The Barsby Bulldogs are moving on after a dominant start to the post-season.
John Barsby Community Secondary School's AA varsity football team took care of the Holy Cross Crusaders 57-14 on Friday at Merle Logan Field.
"I thought we came out intense," said Rob Stevenson, Barsby coach. "We blocked well, we tackled well most of the time and it was good playoff football on our part."
The Bulldogs built up a 36-0 halftime lead. The fast start was something the'Dawgs had been focusing on, said Dexter Shea, Barsby wingback.
"We came out with an attitude that we needed to strike, we needed to be the ones setting the tempo and the tone," he said.
Even though the Crusaders were beaten, they kept playing till time ran out on their season, forcing the Bulldogs to try to keep up the intensity all game long.
"We always like to preach four quarters," said Shea. "[The Crusaders] didn't come here to lose. They have a lot of Grade 12s, like we do, and we expected them to put up a fight like we put up a fight."
Playoff football took its toll, unfortunately, as Barsby wingback Brandon Parker suffered what looked to be a serious leg injury. Parker was the offensiver player of the game for Barsby's junior varsity team at last year's Subway Bowl provincial championship and was the AA varsity team's leading rusher this past regular season.
"It hurts a lot spiritually," said Stevenson. "We all hurt for our teammate, our friend."
Shea had a mammoth game with five touchdowns, three along the ground and two on passes from quarterback Brody Taylor. Taylor also threw a TD pass to Dylan Sanford and Duc Truong and Jacob Odynsky had Barsby's other majors.
GAME ON ... The Bulldogs play Pitt Meadows on the road next week in a neutral-site game at the University of British Columbia. Look for more in an upcoming issue of the News Bulletin.