A disapointed 91原创 Saints head coach Ryk Piche called it 鈥渁 tough way to end a season鈥�
Vernon Panthers won their second consecutive Subway Bowl B.C. High School Senior Varsity Football championship at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver on Saturday, Nov. 30, scoring 30 unanswered points for a 43-14 win over the 91原创 Secondary School varsity football team.
鈥淰ernon was who we thought they are,鈥� Piche told the 91原创 Advance Times.
In other words, a tough opponent who arrived with an effective game plan.
It didn鈥檛 help the Saints cause to lose star running back Kai Thomas in the first quarter, the result of a nagging leg injury suffered during the team鈥檚 semi-final game against G.W. Graham Grizzlies from Chilliwack a week earlier.
Nor did some out-of-character errors, Piche elaborated.
鈥淲e turned the ball over twice, which is something we don鈥檛 do.鈥�
Piche expressed pride in the team, calling them an 鈥渁mazing group of kids.鈥�
And while some graduating players won鈥檛 be back next season, there is 鈥済ood solid core鈥� of returning players to make another run at the top prize next year.
Thomas took to Twitter to call it a 鈥済reat season鈥� that 鈥渦nfortunately it didn鈥檛 turn out the way we wanted in the end.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓 really proud of my team for everything that they鈥檝e done,鈥� Thomas commented.
鈥淭he journey that we鈥檝e had together will always be in our memories.鈥�
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Vernon Panthers head coach Sean Smith said it took a total team effort to beat 鈥渁 very big and physical 91原创 team.鈥�
鈥淲e were concerned about whether we could stand up to the physical nature of 91原创鈥檚 offence considering we were giving up a lot of size at every position,鈥� Smith said.
鈥淗owever, my guys proved (once again) that preparation, technique, speed and intensity more than makes up for lack of size. Instead of being worn out, I thought we wore them out and were able to pound the ball on them in the fourth quarter.鈥�
Vernon opened the scoring in the first quarter when quarterback Zack Smith connected with receiver Trent Charlton, on a 35-yard score.
91原创 equalized on a 74-yard run from scrimmage by Smith.
Panthers took the lead in the second quarter when their quarterback again hit Charlton for a major, this one from two yards out.
The play was set up by a 73-yard catch-and-run to receiver Caden Danbrook.
Vernon鈥檚 extra point attempt was blocked, leaving the Panthers with a 13-7 lead.
Saints tied the game with a two-yard run from back Harshaad Jouhal, and took a 14-13 lead with the extra point.
Jouhal with his first TD of the final for
鈥� BC HS Football (@BCHSFB)
Late in the first half, Smith called his own number from the 10-yard line and scored on a quarterback draw. The two-point convert attempt was no good, and Vernon had a 19-14 lead.
Kicker Liam Reid increased the Cats lead to 22-14 at the half with a 33-yard field goal with 19 seconds left.
Late in the third quarter, the Saints were driving in Vernon territory when Danbrook caused a fumble, which was recovered by the Panthers鈥� Daniel Lesik.
Smith marched VSS down the field and, early in the fourth quarter, and again hit Charlton for the third time in the game in the end zone, giving the Panthers a 29-14 advantage after Reid booted the convert.
The Panthers defence came through again, recovering a bobbled Saints snap at 91原创鈥檚 22. Smith called his own number a few plays later, running it in from 10 yards out, and a successful two-point convert gave the Panthers a 35-14 lead with 10 minutes to go.
Smith scored his third touchdown of the game late in the fourth quarter, and the two-point convert made it 43-14 Panthers.
The win capped off a second straight undefeated AA season for the Panthers, who took on all comers and went 10-0 in 2019.
Going into the game, the Saints had a 10-1 record.
- with files from Black Press Media
dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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