It didn't take long for the New Westminster Hyacks to get over their season opening loss in Blaine.
The Hyacks rolled up 33 points in the first half en route to a 40-0 home win over the Abbotsford Collegiate Panthers on Friday night at Mercer Stadium.
Aldrin Asuncion played only the first quarter and the first drive of the second quarter, but rumbled for two touchdowns, including a 59-yarder on his first touch of the game. Asuncion then ran for a fouryard score before sitting down for the rest of the game.
The Hyacks also got scores from Kaeden Hnatiw on a 26-yard run, Julian Ramirez on a 13-yard reception from backup quarterback Mackenzie Ratcliffe, Angelo Tanjuaqiao on a 19-yard run and Eric Teng, on a 33-yard interception return.
Starting quarterback Tommy Robertson was a perfect four-for-four and 38 yards, while Ratcliffe was two-for-three for 21 yards and the touchdown throw to Ramirez.
The Hyacks finished with 473 yards of offence, including 414 yards on the ground. Kicker Matt Seymour was fourof-six on conversions.
Defensively, the Hyacks were led by linebacker Jordan Chin, who said his team took pride in keeping the Panthers off the scoresheet.
"It means a lot to shut a team down, but we know we have to continue to work harder every week and get better every week," said Chin. "We're happy with this win, but come Monday, we'll be ready to work again."
And this week's practices will mean a bit more, as the Hyacks get ready for their annual Homecoming game against the Carson Graham Eagles.
"This is a special game and we definitely feel the pressure to play a great game," said Chin. "We know it's the 10th anniversary and not only do we have to do the best for us as a team, we have to do the best for the guys who came before us. We have to honour our past and the best way to do that is to play well and win at Homecoming."
Asuncion said his success was due to his offensive line.
"We got such great blocking and that made my job easy," he said. "If there's even the slightest hole, I can hit it and the guys opened a lot of holes for me."
Asuncion has great memories of last year's game against Carson Graham.
"It was my best performance of the year," he said. "I ran for 221. - I hope I can do that again at Homecoming."
Hyacks head coach Farhan Lalji was also happy with his team's performance.
"Our line played very well," he said. "I can't tell you how many times I saw our lineman on top of their D-line and our guys finished their blocks tonight," said Lalji. "Aldrin was good tonight and I was happy with how (QB) Tommy (Robertson) got the ball out quickly."
As for Homecoming, Lalji is excited to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the rebirth of the program.
"Homecoming is always a special game, but this year is even more special," he said. "We're celebrating our history and we'll be bringing back a lot of the guys from the past 10 years."
The New Westminster Hyacks Homecoming game is Friday, Sept. 14 at 7: 30 p.m. at Mercer Stadium against Carson Graham.
There's also an alumni touch football game starting at 4: 30 p.m. and after the game, there will be fireworks, perhaps the first time in Lower Mainland high school football history that pyrotechnics are part of the festivities.
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