New Westminster’s first loss at home this season will be remembered more for what didn’t happen.
In a fourth-quarter comeback bid that had the makings of a Hollywood ending, the varsity Hyacks managed to negate the game-winning touchdown and then come away emptyhanded following a 24-21 loss to the Handsworth Royals in B.C. high school AAA varsity football at Mercer Stadium las Friday.
“It had the potential to be one of the (outcomes) you could never forget, but now want to forget,” said Hyacks’ head coach Farhan Lalji.
In a game that had third place in the west at stake, New Westminster turned the ball over four times on fumbles and, at the most crucial point in the game, were penalized on a legit illegal procedure call that brought back a last-second touchdown that would have won the game.
“We were not playing clean football,” lamented Lalji. “Handsworth plays with a ton of heart, but they’re so undersized. It’s frustrating.”
Trailing 17-7 heading into the final quarter, Tyrone Morgan, who rushed for 148 yards on 19 carries, scored his second TD of the game to shave the deficit to three points.
Handsworth got that score back in the final three minutes, but Angelo Tanjuaquio answered back, slipping into the end zone to make it a one-score game.
Gurveer Dhaliwal recovered the ensuing on-side kick and then caught a long pass from Mackenzie Ratcliffe to set up the last-second dramatics.
With no time left on the clock, Tanjuaquio, who also rushed for more than 100 yards, appeared to have scored the winning TD from two yards out, but it was ruled otherwise on the procedure call.
Wayne Palmer’s 25-yard field goal attempt from the left hash mark missed its mark.
“For us, the defence in the first half played well, but we needed stops, and we didn’t get them at times in the second half,” Lalji said, adding there needs to be improvement on both sides of the ball.
The loss and the subsequent fourth-place finish in the west leaves the Hyacks at home against Centennial on Friday, with the winner to advance against eastern champion Terry Fox next week.
Game time for Friday’s playoff matchup is 7:30 p.m. at Mercer Stadium.
Hyack all-stars
New Westminster placed three players on the B.C. high school AAA varsity Western conference all-star football team.
Wide receiver Tristan Sands and lineman Harper Sherman were both named to the all-offensive team, while defensive lineman Billy Collins also received all-star mention.
Seniors Angelo Tanjuaquio, James Nicolas, Jeremy Stewart and all-purpose Grade 11 Matt Seymour also received votes in the all-star balloting.
