The North Langley Bears scored the go-ahead touchdown with just over a minute to play to defeat the Abbotsford Falcons White 18-16 in atom football at McLeod Athletic Park on Saturday.
Quarterback Ben Evans scored all three rushing touchdowns for the Bears and then intercepted a pass with 30 seconds to go to preserve the victory.
The offensive line — Gideon Bodill, Aedan Ennis, Jesse Davison and Connor McGuinness — did a great job of opening holes for the Bears running game.
Samuel Sieben had a strong game running the ball while Markus MacLeod hauled down a pair of passes.
On defence, Kyler Dufill and Damon Bernemann each had touchdown-saving tackles and the defensive line of Tristan Todd, Spencer Hazelton, Dain Onyanabo and Ryan Heutink helped limit the Abbotsford running game to two touchdowns.
And the defensive backfield of Tyler Campbell, Colton Matheson and Evan Zhao did a great job in coverage leading to the Falcons three and out prior to the go-ahead touchdown.
Bantam
Ethan Bernardin ran for three touchdowns while quarterback Isaiah Key connected with Michael Huggan for another score as the North Langley Bears improved to 5-0 with a 31-0 win over the North Delta Longhorns.
The game was Saturday at MAP.
The team’s other points came from Kurtis Flynn, as he ran in a two-point conversion after a bobbled snap and then the defence forcing a North Delta safety.
Joey Yeomans led the defensive line in keeping the North Delta offence in check.
Junior bantam
Playing two games in a span of four days, the North Langley Bears swept both ends of the home-and-home series with the Abbotsford Falcons.
The first game saw the junior bantam team fall behind early before rallying for the 52-24 win in Abbotsford.
Mitchell Gibbs scored on runs of 34 and 37 yards while Kaleb Reemeyer (41 yards), Jaxon Stebbings (57 yards) and Dallas Pattenden (69 yards) each had one rushing touchdown. Mathieu Gale also returned a kick-off for a score.
Receiver Nolan MacLeod hauled in a pair of passes for 111 yards. and Ryan Goeson came up with a fumble recovery.
Saturday’s game was over quickly as the Bears scored on each of their first five possessions en route to a 40-0 victory.
The offensive line of Ethan Holland, Shaun Brynjolfson, Ethan Sledding and Noah Courtney provided great protection and ample time for their quarterback.
Stebbings went 11-for-13 for 176 yards and four touchdowns. Gale and Callum Middleton caught passes in the end zone, while Pattenden took a short pass for 20 yards and Reemeyer scored on a 56-yard catch and run.
Goeson, Connor Bernardin and Seth Mangroo came up with quarterback sacks while Jordan Williams and Matthew Vandas also forced turnovers on downs with big tackles.
Peewee
In a battle of unbeaten teams — neither of whom had yet to allow a point — the North Langley Bears topped the Abbotsford Falcons White 16-6.
The peewee football teams battled on Saturday at McLeod Athletic Park.
Abbotsford led by six at the half and it could have been more but the Bears’ Manny Fotiou came up with a field goal block. Sparked by that play, the North Langley offence came out for the second half and took control, scoring a pair of touchdowns.
Owen Sieben and Marco Kee scored short touchdowns and Cameron Neal converted both for the final points.
An Abbotsford threat in the fourth quarter was snuffed out on a huge sack by Kayden Bell.
Troy Edwards, Dayton Pare and Reece Fennell also had big plays for the defence.
Midget
Quarterback Nicholas Nica threw five touchdown passes as the North Langley Kodiaks routed the Coquitlam Falcons 48-0.
Max Joseph was a factor in all three facets of the game, catching three touchdown passes, as well as scoring on a punt return and intercepting a pass.
Drey Blair and Jared Slater each also caught a touchdown pass.
Charlie May rounded out the scoring with four converts and a field goal.
On defence, Ryan Barthelson and Jonathan Chwaklinski had strong games.