The Sports Corner

BC HS Football Championship Preview

Centennial vs. W.J. Mouat - Saturday, Dec. 5, 7 p.m. - McLeod Stadium

In September Luke Williams quarterbacked the Centaurs to a win over the Hawks, at least for part of the game. That was the fateful game when Williams was lost for the season with an injury and Lemar Durant took over as the team’s field general. 

The Hawks weren’t themselves that night. All-star two-way player Allan Dicks missed the game with an illness and his play-making ability was missed early on as the Hawks went down 21-0 in the first half.

However, not to be left for dead, the Hawks got into the end zone before halftime on the legs of quarterback Cam Bedore and they rode that momentum into a strong second half. But Bedore and the Hawks came up just short, losing 24-21.

This time around Dicks is healthy and his team is playing better than they have all season.

“Allan (Dicks) will be especially useful to us on defence as he gives us another player with speed in the same range as Durant’s,” said W.J. Mouat’s head coach Denis Kelly. “We have steadily improved as a team and are reaching our peak at the right time.”

On the other side of the ball, the Centaurs are rolling and may have played their most complete game of the season, shutting down New Westminster’s high-octane offence. But head coach Kevin Phillips is weary of his opponent’s ability.

“W.J. Mouat is a well-coached team of athletes that can provide match-up problems for us,” said Phillips. “They are a well-balanced team on offense and aggressive on defence.”

Though both defences are playing well, these are two teams that have thrived on making big plays throughout the playoffs and it’s hard to see that changing on Saturday.

“I just shudder every time I think of Durant,” added coach Kelly after his team’s semifinal win over Vancouver College. “Can we possibly tackle him? He’s such a strong guy and he’s playing well, but with (defensive coordinator Gary Naylor’s) ability to come up with game plans, we’ll mix it up on offence and who knows, it could be like tonight.”