There is beating an opponent handily and then there is what the Langley Rams did to the Valley Huskers.
The Rams defence limited the Huskers to three first downs and 63 yards of total offence in a one-sided 45-3 rout on Saturday at McLeod Athletic Park.
Langley evened their record in the BC Football Conference at 3-3 while the Huskers fell to 0-6.
GALLERY
“Our defence followed the game plan to a T,” said Rams coach Khari Joseph.
“They really flew around and were committed to their jobs.”
“We knew what their favourite plays were and we took them away,” the coach added.
“It is tough for an offence to get any continuity going when they can’t rely on what they do well.”
Langley led 4-0 after one quarter and were up 18-3 at the half before blowing the game open with three touchdowns in the third quarter.
The Huskers managed 64 yards rushing while completing just one pass for seven yards. The team’s lone scoring drive came off an Alex Zamora interception, which he returned 49 yards.
Isaiah Stewart forced and recovered a fumble, while also knocking down a pass and finishing with one tackle for the defence, while Demarius Henderson, Austin Iredale, Nick Westad and Kyle Sagmoen each had a pair of tackles. Denis Oliveria also had an interception for the defence.
Offensively, the Rams displayed a balanced attack with 133 yards rushing and 225 yards through the air.
Quarterback Rylan Matters — who completed 65 per cent of his passes — connected with Khalik Johnson for three touchdown passes.
Stephen Legare scored a rushing touchdown for the other score while Jonaus Levac finished with five converts, three field goals and a single.
Johnson caught seven passes for 169 yards.
Joseph has talked all season about getting the ball into his playmakers’ hands.
“If (KJ) is lined up one-on-one, we need to give him an opportunity to score and our (Matters) has an arm that can get him the ball out there and that’s what he did.”
The coach added that the pair seems to be developing chemistry.
“KJ has to trust that the quarterback is going to throw the ball where he wants it and the quarterback has to trust that KJ will be out there and will fight for the ball. That’s starting to happen.”
The Rams continue their quest for a post-season berth as they host the Kamloops Broncos (1-5) on Saturday at MAP. Game time is 5 p.m.
A Langley victory — which would be a third in a row following a 1-3 start — would give the Rams the season series and clinch a playoff spot.
They close out the regular season with games against the league’s top three teams, two of which are on the road.
“I am excited as a football coach — this is why you play, why you sacrifice all your time in the off-season and for practice because you want to give yourselves an opportunity to win meaningful games down the stretch,” Joseph said. “We (just) need to be more focused and dedicated to getting better every day.”
