settled down in the secondary and played much better overall – they only converted one first-down in the second half. But defensively we will need to be much more consistent next week against (Vancouver College),” said Lalji.
“Offensively we executed our run-game very well. We’ve made such a big emphasis with Matt this season, today with the conditions, it was Julian’s (Ramirez) day andhe ran hard.
We also played without three offensive starters, and the guys who filled in did a solid job.”
On the game, New West senior Ramirez accumulated 132-yards.
All told, the Hyacks rushed for 423 yards.
Offensive dynamo Matt Seymour was held to only four receptions for 53-yards, but made four tackles on defence, which included a one-yard loss for Handsworth.
The Hyacks are now 5-2 on the season (if you count the team’s non-conference loss in Texas in August).
The Hyacks return to Mercer Stadium for Seniors Night, Oct. 17 to face Vancouver College at 7:30 p.m.
Juniors continue undefeated
In Junior varsity play, the Hyacks improve to 6-0 versus B.C. teams (5-0 in league play) after their 39-22 win over Abbotsford’s Rick Hansen Secondary. New Westminster next plays the École Mission Secondary Roadrunners on Oct. 16 at Mercer Stadium. Kickoff is at 5:30 p.m.
