Another year, another opportunity for both Mission Secondary School’s varsity and junior varsity football teams to win the AA provincials in this Saturday’s Subway Bowl.
The varsity team, lead by coach Kevin Watrin, squeaked past Ballenas last Saturday afternoon at UBC, 28-27.
“[Ballenas] couldn’t run, but had good passing, and it was the opposite for us,” said Watrin.
The back-and-forth game eventually came out in Mission’s favour, which showcased another strong performance by MSS quarterback Kevin Wiens, who rushed for 70 yards, scored three touchdowns and blanketed Ballenas’ most talented receiver.
“Wiens is, in my opinion, the best all around AA football player in BC and one of the best high school football players,” said Watrin.
And the provincial all-star committee agrees, naming Wiens on Tuesday the provincial AA all-star defensive MVP, alongside Hyatt Smith who was honoured as an all star as a defensive linebacker and earned a B.C. Secondary Schools Football Association Academic Scholarship valued at $1,000.
Ryan Pye was also recognized as an all-star offensive lineman.
The varsity team now faces the South Delta Sun Devils on Saturday at 3 p.m. at BC Place stadium, a team they haven’t played this year.
“It’s going to be close. It’ll come down to four or five big plays and whoever gets those,” said Watrin.
On the JV side, the Roadrunners defeated the John Barsby Bulldogs 19-16, the team that took the provincial title from them last year, but fell in 2010.
They will face the Abby Panthers at 10 a.m., said coach John Kapty.
“They’re big and physical,” he said, noting Mission’s test is to utilize their speed. “I think it’s a fair match up.”
The Panthers had defeated MSS earlier this year 20-18, but Kapty is confident his team can win the provincials again.
“It’s like I always tell the players: It’s not who’s the best team, but the team that plays the best,” he said.
