It's been a hodgepodge, herky-jerky start to the high school football season but now, finally, teams are ready to run at full speed.
On the North Shore it's been a mixed bag for the six senior teams with two teams — Windsor and Carson Graham — shut down during the now-resolved labour dispute while the other four — Argyle, Sentinel, West Vancouver and Handsworth — have been playing and practicing where and when possible.
Argyle, led by community coach Wayne Theobald, was one of the teams that was able to get in practices and play a couple of exhibition games while other teams were shut down. It took some logistical gymnastics, however, because the team did not practice on school grounds during the strike. "We practiced anywhere we could," said Theobald.
"We had all of the Argyle football equipment in my garage. Every practice we'd have to haul it all out and drive it to wherever we were going to. It was a pretty busy three weeks."
The extra work, however, seems to have paid off so far as the Pipers are now the first North Shore team on the board with a regular season win. Argyle hosted Sentinel Friday at William Griffin field and pulled out a 13-7 win to move to 1-0 in Western Conference AA league play.
It was a battle of the two newest football programs on the North Shore as both Sentinel and Argyle have been re-booted in the past four years. As two new kids in town they've developed their own little rivalry, said Theobald.
"Neither team is very fond of each other and the games are always very hard hitting affairs," he said. "Many of these players competed against each other in the GSL as youths. Sentinel is an improving program and have some very tough kids, they made us work for everything."
The Pipers were led by Grade 11 quarterback Cole Theobald, Wayne's son, who completed 12 of 19 passes for 146 yards, including touchdown strikes of 15 yards to Nathan Avantini and 10 yards to Paul Brini. Coach Wayne has a lot of confidence in his quarterbacking son.
"He's really strong, especially for a Grade 11. He's been playing quarterback since he was, like, seven years old. He's just a real smart player. He knows the game." Avanti is also one of the team leaders, said Theobald. "He's a really unique kid. He's the one kid who can play every position. He does kickoffs, he does field goals, he's our defensive captain, he's one of our top receivers, he can play offensive line. He's the only guy I've ever known who can actually play every single position."
Jackson Washington led the Argyle rushing attack with 10 carries for 77 yards while Jamie McIntosh led the defence with eight tackles and a sack. Brini and Rory Hoffman came up with interceptions. Sentinel's score came on an 11-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ryan Rafter to Ethan Wade.
In other action the North Shore's two AAA teams got their regular seasons underway with lopsided losses. Handsworth traveled to South Delta Saturday and were beaten 44-0 by the Sun Devils. West Van, meanwhile, fumbled on their first two possessions Friday on the road against New West, gifting the Hyacks a 20-0 lead just minutes into the game. The powerhouse Hyacks cruised from there to take a 54-8 victory.
With the season now in full swing it will be packed schedules the rest of the way to get in all necessary games. Here are this weekend's matchups:
AAA
Friday, Sept. 26, Handsworth vs. Belmont, 5 p.m. @ Bear Mountain Stadium
Saturday, Sept. 27, West Van @ South Delta, 1:30 p.m.
AA
Friday, Sept. 26, Nanaimo vs. Argyle, 3 p.m. at William Griffin field
Friday, Sept. 26, Ballenas @ Carson Graham, 3:45 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 27, Windsor @ Sentinel, 1 p.m.
