A famous Mark Twain quote best sums up the 2015 version of the Hugh Boyd Trojans.
“It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of fight in the dog.”
Boyd looked to be in tough for their regular season finale last Friday against the Langley Saints.
A small roster to begin with was limited even further with key starters Robbie Conroy and Ryan Jensen unavailable. That left just 16 seniors and three junior call-ups to take on a Langley team that was 6-1 overall and looking to complete an unbeaten run in league play
Yet, there were the Trojans locked in a scoreless deadlock until the visitors finally broke through with a pair of fourth quarter majors to win 14-0.
“We played our hearts out and the guys knew it,” said head coach Bill Haddow. “They were actually excited after the game and there was a super cool vibe in the locker room. They knew they had left everything on the field for our last ‘Friday Night Lights’ home game of the season.
“We actually had a Grade 10 starting offensive guard playing as an inside receiver and our Grade 10 quarterback as a wideout. I looked out to the field and had my doubts we would even be able to compete. We couldn’t be more proud of them.”
The loss leaves the Trojans with a 2-2 record and as a three seed heading into this week’s provincial AA playoffs. They are matched up against the Carson Graham Eagles — 3-1 finishers in the Western AA Conference. The game will take place Friday on the North Shore.
Boyd is healthy as they ever will be. The decision to rest Conroy last week was a wise one as he will be close to full speed and provide the offence with a second explosive player, along with Gabe Skalofsky. Jensen will also be back this week to resume his duties at middle linebacker.
Thrown the Trojans’ imposing interior line that is anchored by senior standout Darby Kwan and they are a nasty piece of business to deal with in a sudden death post season scenario.
“Talking to my brother (Bruce), every year when the draw comes out there always seems to be a team that has had a really good year but ends up with a tough opponent,” added Haddow. “I’m pretty sure Carson is saying ‘how did we end up playing Boyd?’ I’m not saying it’s going to be an upset but they are going to know they were in a football game.”
Equally intriguing is the Trojans being in a quadrant that includes Northern Conference champion Prince George and East Conference fourth place finisher Robert Bateman. A semi-final berth isn’t an unrealistic goal.
For that to happen Boyd must be better in the red zone. Last Friday, they moved the ball inside the 20 at least two times and had nothing to show for it.
Saklofsky managed another huge night on the ground with 162 yards on just 13 carries yet the Saints buckled down near their own goalline.
Now, the Trojans are hoping the return of Conroy will mean the ability to finish drives.
“We have to find different ways to get the ball in his hands,” agreed Haddow.
End Zone…
The Trojans junior varsity team also sees post-season action this week as Boyd heads to Nanaimo Thursday to take on John Barsby.
