Some cub-sized North Langley Bears are making big plays on the gridiron, of late.
The atom Bears extended their win streak to three games with their second shutout in a row, conquering the Chilliwack White Giants 22-0 on the road.
The Bears’ offence came on strong in the first quarter, with a big 35 yard run by Keaghan Hurley, which led to a one yard touchdown run by Owen Sieben.
Taylor Bear added a one point convert on the run.
The Bears brought a true team effort to their defensive game, with big tackles by Kayden Bell, Caleb Price, and Manny Fotiou in the first quarter to hold the Giants back.
The second quarter brought another quick tackle by Bell in the end zone, giving the Bears a two point safety.
Getting the ball back, the Bears continued with their running game with first down scampers from Evan Hoy, Sieben, Marco Key, and Hurley leading to a three yard touchdown run by Taylor Bear.
The Bears went into the half with a 14-0 lead.
The second half saw the Bears’ defence come out even stronger, with Bell again making huge tackles and forcing a fumble, which he recovered.
The Giants did manage to keep the Bears’ run game to a minimum and no points were put on the board during the third quarter.
The Bears stepped it up for a strong finish in the fourth quarter, with another long touchdown run by Hurley, who finished with just under 100 yards rushing and was awarded game MVP.
Reece Fennell ran in the convert, giving the Bears a 22-0 lead early in the fourth quarter.
Just when the Giants looked like they would cross the goal line, North Langley’s defence had a huge goal line stand, with Bell and Ezekiel Bodill combining to force another fumble. Bell had seven key tackles in the game to lead the Bears’ defence.
Fotiou had three sacks in the game and Price also had several key tackles.
Annika Key had her best kickoffs of the season, sailing her last one over the entire Giants team.
The Bears are looking for a fourth straight win next Saturday in Meadow Ridge against the Blue Knights.
– by Maryann Lambert
North Langley peewee Bears
The unbeaten and division-leading Chilliwack Red Giants lived up to their name on Thanksgiving Day, handing the Bears a 36-14 defeat.
The Bears’ record now stands at 4-3-1 with two games to go in their regular season.
The Giants took control on the first play from scrimmage when Logan Buchwitz plowed through the Bears’ defence, going 60 yards for a touchdown.
Later in the first quarter up 14-0, Chilliwack drove to the North Langley five yard line, when Brandon Folkerts tackled the ball carrier for a four-yard loss, forcing a turnover on downs.
On the Giants’ next offensive play, a fumble was recovered by North Langley’s Mathieu Gale on the Bears 41 yard line.
Down 22-0 at halftime, the Bears held their own in the second half, with both teams putting 14 points on the board.
Midway through the third quarter and with the ball at midfield, Gale wove through the Chilliwack defenders for a 55-yard scoring run, part of his 88-yard rushing contribution.
Marcus Stang ran for 100 yards, including a 61-yard sprint up the left sideline in the fourth quarter for the Bears’ second major.
On the ensuing kick-off, Jacob Evans wrestled the ball away from the Chilliwack returner, but the Bears’ offence was not able to capitalize on the turnover.
The IHOP Players of the Game, chosen by coaches of the opposing team, were Logan Buchwitz for the Chilliwack Red Giants and Mathieu Gale for the North Langley Bears.
– by Andy Faust
North Langley bantam Bears
The Bears had a solid performance last Saturday in Mission, but could only find the end zone once in a 12-6 loss to the Mission 9ers.
Under fierce rainfall, the 9ers scored two touchdowns in the first eight minutes of play.
When the sun came out in the second quarter, so did the Bears with a 30 yard run down the side by Ethan Bernardin to score North Langley’s only major.
The Bears held the 9ers back for the rest of game with some exceptional defense and some big tackles by Jacob Ronald, Brandon Brynjolfson, Trevor Paulenz, Dakota Jenkins, Carolow Redekopp, Brodie Tarling, and Ronil Chand.
This changed the momentum of the game and going into the third quarter, the score remained tight.
Evan Rees picked up a fumble, and soon after, ran up the middle to create a first down for the Bears.
Offensively the Bears were strong with quarterback Michael Huggins throwing several passes and completing one to Trevor Paulenz, who was stopped at the goal line.
Huggins also stopped the 9ers from scoring their third touchdown, causing a fumble which the 9ers were able to recover.
A last minute drive by the Bears fell just short and the clock ran out, leaving the 9ers victorious.
The Bears are back in action next Saturday, Oct. 18 at 1:30 p.m. against the Meadow Ridge White team at Samuel Robinson Technical Secondary in Maple Ridge.
Bantam Bears
The Bears remained undefeated after a convincing 43-13 victory over the third place Coquitlam Chargers.
The Bears scored easily on their opening drive, capped by a nine yard Jacob Stebbings pass to a wide open Ryan Taylor in the end zone.
But the Chargers used their superior size to full advantage, answering with a solid touchdown drive of their own.
After Zander Bailey returned the ensuing kickoff for a spectacular 85 yard touchdown, the Chargers scored on their first offensive play, leaving the score 14-13 Bears.
At that point the Bears took over the game and never looked back.
The main offensive weapon was Bailey, who had a big day, piling up 221 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries.
Andy Hanlen chipped in with a 45 yard punt return in the third quarter.
On defence, the Bears used their speed and quickness to relentlessly gang tackle the large Charger running backs with Mason Block, Jake Evans, Connor Hurley and Ryan Barthelson leading the team in tackles.
Hurley also forced a turnover when he hustled down the field on a Bears’ kickoff and wrestled the ball loose from the Charger returner.
The Bears will attempt to keep their win streak alive next weekend when they travel to Mission to play the 9ers.