The boys of the New Westminster Hyacks head into the high-intensity homecoming game this week with another win under their belt.
The Hyacks beat Abbotsford’s No. 5 ranked W.J. Mouat Hawks 30-14 in the Hyacks home opener in an exhibition non-conference matchup Sept. 12.
“We kind of started slow,” said Hyacks head coach Farhan Lalji. “We gave up the first points, but after that we settled in and started playing our game and we were a little cleaner in our execution.”
A four-yard touchdown run by Adrian Cagampan opened the scoring for New Westminster.
In the second quarter the game was tied at 7.
A player to watch from then on was Matt Seymour. Late in the half Seymour scored on a 60-yard pass and run where he broke a bunch of tackles off a short pass to give the Hyacks a 14-7 lead at halftime.
In the third quarter it was Seymour again on a six-yard touchdown catch, to make it 21-7.
The Hawks weren’t going to lie down without a fight, answering with a touchdown to make it 21-14.
The Hyacks responded with a drive and a 30-yard field goal by Wayne Palmer, which was Palmer’s fourth field goal of the season.
It was 24-14 and lights out for the Hawks.
The final points for the Hyacks were scored by Julian Ramirez early in the fourth quarter on a four-yard run making it 30-14.
Lalji praised Seymour, who earned the Prime Time Sports Player of the Game, for rising to the occasion.
“There was a lot of attention on Matt coming into the season, and he is kind of living up to all of it. He has been very consistent, very explosive and a real dynamic player for us,” he said.
Going into the homecoming, which is also the first league game, Lalji said his plan is to allow the boys to soak up the atmosphere and then play a focused game.
“It is a special high school thing that other kids don’t get to experience in this province,” he said. “It is as big a sporting event as you are going to find.”
The Hyacks take on West Vancouver in the 10th annual Hyacks homecoming game Friday, Sept. 19 at Mercer Stadium.
The festivities get underway at 4:30 p.m.
In other AAA exhibition football, Hyacks rival Burnaby’s St. Thomas More Collegiate fell to Vancouver College 50-32 on the Western Conference College’s home field.
Junior Varsity
The New Westminster Secondary boys AA Hyacks pummelled Samuel Roberts Tech 47-0 at Mercer Stadium Sept. 11.
The Hyacks next game is at home against Pitt Meadows Sept. 18. Kickoff at 5:30 p.m.
In the second game of the season, Burnaby’s AA St. Thomas More Collegiate Knights won over Holy Cross 46-12 at Burnaby Lakes Sept 11.
The Knights are on the road to take on Surrey’s Earl Marriott this afternoon (Sept. 17) at 3:45.
Homecoming
The 10th annual Hyack homecoming Sept. 19 is sure to be a family affair.
Always a community favourite, Hyack homecoming is both festival and football game.
The party gets started at 4:30 p.m. with the alumni touch football match.
The Hyack Hoedown runs from 5 to 7 p.m. and includes plenty of fun family activities such as music, face painting and a bouncy castle.
The alumni reception starts at 6 p.m. Perhaps most exciting each year, next to the Hyacks play of course, is the game ball being parachuted onto the field by the B.C. sky diving team shortly before kick-off, which is at 7:30.
The Hyacks will take on the West Vancouver Highlanders in the first league game of the season.
Halftime is sure to entertain as band Derrival takes to the field.
The night wraps up with post-game fireworks.
For more info, visit nwss.hyackfootball.com.
