The view from atop B.C. high school football’s Eastern Conference standings is very much to the Kelowna Owls’ liking.
Remaining there will hinge on how Ben Macauley’s squad fares in Coquitlam on Friday night against the powerhouse Terry Fox Ravens.
The Owls, 3-0 in regular season play, have outscored their opponents 121-28.
The Ravens have been equally dominant, going 2-0 while outscoring their foes 84-22.
The KSS head coach is pleased with his team’s start but knows the toughest test is yet come.
“It’s nice to be undefeated, especially since we haven’t played our best football yet,” said Macauley, whose team is 6-0 overall.
“We have a battle for first place against Fox this week, who is one of the best teams in Canada. We definitely have to be at our best.”
The Owls may not have been at their absolute best on Saturday at the CNC turf, but still handled the W.J. Mouat Hawks 33-14.
Despite being under the weather due to a virus, Owls’ senior Parker Simson was his dominant self in leading KSS to victory.
“Even when Parker is sick, he can get the job done,” Macauley said. “He was an absolute beast on defense, laying punishing hits on receivers and making athletic plays on the ball.”
Simson paced the offence with 64 yards passing and a touchdown, while running 12 times for 100 yards and two major scores. On defence, he had six tackles, two interceptions and a fumble recovery.
Kyle Zakala scored on an eight-yard pass from Simson to open the scoring.
Seth Campbell was a workhorse for the Owls with 122 yards on 19 carries.
On defence, Newton Benson had six tackles, a sack and a key tackle for a huge loss.
Rutland Voodoos 28 West Vancouver 14
Matt Klak rushed for 118 yard and scored three touchdowns and as the Voodoos opened their regular season with a solid effort at home Friday against the Highlanders.
Dakota Robertson had a big night on both sides of the ball, rushing for 110 yards on 16 carries, while nine tackles on defense.
QB Elias Gering scored a major, kicked all four converts, recovered his own onside kick, and blocked a point after attempt.
Rutland head coach Peter McCall was pleased with the contributions from all areas of the ball club, including from the least experienced.
“A lot of our rookies and younger players really stepped up,” McCall said. “Our offensive lie—Andrew Becker, Curtis Kilmartin, Gabe Solski, Andy Tran, and Taylor Armstong—paved the way for our backs. Hats off to the unsung heroes.”
On Friday, the Voodoos (1-0-0) will be in Salmon Arm to take on the Golds.
Mt. Boucherie Bears 14 STMC 14
St. Thomas More controlled play in the first half Friday at the Apple Bowl, while the Bears took over in the second.
Boucherie scored a touchdown and added a two-point conversion in the final minute to earn the draw.
According to high school football rules, the teams should have played a shoot-out style tiebreaker to decide a winner, but the officials mistakenly called the game instead.
“If you asked me if I would be happy with a tie I would have answered yes,” said Bears coach Mike Godwin. “I think with the way we were playing in the closing minutes, that we would have pulled out the win (in shootout).
“STMC won the first half, we won the second, so maybe a tie was fitting in this instance.”
Spencer Schmidt and Steven Johnson scored touchdowns for the Bears. On defense, Boucherie intercepted four passes—Taylor Knoll, Ethen Beselt, Chris Smith and Spencer Schmidt.
The Bears (1-1-1) have this weekend off from league play, before returning to action Oct. 24 in Abbotsford against WJ Mouat.
