W.J. MOUAT HAWKS – 45 SULLIVAN HEIGHTS STARS – 0
The W.J. Mouat Hawks continued to establish themselves as one of the top teams in the AAA’s Pacific conference with a resounding 45-0 win over Sullivan Heights on Friday at Latham Field.
The win marks the second straight shutout win for the Hawks, and the club has only allowed seven points total in the last three games.
Mouat scored early and often on Friday, with Nathan Hausermann scoring a rushing touchdown on the game’s first drive. Ebiye Okoko scored back-to-back majors before the end of the first quarter to give the Hawks a 19-0 lead
Hausermann scored again early in the second, with a big 31-yard run and wide receiver Keenan Baker grabbed a 20-yard touchdown catch to put the Hawks up 32-0 at halftime.
Aidan Lal and Andy Ofosuhene (60-yard run) both added majors in the second half.
But it was the Hawks defence, led by Ethan Erickson that continued to give fits to opposing offensive sides.
“We’re playing good, sound defence and we have a really strong defensive line that is really the strength of our team,” said Hawks head coach Travis Bell after the win. “They’ve done a really good job all year for us.”
Bell said he liked his team’s play.
“We got the job done,” he said. “They [Sullivan Heights] are a young team and a first-year program so we knew that if we came out and did our job and took care of the football we’d have a good chance to win. We did that and I’m so proud of the way the guys came out and were prepared today.”
One nagging issue for the Hawks could be penalties. Several plays, including a pair of touchdowns, were called back after infractions. Bell said the team needs to fix those issues when they take on Rutland in a first place showdown next week.
“We can’t make those mistakes against Rutland,” he said. “They [Rutland] are a tough team and have an unbelievable athlete [Jhavoun Blake] at quarterback. He’s going to be a challenge for us to control. And we also have to travel there which always makes things tougher.”
Rutland entered this week at 4-0, but fell 7-6 to Sardis today (Friday), which means Mouat and Rutland head into next week’s game with identical records atop the Pacific. Sardis and Nanaimo District are right behind both teams at 3-1. Only the top two team from the Pacific will advance to the postseason.
Mouat and Rutland square off in Kelowna on Oct. 12.
ABBOTSFORD PANTHERS – 35 MT BOUCHERIE BEARS – 0
Abby 35 Mt Boucherie 0. Great game Panthers. @BenLypka @BCHSFB
— Pantherfootball (@AbbyPanthers) October 6, 2018
The Panthers also had a strong defensive showing, picking up a shutout win over the Bears in Kamloops to improve to 2-1.
Abbotsford limited the Bears offence, and swarmed them with eight sacks, a fumble recovery and two interceptions. Jordan Hogg and Calem Rowsell each collected four tackles and two sacks.
Offensively it was once again the Jalem Catlin show, as the running back ran for 266 yards and three touchdowns, his second straight game with three majors and 250-plus yards.
Luke Szmutko contributed with 84 rushing yards of his own.
The Panthers are tied for second in the AAA’s ultra-competitive Eastern conference, and the club welcomes the 2-1 St. Thomas More Collegiate Knights to Panther Field for a big game next Friday (Oct. 12) at 1 p.m.
The Robert Bateman Timberwolves, Abbotsford’s other senior varsity football program, had a bye week but open the AA regular season on Friday, Oct. 12 in Chilliwack against the G.W. Graham Grizzlies.
