After winning three straight games and clinching a playoff berth for the second time in their young history, the “wheels came off the train” on Monday for the Spectrum Thunder.
The team hopes to overcome the 36-6 loss to Eric Hamber in Tier II B.C. High School Football ahead of Monday’s playoff match versus the Pitt Meadows Marauders.
This year Pitt Meadows has been eating up the Tier II competition, including a lopsided defeat of the Thunder early in the season.
Spectrum head coach Darren Vaux lamented Monday’s loss, as it ended a three-game win streak. Spectrum had defeated Timberline 27-12 just four days earlier.
“Eric Hamber is a team that lost to the last two teams we beat but that’s how it goes,” Vaux said. “We turned the ball over eight times, four pickoffs and four fumbles.”
If Spectrum won on Monday they would have been set to host a playoff game. Instead, they’ll travel to Pitt Meadows for a 1 p.m. kickoff on Monday.
The Thunder continued its growth last week against Timberline as Grade 10 quarterback Chris Starck threw for three touchdowns and ran for another score. Starck finished with 14 completions on 22 attempts, for a total of 210 yards.
Grade 11 tight end Carson Vaux scored two touchdowns on six catches and receiver Riley Wilson had another great day with a TD and strong game as safety, Vaux said.
Quarterback Starck, however, is unavailable for Monday. Luckily, last year’s quarterback Connor McKillop is now available as he’s been released from his spot as a goalie with the Saanich Braves junior B hockey team.
Over at Mount Douglas, the defending provincial AAA champion Rams won their first playoff game of the season, a 52-7 win over W.J. Mouat of Abbotsford, played at Goudy Field.
Josh Lucas and Ben Pierik ignited the running game with 203 yards and three touchdowns for Lucas, and 183 yards and three touchdowns for Pierik.
On the defensive side of the ball, Soren Hallschmid, Quinn Jenish and Isaiah Cardilicchia combined for 22 tackles, while Jake Ounsted had four tackles including a sack, and one fumble recovery. Lucas and Cardilicchia each had an interception.
Next up for the Rams is the top-ranked Terry Fox Ravens this Saturday, 3 p.m. at B.C. Place.
