The Mission Secondary School varsity Roadrunners will be in semi-final action this Saturday at UBC’s Thunderbird stadium after blasting past South Delta 37-8, Nov. 19.
Running back Jesse Forcier got Mission on the board in the first quarter with a 22-yard run, and the team kept South Delta scoreless until the final quarter. In the second, Kristjan Jakobs caught a 28-yard pass from Kevin Wiens, and Brenden Atkinson rushed for 10, both for touchdowns.
Eric Diguistini kicked a field goal in the third, and in the final quarter of play, Atkinson scored on a six-yard rush, and Rhys Perry returned an interception 60 yards for six points.
Defensively, said coach Kevin Watrin, Zac Chamberland lead with eight tackles, Daniel Orydzuk tallied seven, and Jakobs and Alex McCall racked five each.
AA Provincial All-Stars
Surpassing last year’s effort, seven Roadrunners have been selected as AA Provincial All-Stars.
“These esteemed awards are the fruit of the Roadrunners’ hard work on and off the field since Grade 8,” said Watrin.
In addition to these provincial all stars, many other talented players have been instrumental in the team’s success, he said, including the strong athletic play of Grade 11 quarterback Kevin Wiens, who is currently fourth in the province in passing yards (1,316).
“Individual recognition is great, but first and foremost it is a team game, and we are focused on team accomplishments,” noted Watrin.
Here are this year’s all-stars:
• Jesse Forcier: AA offensive MVP
• Tom Clarkson: offensive lineman
• Zac Chamberland: offensive lineman
• Brenden Atkinson: running back
• Hadley Gwyn: defensive back
• Alex McCall: defensive lineman
• Rhys Parry: defensive lineman.
Junior varsity
The Roadrunners’ junior varsity team continues to climb the ranks in step with their older brothers.
The JVs played Carson Graham last night (Nov. 23) at Burnaby Lakes in the semi-final provincial match, and results were not known by The Record’s press time.
Last Friday, the JVs defeated Handsworth secondary 35-6 to earn the right to face Carson. The team has already captured the conference title again this year, and is aiming to repeat its provincial win two years in a row.