The New Westminster Hyacks are captains of their own fate – to a point.
The senior AAA football team moved an inch closer to locking up a top-two Western Conference spot, and the first-round playoff bye which goes with it, by besting Belmont 34-21 last week on the Island.
While they sit at 4-1-0 and tied with Notre Dame for top spot in the conference, New West’s road isn’t clear enough for head coach Farhan Lalji to feel comfortable – yet.
“It’s huge and I can’t understate the value of this game,” said Lalji as he prepared his squad to face 3-2 South Delta in the final game of the regular season on Saturday. “I loathe putting too much emphasis on one game and making it a pressure situation, but to be in (a top-two) spot makes a world of difference.”
Winning the conference comes with all kinds of benefits, including the bye week and an easier first round playoff opponent. Finishing second also nets a bye.
Right behind New West and Notre Dame are Vancouver College, South Delta and former No. 1-ranked Mount Doug, all at 3-2, with a final weekend which sees Notre Dame hosting VanCollege, and Mount Doug facing winless Carson Graham.
The combinations aren’t limitless, but enough to keep a coach uneasy.
“We could see a five-way tie for first, which would be unprecedented,” he said. “There’s no doubt this is the most competitive conference in (B.C.), and that means every team has gone through the grinder.”
Last week’s win had some of that element, but after surrendering the first touchdown the Hyacks responded with 20 points, including a 95-yard kickoff return by Ben Tjernagel which launched the second half.
New West’s Trew Dancey counted a pair of majors and rushed for 96 yards, while Lucas Sabau put up 116 yards rushing on 18 carries, including a TD. For Sabau, that gives him 706 yards on the year, fifth overall – despite missing the opening game.
Quarterback Kinsale Philip completed six of 15 pass attempts for 93 yards.
On defence, Connor Pattison counted seven tackles, giving him a league-best 66 on the year.
“(Pattison) has taken his game to another level,” said Lalji. “He’s a bright kid and I think sometimes he goes in thinking too much, getting in way of that instinctual part of his game.”
Although not completely healthy, the club has made strides with some of the walking wounded and Lalji points to the potential bye as a good balm for that issue.
But injuries are not only a New West problem, he notes.
“South Delta’s record is misleading – they are a dangerous team. They had a lot of injuries early in the year and just recently got (running back) Grant McDonald back, who is arguably the best player in the province.”
New West is aiming to end the regular season on a four-game winning streak.
The kickoff goes 12:30 p.m. at South Delta.
