The bantam Cowichan Bulldogs continued to turn around their football season with their second win in a row, 29-7 over the Langley Mustangs at McAdam Park on Sunday afternoon.
“The team is evolving, every week,” head coach PJ Shea said. “With every setback comes an opportunity to improve. With success comes confidence. As a team, we need to continue this positive progression.”
The Cowichan defence didn’t allow a point, as Langley’s only touchdown came on a punt return. The tone was set by linebackers Gavin Kendrick and Finn Shea, and linemen Gregor Mackenzie and Jayden Strzok. The emergence of Max Vaesen and Drake Spong in the secondary has helped Cowichan adapt to the diverse offensives of the Mainland teams.
The Bulldogs showed more signs that they are finding their rhythm on offence. The running of Finn Shea and Laine Hogstead led the Bulldogs down the field for four touchdowns, and Jesse Kwasny added a 30-yard field goal.
The bantam Bulldogs will visit Richmond for a Thanksgiving Monday showdown.
The junior bantam Bulldogs were unstoppable from the opening kickoff in their 37-0 rout of the Westshore Warriors at Westhills Stadium. Dillon Wilson ran the ball back 63 yards to score on the opening play, and after the Cowichan defence shut down the Warriors’ first possession, quarterback Nico Harris rushed for a score of his own.
Davin Reithaug ran for the third touchdown, then Harris hit Wilson on a 30-yard pass-and-run play. Harris wrapped up the scoring on a bootleg, and was also successful on four of five convert attempts.
The JB ’Dogs have racked up 124 points this season while only giving up six. The team has played more than 10 quarters of football without allowing a point. Wilson, Harris, Reithaug, Cody Williams, Eric Guo, Devon Tidder and Brad McCrae were among the standouts on defence on Sunday.
“Our defense is absolutely savage right now,” coach Ted Harris said. “Our players in every position are making big hits and plays.”
Now sitting second in their nine-team league, the Bulldogs have this weekend off before closing out the season with two home dates.
Also in action at Westhills Stadium on Sunday, the peewee Bulldogs struggled against the peewee Warriors.
“It was just not our day,” head coach Opie Williams said. “Nothing went our way and we came up against a better team.”
The Warriors set the tone by scoring on their first offensive series. The Warriors’ kickoff after their second touchdown hit Tristan Knight on his toe as he stepped forward and bounced right back to the Warriors, who recovered and eventually scored on a fumble after a big goal-line stand by the Cowichan defence.
Darren Bright had one of the highlights for the Bulldogs when he stripped the ball from the Westshore running back and broke into the open field for a 20-yard gain. Cruiz Heemskerk had some good returns and almost broke loose to score, as well as ending the game on a good note when he hauled in a pass from Jaeden Williams as he was hit by two defenders. Maxim Magnan did well at outside linebacker.
The peewees will attend the BC Lions game this weekend, then return to action at home on Oct. 14.