The New Westminster Hyacks are halfway through the latest B.C. high school football season.
And while the orange and black suffered its first loss of the 2024 campaign last Friday, Oct. 11, the team's remaining schedule may skew in their favour.
The Hyacks began the 2024 campaign 2-0 with back-to-back wins at home over Handsworth (North Vancouver), 49-12, and Centennial (Coquitlam), 33-21.
New West entered the third week ranked second overall in the AAA varsity football provincial standings.
However, a tight-knit contest on the road last week that resulted in a 24-20 setback to Terry Fox Secondary (Port Coquitlam) dropped the Hyacks four spots to sixth.
The final three tilts before playoffs appear to be promising for New West.
The Hyacks are in Surrey tomorrow afternoon, Oct. 18, at 3:30 p.m. to take on Lord Tweedsmuir — also 2-1, but currently ranked fifth in the province going into week four.
On paper, New West has outscored its opponents 102-57, while the Panthers' scoreboard reads 33-34 in three games..
The Hyacks final matches are against schools that are currently unranked:
- Oct. 25, 7:30 p.m. vs. Seaquam (1-2)
- @ Mercer Stadium
- Nov. 1, 7:30 p.m. vs. St. Thomas More (1-2)
- @ Burnaby Lake
Notable stats
Antonio Hageleit and Gavin Rai have shared quarterback duties for New West through the first half of the year, combining for 248 passing yards, three touchdowns and a 44 per cent average completion rate.
Running back Kah'ri Johnson, in two games played, is third in AAA varsity play with an average of 154.5 rushing yards per game and sixth with 309 total yards.
Meanwhile, Benicio Hageleit has the third longest reception on record in 2024 thus far (66 yards) and is eighth league-wide with 165 total receiving yards.
