The Hugh Boyd Trojans are going out of their way to ensure they will be battle-tested for the upcoming B.C. High School Football provincial AA playoffs.
After rolling to yet another lopsided home field win in conference play, the unbeaten Trojans head to the Fraser Valley Friday night to take on the fifth ranked Pitt Meadows Marauders. The exhibition game was initially not on Boyd’s schedule but head coach Bill Haddow scrambled to find a quality opponent instead of enjoying a bye week, leading up to the team’s opening round playoff game.
The B.C. teachers’ labour dispute wiped out the Trojans’ pre-season schedule and launched them right into league play where they went 4-0, including lopsided home field wins over Moscrop (38-6), Frank Hurt (41-0) and, most recently Holy Cross (34-3). An Oct. 24 exhibition tilt with Burnaby Central resulted in a 39-0 triumph.
Not only will the Mauraders provide a stern test, it will give the Trojans a better idea what they will be up against when they host Chilliwack’s GW Graham in the round of 16 playoffs on Nov. 14. Pitt Meadows went 4-1 in the very competitive Eastern AA Conference that included a 27-26 win over GW Graham (3-3) last month.
“We really don’t know how talented of team we have this year and I believe this game is absolutely vital for us before the playoffs,” said Haddow. “Typically there are one or maybe two teams in your conference that will have a down year and we have had more than our share too. But to have this many in the same year is unprecedented. Throw in not playing any pre-season games and I can honestly say I have never been in this position before as a coach.
“Even the five games we have played have been more like three-and-half since four of them were running time in the second half (due to the lopsided score).”
The uncompetitive schedule has at least meant the Trojans are almost injury free at this stage of the season despite a relatively small roster. Only Grade 11 lineman Darby Kwan is expected to miss Friday’s game to give his injured ankle another week to heal.
“Getting on the bus and going on a bit of a trip to play in a hostile environment is all part of the equation,” added Haddow. “With four of our five games, it’s again something we really haven’t experienced this season.”
The Trojans produced plenty of big plays to make short work of Holy Cross, including touchdown runs of 64 and 30 yards by tailback Gabe Saklofsky. Quarterback Tyler Moxin found the end zone on a 70-yard romp and also hooked-up with Anthony Giorno on a 43-yard pass-and-run play. Linebacker Malykh Lopez rounded out the scoring on a fumble recovery.
Patrick Ruvalcaba led the defensive effort with 10 tackles. Kyle Lambert and Jacob Tubajon also had productive games with seven and six tackles respectively. Saklofsky added an interception.
End Zone…
Since all provincial playoff games have to be played on turf fields to ensure the best possible conditions at this time of year, two Delta teams are likely making their way to Richmond to play “home” games.
The South Delta Sun Devils have already booked the Minoru oval for their AAA provincial quarter-final game on Nov. 21. The Seaquam Seahawks have approached the Trojans about coming to Boyd on Nov. 14 for a potential playoff doubleheader.
