Critical game Friday at Bear Mountain

The Belmont Bulldogs varsity football team has dominated the Vancouver Island and is ready to take on the province.

After a winning last FridayB次元官网网址檚 game against Edward Milne community school, 27-8, the Bulldogs are on the way to the provincial semi-finals.

Court Boice and Whiz Fletcher helped lead the team to victory. Erik Kenner landed a 35-yard touchdown reception and Keith Williams started the game with a 80-yard kickoff return into the end zone.

B次元官网网址淚t was a good team win,B次元官网网址� said head coach Kevin Harrington. B次元官网网址淎 lack of discipline almost hurt the us though. We had a lot of bad penalties. WeB次元官网网址檒l make sure we look after that in the next game.B次元官网网址�

This Friday the Bulldogs are gearing up to play against Howe Sound secondary school, with a home field advantage at Bear Mountain Stadium. The game starts at 4:30 p.m.

Harrington is hoping to fill the stands with fans to cheer on the West Shore team. His advice to the fans is to B次元官网网址渄ress warm.B次元官网网址�

If the Bulldogs win against Howe Sound, the squad will get the chance to play for the first place spot in the province.

B次元官网网址淲e have good balance offensively with running and passing. Defensively we also have a good mix of running and passing,B次元官网网址� Harrington said.

Harrington spends a lot of time working with the players on their passing. B次元官网网址淎 lot of teams primarily spend a lot of time running and they donB次元官网网址檛 pass as much,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 why we focus on passing, we try to keep them off balance a bit.

B次元官网网址淒efensively we are strong enough to win the B.C.B次元官网网址檚 this year.B次元官网网址�

Aside from a full team of 25 varsity players training for the championships, nearly the entire junior varsity team is still on the field, hoping to get some game play on the varsity team during playoffs.

B次元官网网址淭wenty-two out of 24 JVB次元官网网址檚 are still here. Most teams pack it up when the season is over,B次元官网网址� said Harrington, noting the dedication and drive of his players. B次元官网网址淪ome of these guys know they wonB次元官网网址檛 even play in a game but are still here.B次元官网网址�

While the varsity team is leading in its Tier 2 league, the junior varsity team faced its first season competing against AAA teams.

Although the JV team finished its season in last place with a record of zero wins and five losses, Harrington said the players fought hard on the field and lost many games with single digit scores.

B次元官网网址淪ome games we lost by only eight or 12 points,B次元官网网址� Harrington said proudly. B次元官网网址淎 lot of outside people thought weB次元官网网址檇 get blown away this season. ItB次元官网网址檚 a steep step from AA to AAA but the scores tell we can compete.B次元官网网址�

The team struggled with a lot of injuries and a quarterback with a concussion.

B次元官网网址淲e were missing a couple key pieces to have us compete strong enough in the AAA,B次元官网网址� Harrington said.

Next year the varsity team will also be moving up to the AAA league as well. Harrington said the varsity shift will be a bit smoother because next yearB次元官网网址檚 varsity player will have has experience in a AAA league.

sports@goldstreamgazette.com