The Holy Cross Crusaders avoided a trip to Kamloops, defeating the Frank Hurt Hornets 27-0 in the final regular season game to clinch second place in the Southern Conference of Senior AA high school football.
The Crusaders will now kickoff against the Valleyview Vikings tomorrow (Friday) at Langley’s McLeod Park in the first round of the 16-team provincial playoffs.
The Hornets, the third-place finishers in the Southern Conference at 3-2 (won-lost), will now be the team to travel. They will bus to Kamloops tomorrow for a 4 p.m. game against the Duchess Park Condors of Prince George.
Sterling Hillman returned two punts for touchdowns on runs of 45 and 55 yards. Jonothon Kongbo ran 40 yards for a major score, while Luca Ciampelletti raced 35 yards for the fourth Holy Cross touchdown.
“The entire defense played very well,” said Ken Buchan, head coach of the 4-1 Crusaders. “We’re looking for ward to hosting Valleyview on Friday.”
The Seaquam Seahawks closed out their regular season last Saturday with a 50-0 victory over the Spectrum Thunder to claim fourth place in the Southern Conference at 2-3.
The Seahawks will also be in Kamloops tomorrow to play the Vernon Panthers at 7 p.m.
In the Senior AAA category, the Lord Tweedsmuir Panthers wrapped up a second-place in the Eastern Conference with their fifth win in six starts, upending the Centennial Centaurs 37-6 last Friday in Cloverdale.
Jamel Lyles rushed for three touchdowns, the longest a 56-yard run, and also contributed on defense by returning an interception 20 yards.
Connor McKay scored on a two-yard quarterback sneak, threw a 63-yard touchdown pass to Joe Carter and kicked a 30-yard field goal.
Mike Carter was the defensive leader with eight tackles and a sack, while Austin Thornton had seven tackles.
The Panthers get a first-round bye in the playoffs, and will play in the quarterfinal round Nov. 15-16.