As was the case all season, the Mt. Boucherie Bears played hard to the final whistle.
But on Saturday afternoon it wasn’t quite enough as the Vancouver College Fighting Irish took down the Bears 42-17 in B.C. high school football quarterfinal playoff action.
Boucherie was unable to contain Irish running back Liam Mahara who rushed for more than 300 yards and three touchdowns, as the Bears were forced to play from behind from the early stages of the opening quarter.
“It took our offense a half to get going and it took our defense a half to get going and by that time it was too late,” said Bears’ coach Mike Godwin. “We had our chances but made some mistakes, missed some assignments and against a team like that, little things cost you.”
Bears’ senior Peter Briker finished off his high school career with a memorable effort, returning a kick off 80 yards for a touchdown. Spencer Humes scored Boucherie’s other major in the fourth quarter with the game already out of reach.
As much as the defeat was a disappointing end, it was a season like no other for the Bears who finished first in the Okanagan AAA Conference with a 6-0 record.
Godwin said the football program at Boucherie continues to progress.
“It’s definitely a step in the right direction,” Godwin said. “There’s still work ahead of us, but it’s coming. The guys are already back in the weight room getting ready for next season.”
• In junior varsity playoff action Saturday at CNC, Mt. Douglas ended the Kelowna Owls’ season with a 38-14 victory.
On Thursday, the Mt. Boucherie Bears JV squad went down to defeat to St. Thomas More 34-7.
