Facing a 20-6 halftime deficit, the John Barsby Bulldogs fought back to beat the Ballenas Whalers 32-20 in B.C. high school football playoffs this afternoon.
A boxscore and statistics were not available, but Cesare and Kai Rednour-Bruckman were among those scoring touchdowns in front of the home crowd at Q’unq’inuqwstuxw Field on Friday, Nov. 11. With Ballenas driving late in the fourth quarter, Ryder Mount intercepted a ball and following the turnover, the offence scored an insurance TD, sealing the victory for Barsby.
Despite being down at the half, Rob Stevenson, Barsby head coach, said the Bulldogs didn’t really make adjustments on defence, even though they shut out Ballenas in the third and fourth quarters.
“We just doubled down on what we prepared to do and kept ourselves in our base defence and let the players play,” Stevenson told the News Bulletin. “On the offensive side of the ball … they scouted us well. They had a few more guys inside the box then we could handle in our power running game and you close that door, then we’re going to try to go over you and around you and we were successful that way.”
Stevenson praised QB Cohen Cadieux and the passing game.
“Our quarterback really showed a lot of resilience,” the coach said. “It was a tough first quarter and he didn’t wilt. He stepped up and fought the next round, play by play by play and I’m really proud of them, especially in a game where you come from behind by two touchdowns. It speaks a lot to team character.”
Stevenson also lauded Mount, saying the linebacker has been a special player, with “a different motor come game time.” Speaking on his interception, Mount said it was an ideal situation.
“I mean, it was perfect,” he said. “It came right over top [and] it still sealed the game for us.”
The Bulldogs face the Langley Thunderbirds at Langley in the next round of the B.C. Secondary Schools Football Association AA varsity playoffs, with the game Friday, Nov. 18, on the road.
“They got us this year by a couple of points and we’re going to go back and return the favour,” Stevenson said.
Barsby’s junior varsity team, meanwhile, is also embroiled in playoffs and hosts the Argyle Pipers on Wednesday, Nov 16, at 3 p.m. at Q’unq’inuqwstuxw Field.
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