Robert Bateman Timberwolves running back Ben Cummings ran wild on Friday, sparking his team to a 47-13 victory over the G.W. Graham Grizzlies in AA high school football action.
The senior speedster shook loose for 255 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 26 carries, and added a fourth major on a 50-yard punt return as the host T-Wolves routed their Chilliwack visitors.
“The offensive line’s really started to pick it up, and they opened up some holes,” Bateman coach Alfred Brathwaite analyzed. “Ben was able to recognize those holes, and then Ben did what Ben does.”
Quarterback Daniel Mills also rushed for a pair of majors, and tailback Talus Swanberg chipped in with a 20-yard scoring run.
The defence was led by safety Tanner Friesen, who had six tackles, while twin linemen Josh and Jake Thiel combined for eight tackles, two sacks and a fumble recovery.
HANSEN 54, LANGLEY 13
The Rick Hansen Hurricanes’ shutout streak is over, but the offence flexed its muscles in a dominant home win over the Langley Saints on Friday.
Zach Toews and Devin DaCosta led the charge for the Hurricanes. Running back DaCosta racked up 220 yards and three TDs on just 12 carries, including a 55-yard scoring run on Hansen’s first play from scrimmage. That kick-started the blowout – the Hurricanes led 28-0 by the end of the first quarter.
“The outcome was decided pretty early,” noted head coach Paul Gill. “Our offence was humming along.”
Toews, meanwhile, turned in a brilliant performance in all three phases – offence, defence and special teams. He caught two scoring passes from QB Alex Ho, rushed for a major, and found the end zone for a fourth time on a kickoff return. He also managed six tackles on defence.
Jimmy Brar rounded out the Hansen scoring with a one-yard TD run.
The Hansen defence, coming off consecutive shutout wins over Bateman and G.W. Graham, finally surrendered points, but that’s not to say they played poorly. They racked up six interceptions on Friday, including two apiece from Prem Singh and Ricky Badesh.
“I didn’t expect that (shutout streak) to last forever,” Gill said with a chuckle.
Hansen hosts the Pitt Meadows Marauders at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.
TERRY FOX 17, MOUAT 7
This clash between highly ranked AAA teams was the definition of smashmouth football, and the Port Coquitlam-based Ravens clawed their way to a 17-7 victory at Mouat Field.
No. 2-ranked Terry Fox built a 14-0 lead in the second quarter – highlighted by a blocked field goal return for a TD – but the No. 5 Hawks cut the lead in half on a 36-yard scoring pass from Hunter Struthers to Jake Firlotte.
But that was the last time they would find the end zone. After the Ravens stretched the lead to 17-7 with a field goal, the Hawks engineered a methodical fourth-quarter drive to march inside the Terry Fox 10-yard line. But the Ravens’ defence stiffened, stopping the Hawks on fourth down.
“Our guys played one of the toughest games in recent memory here,” Mouat coach Denis Kelly said afterward. “They hung in against a much more physical, big team . . . and I’m very proud of how they played tonight.”
The Ravens succeeded in keeping Mouat’s star running back Maleek Irons out of the end zone for the first time this season, but Irons still managed to grind out 140 yards on 24 carries.
Manpreet Chhina (nine tackles) and Slater McRae (eight tackles) led the Hawks’ defence.
Mouat sorely missed standout linebacker/running back Clovis Lumeka, who was sidelined by a knee injury. Kelly expects him back in the lineup for the Hawks’ next game, Saturday at home vs. Rutland (1:30 p.m. kickoff).
MISSION 34, ABBY SENIOR 6
Grayson Marquardt rushed for 140 yards and a touchdown for the Panthers, but the host Roadrunners – B.C.’s No. 3-ranked AA squad – broke the game open in the second quarter.
“I thought we played them very tough,” Panthers coach Jay Fujimura said. “We were able to move the ball, but we had some unfortunate penalties and a couple of mental errors which led to turnovers, which put us behind the eight ball.”
Up next for the Panthers is a Friday home game vs. Bateman (7 p.m., Panthers Field) – one of those crosstown rivalry tilts that always ratchet up the intensity even further.
“We have to stick to our goals and play mistake-free football,” Fujimura said.
