BC High School football report – AAA Western Conference

Excitement surrounds the 5-team Western Conference, where the defending champion Mount Douglas Rams will look to become the first team to win back-to-back titles since St. Thomas More Collegiate did it back in 1999-2000. The team from Victoria will be without many of their 2011 starters this year, including 2011 player of the year Tyrrell Davis, who packed his bags for the Arizona State Sun Devils. This year, the Rams will put out a younger squad with lots of talent: including offensive/defensive lineman Peter Allan, and holdovers Marcus Davis, Brian Dowds, Christian Krause and Mason Swift who all return to help lead the charge. The Rams won their first exhibition game last week over Junction City High School by a score of 38-6.

The New Westminster Hyacks will be playing in their 10^th season this year and will look to propel themselves in to the BC High school football elite. While 2011 was an injury-plagued season for the Hyacks, head coach Farhan Lalji expects his young players to step up and get significant playing time. Quarterback Tommy Robertson will lead the offense after an impressive campaign in 2011, while sophomore Harper Sherman will be the leader on defense. Harper, who is already being scouted by NCAA universities, will be joined by up to 15 other players on the offensive and defensive lines – including captains Yahia Gomaa and Arjun Venkatesh. The Hyacks are 1-1 in pre-season action.

Vancouver College, who won the title in 2010, will look to rebound from last year’s struggles and once again challenge for the provincial title. Head coach Todd Bernett thinks his Fighting Irish team is heading in the right direction. Running back Alan Yuen is expected to be a threat on the ground, while quarterback Angus Ker will be hitting the air. Defensively, Miguel Batista and Connor Frost will be giving opposing quarterbacks nightmares from the defensive line. The number-3 ranked Fighting Irish beat the Mt. Boucherie Bears 41-28 in their recent exhibition game.

Historically, nobody has won more B.C. provincial titles than the Notre Dame Jugglers. However, it’s been a tough go for the Jugglers over the past few years, having not won the title since 1993. Head coach Richard Scott knows that any experience will help his young squad, as they look to rebuild their reputation as a top-tier varsity team.

Finally, the West Vancouver Highlanders will look to build off last year’s campaign, and challenge for the teams first ever provincial championships. Head coach Shawn Anderson will mostly rely on quarterback Johnny Franklin to propel the offense. Jack Trembath and Blake Whiteley will be his main targets in the air, while Marcus Schwandner will be the primary ball carrier on the ground. Linebacker and pre-season standout James Oswald is expected to be a threat in both defensive and offensive situations. The Highlanders won their previous exhibition game in thrilling fashion, beating the Seaquam Seahawks 35-29 on the final play of the game.

The table is set for another exciting season in B.C. High School football, as nobody is a clear favorite to win it all. Powerhouses from both the Eastern and Okanagan Conferences are expected to challenge for the trophy, but expect the talent-laden Western Conference to once again vie to have British Columbia’s best High School football team. The regular season action begins September 28.