Every year the Hyacks senior varsity football homecoming game at Mercer Stadium is a spectacle to behold, and this year was no exception.
On the turf the AAA Hyacks beat the West Vancouver Highlanders handily 54 to 8, helping the Hyacks improve to 3-0 on the season, but there was a story off the field as well, so more on the game in a bit.
In spite of the labour dispute between teachers and the provincial government, which kept New Westminster Secondary students out of school and away from Hyack in-school homecoming announcements prior to the game, the stands were packed with 1,800-plus energetic Hyack fans of all ages, who were egged on throughout the game by the ever-passionate junior and senior Hyack cheer teams.
The weather did the Hyacks a favour, and just before the evening events kicked into full gear, the clouds parted and the rain stopped, right on cue.
As always, the British Columbia skydiving team wowed the crowd as they delivered the homecoming game ball.
The New Westminster Secondary players had a lucky charm in their new chrome helmets, donated by Hyacks alumnus Dave Sidoo (Hyacks 1977–’78).
OK, back to the game.
Minutes after kickoff, the No. 5 ranked Hyacks were on the board when a 35-yard run by Matt Seymour ended with a four-yard touchdown by running back Jordan Guzman, making it 6-0 Hyacks. Guzman got his second touchdown of the game with nine minutes left in the first and Wayne Palmer’s extra point made it 13-0 Hyacks.
The West Van boys had lots of passion but couldn’t make it happen thanks to a series of fumbles deep in their own end.
“I think the strike impacted them more than it impacted us,” said New West head coach Farhan Lalji.
“Those fumbles and those kind of errors is usually indicative of a team that isn’t that far ahead yet … So we got some free ones, but our kids also made plays,” he said.
Running back Adrian Cagampan, seized on the Highlanders bad luck and got a touchdown with four minutes remaining in the first. With Palmer’s extra point it was 20-0 Hyacks.
And that wasn’t it for the first quarter. Seymour got the touchdown and Palmer got the extra point to make it 27-0 for the Hyacks.
The first quarter ended with a 54-yard touchdown run by quarterback Jamie Shiho, and the extra point by Palmer made it 34-0 for the Hyacks.
In the second half, Julian Ramirez made a six-yard touchdown and Palmer kept up the pace with the extra, making it 41-0 at the half.
In the third, Guzman got a 20-yard touchdown and Palmer’s extra made it 48-0 going into the fourth.
It was too late, but the Highlanders picked up some steam as the evening fog started to close in. West Van’s Charlie Welsh scored on a 40-yard run from quarterback Finn Morales.
The pair also earned a two-point conversion to make it 48-8 with five minutes left in the game.
Hyacks running back Brian Cagampan’s touchdown made it 54-8 and game over.
“I thought we played well,” said New West’s head coach.
“What I take from it is everyone got to play, it is homecoming and a full stadium … it was nice that everyone got to take part on the field and feel good about it,” Lalji added while munching on popcorn with his players after the game.
A smiling Seymour agreed.
“We had a big lead, it was great to have everybody play and have everyone have a part of a great experience, so it was a great game,” he said.
Julian Ramirez said the win was a nice, early birthday present – his birthday was Sept. 22 – but he was already focused on the next game against Vancouver’s Notre Dame Regional Secondary.
“I am going to work on taking it back to the house next week and hopefully have a good game too,” he said.
The Hyacks take on Notre Dame in conference play at Burnaby Lake, Friday Sept. 26. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.
In other AAA league news, it was a homecoming victory for the St. Thomas More Collegiate boys as well, with a 42-0 win over Coquitlam Centennial Secondary at Burnaby Lake.
Next game is at Burnaby Lake, Friday Sept. 26 against Kelowna’s Rutland Senior Secondary. Kickoff is at 3:30p.m.
