Led by Aldrin Asuncion's third consecutive 150+ yard game and three touchdowns, the New Westminster Hyacks took their season record to 3-1 with a 36-33 road victory over the Mt. Boucherie Bears in Kelowna on Friday night.
Asuncion did most of his damage in the second half, as he helped turn a 12-7 Hyacks deficit into a 36-19 game before the Bears scored the final two touchdowns of the game.
Asuncion ran in scores from 16, 17 and 69 yards out and added a two-point conversion on his first touchdown to pace the Hyacks to the win.
"Offensively we started slow, but made some adjustments and were able to get things going in the third quarter," said Hyacks head coach Farhan Lalji. "We stayed patient with Aldrin and eventually he was able to break a couple."
Hyacks quarterback Tommy Robertson had a hand in the other two scores, running for 25 yards in the second quarter to put the Hyacks ahead temporarily at 7-6 and then throwing a 34-yard TD to Stewart Sommerfeld in the third quarter to give the Hyacks a 22-12 lead.
Mt. Boucherie had leads of 6-0 and 12-7 after the first and second quarters respectively, but couldn't hold off the dominant line play of the Hyacks.
Sonu Kainth and Jonathan He each had five tackles and two sacks, while Kainth had three quarterback pressures, a blocked kick and an onside kick recovery.
"I'm very pleased with the play of our defensive line," said Lalji. "We challenged them during the week and they responded. Sonu and Jonathan were all over the field."
But the late Bears touchdowns and the team's slow start has Lalji thinking the team has some work to do before this Friday's road game in Surrey against Lord Tweedsmuir.
"Defensively, we had moments where we played very well and moments when we fell asleep," said Lalji. "All five of their scores were the result of big plays and we knew that's something they were capable of. ... You have to give Mt. Boucherie credit. They simply wouldn't go away. And watching how they were able to come back against Notre Dame and hang in against VC, I shouldn't be surprised. They seem to be a high-character group."
The Hyacks would finish with 292 yards rushing on 50 carries, while Robertson was 10-of-15 for 105 yards in the air.
The Hyacks go to Surrey to play Lord Tweedsmuir on Friday afternoon as they try to extend their winning streak to four. The Hyacks' only loss this season came in their opener in Blaine.
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