Putting their first loss behind them, the New Westminster Hyacks also crossed off something big on their to-do list.
The senior AAA football squad got back in the win column Friday, with a 13-10 victory over the Vancouver College Fighting Irish.
The win was not only the program’s second of the regular season, but also first-ever win over VC since the Hyack program was relaunched 13 years ago.
The No. 3-ranked Fighting Irish presented an interesting challenge, but New West demonstrated how a bye week and a motivated crew can provide an edge.
“I was aware that we’d never beaten them (at seniors) but every year is a different year and with different players,” noted Grade 10 quarterback Kinsale Philip. “We had two weeks to prepare and every day we worked, worked on what we needed to do, and did it.”
Philip put New West on the scoreboard first with a one-yard QB keep after a lengthy, 15-play opening drive covering 70 yards.
The visitors tied it before the half, then took the lead on a 24-yard field goal.
Bolstered by a defence that held Vancouver in check despite 238 yards rushing from its prime running back, the Hyacks pulled the game-winning major on a 30-yard passing play with six minutes remaining in the game.
Philip hit tight end Prento Durigon for the decisive touchdown, and the defence stood its ground the rest of the way.
“I was really confident going into the fourth, I knew what we could do,” said Philip. “(VC) fell pretty hard for a fake and we made the play.”
Head coach Farhan Lalji said Philip displayed plenty of poise on the game-winning toss.
“The TD pass he threw to (Durigon) was a ‘Big Boy’ throw with mulitple defenders in his face,” said Lalji.
“And he showed a lot of poise and toughness in the run game.”
Defensively, Connor Pattison corralled a game-high eight tackles en route to being named Lineman of the Game, while Andrew Delamere, chosen Player of the Game, and Sammy Sidhu accumulated seven tackles each.
In the game’s dying seconds, Finn Stark blocked a 45-yard field goal attempt to preserve the win.
While the Hyacks had a bye week to prepare, the memory of their previous game – a 44-28 loss to Notre Dame – served as a wake-up call.
“It really sparked us on,” said Philip. “We hate to lose the most, and that game really gave us a spark.”
They now turn their focus to Friday’s key matchup against the top-seeded Mount Douglas, who visits Mercer Stadium for a 5 p.m. kickoff.
“Their ranked No. 1 team in the province but it doesn’t matter,” noted New West’s quarterback. “Lots of guys talk about (Rams quarterback) Gideone Kremler but we are know what we can do.
“We know we can win, that we can come back. It’s always part of our spirit, that there’s no deficit we can’t overcome.”
