The Sardis Falcons weren’t supposed to win last Friday’s home game against the Rutland VooDoos.
The Kelowna school rolled into town with one of B.C. high school football’s most dominant players. Jhavoun Blake came into the game with a province-high 554 rushing yards, averaging 138.50 per game, but the Falcons proved that it takes more than one player to get the job done.
The Sardis defence swarmed to the ball every time Blake had it, which was on all but two Rutland offensive plays.
He broke away for one big gain, providing Rutland’s only points on a 25 yard touchdown run late in the third quarter, but otherwise he had to fight for every yard he got.
Blake also played defense (safety), absorbing punishment from hard-charging Sardis running backs Justin Crooks and Carson Robinson.
The Falcons offence was able to move the ball on the Rutland D, and could have had more than one score if not for two red-zone interceptions by the VooDoos. But the O came through in crunch time, punching in the game winning score on a 10 yard Josh Janssen to Nick Butler touchdown strike.
Jack Foreman provided the winning point with a successful convert kick, and the Sardis defence held on at the end, halting a Rutland drive at the six-yard line and holding their breath as a VooDoo field goal attempt sailed wide to the right.
Sardis improved to 3-1 and moved into a tie for second place in the AAA Pacific division standings.
They’re back in action Friday at 4 p.m., hosting Nanaimo District at Exhibition Stadium.
