The Barsby Bulldogs were the better team and the more sportsmanlike team, and they're the ones moving on.
John Barsby Community Secondary School's AA varsity football team won its quarterfinal playoff game 58-9 over the Pitt Meadows Marauders on Saturday at the University of British Columbia.
"We played really disciplined. We showed up for a football game; the other team thought they were in a UFC fight," said Rob Stevenson, Barsby coach. "Seriously, I was pretty appalled at what took place."
There were incidents, he alleged, of head-butting, kneeing, eye-gouging and ankle-twisting, but the Bulldogs somehow kept their cool.
"You go hard because you're protecting yourself," Stevenson said. "The best defence is aggressive play within the rules."
Barsby's D played its best game of the season, said the coach, giving up perhaps 65 yards of total offence on the afternoon. Those defensive stops, plus a "dialled-in" effort on special teams, gave the offence good field position.
"It was chainsaw offence; it was relentless," said Stevenson. "We wound up punting only twice and we found the endzone plenty."
Dexter Shea scored four rushing TDs – he's now scored nine majors in his two playoff games this month – and Kalven Kellock had a pair of touchdown receptions from quarterback Brody Taylor. Duc Truong and Jacob Odynsky scored run TDs for the 'Dawgs.
Stevenson said he's very proud of his guys, who not only won the football game, but became a stronger team.
"A real unifier," said the coach.
GAME ON … The Bulldogs play the South Delta Sun Devils in the semifinals Saturday (Nov. 24) at UBC's Thunderbird Stadium in a 3 p.m. kickoff. Look for more on the game in an upcoming issue.
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