The New Westminster Hyacks will do their playoff watching from the stands for just the second time in the high school football program's history.
The AAA varsity Hyacks were humbled 62-30 in a must-win matchup against the West Vancouver Highlanders at Mercer Stadium last Friday.
The loss dropped the New West team to 0-6 in the B.C. high school Western Conference and eliminated the Hyacks from the post season for the first time since 2006.
"It never should have happened. We had plenty of opportunities. But your record is what it is. There are no excuses," said Hyacks head coach Farhan Lalji.
New Westminster appeared ill prepared to face the Highlanders, who also needed a win to ensure themselves of a playoff spot.
New West was unable to stop West Van's versatile quarterback Johnny Franklin, who beat them emphatically both on the ground and through the air.
Pavan Mrock fumbled away the opening kickoff and Franklin jinked and jived, shredding numerous tackles on his way into the end zone from 27 yards out on West Van's opening snap.
The Highlanders then recovered an on-side kickoff and two plays later scored again when Blake Whiteley caught a Franklin pass and broke a tackle for a 19yard touchdown to put West Van ahead 14-0 after just 56 seconds.
It didn't get better after that. The Highlanders scored on their next two possessions before Grade 11 receiver Tristan Sands caught a Tommy Robertson pass for a 21-yard TD early in the second quarter.
One highlight was a rushing touchdown by Robertson on what might be the longest-ever scoring play on the ground by a Hyack pivot.
Robertson faked a handoff to Aldrin Asuncion and hotfooted it down the left sideline 86 yards for New Westminster's second TD that made the score 35-14.
West Van scored its fifth TD of the first half on the ensuing possession and was in position for a sixth before Franklin was picked off by Eric Teng on the last play of the first half.
"We didn't respond well," Lalji added. "The thought of Franklin running paralyzed our pass rush. We got caught in a lot of space and took poor (tackling) angles."
Franklin, who leads the AAA in almost all passing categories, opened the second half in much the same way as the first, scoring in the opening minute of the third quarter from 61 yards out.
Franklin threw for more than 300 yards and rushed for another 114, while combining for eight of West Van's nine touchdowns.
The 6-5 Whiteley caught six Franklin passes for 90 yards and three scores.
Robert Butchofsky followed with a TD in the air and another on the ground that gave West Van a 62-14 lead.
Asuncion and Mrock both found the end zone on two late fourth-quarter drives, scoring from 27 and 82 yards, respectively.
The sure-handed Sands was The Record's Hyack player of the game with five catches for 115 yards and one TD.
"It was athlete against athlete, but the better athletes won," said Sands, who leads the Hyacks in receiving. "We really wanted to get (into the playoffs)."
With its playoff hopes finished, Sands said, it's all about supporting the seniors and coming out fighting in the team's final regular season game against the defending B.C. AAA champion Mt. Douglas Rams.
"We have to practice like it was our last and put it all on the line," Sands added. "We have to play for our seniors. That's all that matters."
New West will end arguably its worst season in the 11-year history of the Hyacks' varsity football program at Mercer Stadium on Friday. Kickoff is scheduled for 3: 45 p.m.
