The New Westminster Hyacks eked out an ugly win over Centennial at Percy Perry Stadium.
The AAA varsity football Hyacks turned a blocked punt into a game-winning touchdown to win a narrow 11-6 decision over the Centennial Centaurs in an exhibition non-conference matchup on Friday.
Trailing 6-5 late in the third quarter, Ebrahiem Farroghi blocked a punt deep in the Centennial end and then Jordan Guzman did the rest, taking the pigskin into the end zone for the game-winning touchdown from six yards out.
"At the end of the day it's a win," said Hyacks head coach Farhan Lalji. "We peaked real early last year. Our approach in the off season has been to build on it and give us room to grow."
In the game, growing pains came in the form of mental mistakes and undisciplined penalties that kept New West operating from a negative deficit.
New West virtually spent the entire first quarter in the Centennial half of the field but came away with just five points, on a safety touch and a 31-yard Wayne Palmer field goal. The Hyacks led 5-0 at the half.
"It was a pretty sloppy game," Lalji said, adding the Hyacks' D had opportunities to make four other pickoffs, but it was the Centaurs who capitalized on an interception in the third quarter and took the ball back 45 yards to take a 6-5 lead.
"I think we dominated the game, especially up front, but we're still not equipped for second (down) and 15," said Lalji.
Julian Ramirez led all Hyack rushers with 74 yards on 11 carries, while Matt Seymour caught three passes for 72 yards.
"Defensively we were very strong but on offence we didn't execute very well and we weren't very disciplined," Lalji said, adding this Friday's home opener against W.J. Mouat will be another exhibition test. "We have to improve against Mouat and play up to that level."
On Friday, New Westminster plays host to the Mouat Hawks in their home opening game at Mercer Stadium. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
In other AAA exhibition football, 10th Avenue rival St. Thomas More Collegiate blanked Western conference foe Notre Dame Jugglers 34-0 at Burnaby Lake Sports Complex-West last Friday.
