BC High School Football Provincial Finals

Photo Credit Mark Steffens

The day was set and the finals were again held at BC Place for the High School Championship finals which had young players dreaming of the chance to hit the field.

For some this is a dream come true, while some might make it to the pro level like most recently the Jalen Philpot and Tyson Philpot who are playing for Calgary and Montreal in the CFL respectively. 

For others this will be their level of success, but pro or not they have shown professionalism to the level of football they have played at their respective schools.

Saturday’s championship game was between the Vancouver College Fighting Irish and the G.W. Graham Grizzlies in the Triple A High School Football Provincial final. 

The game saw Vancouver College win by a 13-12 score that saw the Irish sack Grizzlies QB Lucas Feaver while setting up a two-point convert with 33 seconds left in regulation time.

Braeden Macdonald managed a six-yard run putting G.W. Graham was able to pull out the win while setting up a 76-yard run from Feaver who connected to (WR) Christian Beck.

G.W. Graham’s final drive was from their own 10-yard line with 1:02 left in regulation

It did appear that GW Graham was set to take the lead in the third after a 17-yard FG with Vancouver College having 7-6 lead only to have Cole Pryputsch block a kick from Josh Seo having it recovered by Michael Joseph who ran for 90 yards for the major.

Josep was named MVP for the game on his 19-yard TD catch along with an interception and for

Van College this was the only loss this season after going 12-0 with their only loss at the hands to G.W. Graham, who went 11-2 in season play. 

The Fighting Irish pulled out a narrow 28-23 win over the Chilliwack side on Oct. 1 at Vancouver College. 

Last year’s play was changed due to flooding which caused playoff action to be changed from the regular provincial format to a regional format that saw G.W. Graham win the Coastal championship after defeating the Terry Fox Ravens 36-33. 

Vancouver College was among the favorites, but they were upset 27-24 by the Centennial Centaurs of Coquitlam in the quarterfinals.

Chiu said he had his players watch the film from that game, explaining that he wanted them to remember that feeling.

Saturday’s Double A saw Abby’s Robert Bateman Timberwolves drop a narrow 40-38 OT to North Van’s Carson Graham Eagles in last year’s Coastal finale who were unable to finish off a two-point convert.

John Barsby were 7-6 this season who were featuring two brothers on the squad namly Cesare and Kai Rednour-Bruckman who appeared to be the main return go to guy’s. 

The day’s schedule

• 8:30 am: Doors open
• 9:30 am: Vernon vs. Windsor (‘AA’ JV Final)
• 11:45 am: Vancouver College vs. New Westminster (‘AAA’ JV Final)
• 2 pm: Varsity All-Star Game
• 4 pm: Robert Bateman vs. John Barsby (‘AA’ Varsity Final)
• 7 pm: Vancouver College vs. G.W. Graham (‘AAA’ Varsity Final)