The bigger picture says the Hugh Boyd Trojans were huge winners even though the scoreboard suggested otherwise.
Their high school football season ended with a 42-12 AA quarter-final playoff loss to the Ballenas Whalers last week. The fourth ranked school from Parksville turned a pair of early onside kicks into touchdowns and the hosts never could recover.
It was only nine weeks earlier the Trojans didn’t even know if there would be a season.
The teachers’ labour dispute wiped out training camp and exhibition play. It was late September when the players stepped on the field for the first time. Yet, the campaign was more than salvaged as Boyd went unbeaten in conference play and continued to roll with an opening round playoff win over GW Graham. The unexpected run produced two additional home games and put the program in the community spotlight.
The north sidelines were packed with supporters in Friday’s loss despite a steady downpour. They will be back again next year as Boyd will take plenty of momentum into the 2015 campaign with just five players graduating. Among the returnees will be Grade 11 quarterback Tyler Moxin and running back Gabe Saklofski. They were named to the provincial all-star team, along with lineman Max Grenzberg, marking the first time in recent memory the Trojans have received that much post-season recognition.
All are encouraging signs for longtime coaching brothers Bill and Bruce Haddow who have worked tirelessly over the years to ensure the survival of Richmond’s last remaining high school football program. Not lost on either of them, or other key volunteers, was the fact Boyd was even playing a home playoff game in late November.
“That’s the thing,” said Bill Haddow. “It’s an atmosphere like that which helps promote high school football here in a positive way. I think kids are seeing this is a pretty neat place to be at and play. We are also putting a good product on the field right now too. That message needs to be out there.”
Haddow is unsure what the future holds for the program’s junior varsity squad. A decision was made not to field a team this year due to a number of talented Grade 10s being aged up to play senior. It could return in 2015 or perhaps a working relationship could be struck with the Richmond Raiders community football program as a feeder system.
“We’re kind of torn right now on what we are going to do,” said Haddow, who pointed out a Grade 8 spring program will continue to run. “A junior team is a lot more work on a lot more different levels with more coaches required.”
The Whalers relied on the running of Coltin Laplante and an outstanding offensive line to dominate the hosts. Laplante finished the night with 276 yards and six touchdowns on 34 carries.
“Their line was not only big but they were skilled and athletic too. Just an outstanding group,” added Haddow. “They came as advertised and we haven’t seen a team like that this year.”
The Trojans did manage a pair of second half touchdowns from Jacob Tubajon and Moxin.
