On the surface, the victory looks great: Langley Rams 69 Westshore Rebels 10.
“Don’t get me wrong, I love a win, no matter by how many points,” said Rams coach Ted Kirby.
“It looks like a big win, and it is, but what I have to take away is we have to get better in all three facets of the game.”
He was talking about the Rams’ win on Saturday at McLeod Park, which improved the team to 2-0 in the B.C. Junior Football Conference.
“Our offence was great and our defence was relentless,” he said.
The only bone of contention Kirby had was penalties: Langley committed 18 infractions for 167 yards. Even worse, it nullified three touchdowns.
“The penalties? That is unacceptable,” he said.
“That is not the kind of team I want us to be. We need to work to make that a priority.”
The game was over the first quarter after the Rams put up 35 points, including 14 on the defensive side of the ball. By halftime, it was 56-3 and the Rams were resting starters on both sides of the ball.
Quarterback Jahlani Gilbert-Knorren had another big game, throwing for three touchdowns — a 15-yarder and a 53-yarder to Dan English and 97-yarder to Malcolm Williams — as well as running for one, from 19 yards.
Kyle Albertini (47 yards) and Nathan Lund (24 yards) both scored rushing touchdowns.
The defence also got into the act as Nathan Shepherd returned a fumble 17 yards for a score and Ben Sharpe scored on a 75-yard interception return.
The Rams play Aug. 10 at Caledonia Park against the 1-1 Vancouver Island (VI) Raiders.
