All season long the South Delta Sun Devils had a knack of playing up to the level of their opponent. This time it brought them agonizingly close to a trip to B.C. Place Stadium.
The Sun Devils’ 2022 campaign ended with an epic 48-47 provincial AAA quarter-final playoff loss last Friday in Chilliwack to the GW Graham Grizzlies.
Twice, South Delta had the defending B.C. champions and No. 2 ranked team on the ropes.
With under 20 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, quarterback Kenny Scott scored his third major of the night on a determined 12-yard run to tie the game at 41-41. The ensuing convert attempt and potential winning point was blocked.
The teams then headed to overtime where each got to scrimmage from the 10-yard line. The Grizzlies scored a converted touchdown on their possession. Following a procedure call, the Sun Devils answered when Scott hit Oskar McPhie from 15 yards out. South Delta opted to go for the two-point convert and the win from the three-yard line. Scott’s pass was tipped and intercepted to end one of the most thrilling B.C. High School Football games played in years.
“Really proud of how our guys competed. We left it all on the field, a lot of character shown by many of our players battling through injury but in the end we came up just short. Congrats to Graham on a hard fought win,” said Sun Devils head coach Ray Moon.
A wild opening quarter featured four majors, including Scott firing TD passes to McPhie and Sjoberg from 10 and 20 yards out respectively. The Grizzlies then opened up a 27-14 lead before an 18-yard run from Ryan Roberts cut into the deficit before halftime.
South Delta continued the momentum in the second half as a pair of majors on short runs by Scott gave the visitors their first lead of the night at 35-27. GW Graham replied with 14 unanswered points, setting the stage for the nail-biting finish.
In his final high school game, Scott threw for 238 yards and four touchdowns. He also added another 87 yards on 18 rushing attempts. His favourite target was Sjoberg who finished with eight catches for 121-yards.
Senior linebacker Colton Poloni led the defensive effort with 11 tackles. Morgan MacCubbin.
The Grizzlies will now face St. Thomas More in one semi-final match-up on Saturday at B.C. Place. The other game sees Vancouver College taking on Carson Graham.
