The W.J. Mouat Hawks appear to be peaking at the perfect time.
Mouat hosted the Mission Roadrunners on Saturday and dominated on both sides of the ball to pick up a 38-7 win.
It’s the third win in the last four weeks for the Hawks, who are now jockeying for playoff positioning in the AAA’s eastern conference.
Mouat had a 21-7 lead after the first half, and the offence continued in the second.
The Hawks’ running game was on full display, with Dylan Manocha picking up 206 yards and two touchdowns. Nelson Lokombo (124 yards rushing) and Chavis Spenser also scored majors. Cam’ron Lobban caught the Hawks’ other touchdown, after a perfect pass from quarterback Alex Howman.
Manocha also led the way defensively, with 10 tackles. Eddie Escobal picked up six tackles and one blocked punt, while Robert Bradley also added six tackles.
Levi Murchison scored the lone major for Mission.
Hawks coach Travis Bell was pleased with the team’s win.
“We did a lot of good things,” he said. “The first half we kind of kept them in it through a few fumbles but we cleaned it up in the second half and played smart.”
Bell said the team has played inspired football the last few weeks.
“There’s a new energy that we didn’t have at the beginning of the year,” he said. “There’s more hope and guys are buying into what we’re doing.”
Manocha said the Hawks’ running game has helped fuel the team’s turnaround.
“We definitely got our run game going,” he said. “Our offensive line has done a great job opening up holes for me and the other running backs. Once you get the run going it opens up so many different aspects of the game.”
He said another factor in the Hawks’ success is the team’s two-headed monster of himself and Lokombo.
“We both can do great things and Nelson is such a good athlete,” he said. “Our offensive line is opening things up for us and they’ve helped to make it easier.”
The Hawks’ record is now three wins and three losses, and they’re tied for fourth in the eastern conference. Mouat next hosts Lord Tweedsmuir on Friday at 7 p.m.
Over in Kelowna, the Abbotsford Panthers continued their perfect season with a 37-7 win over the Rutland Voodoos.
The clubs were tied at seven early, but the Panthers scored 30 unanswered points to record the win.
Samwel Uko continued his excellent season, running for 220 yards and three touchdowns. Quarterback John Madigan passed for 150 yards and a pair of touchdowns to receivers Reese Morrison and Jacob Macri.
Defensively, Taylor Mante, Gino Mayes and Jacob Lakey all had three sacks.
The Panthers have a record of three wins and no losses, and are tied for first in the AAA’s Pacific division. Abbotsford next takes on Handsworth Secondary in North Vancouver on Friday afternoon.
In Langley, the Bateman Timberwolves picked up their first win of the season and kept their playoff hopes alive with a 28-18 win over the Langley Saints.
Timberwolves running back Dawson Davis rushed for 107 yards and one touchdown, while adding five tackles on defence. Bateman quarterback Aiden McDonald rushed for 106 yards, and added a pick-six defensively. Braden Verleur and Brock McCartney scored the other majors for Bateman.
The Timberwolves improve to a record of one win and three losses, and are tied for fourth in the AA’s eastern conference. Bateman next hosts Salmon Arm on Friday at 3 p.m.
