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Royals bound for BC Place playoff

THE Handsworth Royals will carry the flag for North Shore football this weekend as the only senior team to make it to post-season play following the final regular season games played last weekend.

THE Handsworth Royals will carry the flag for North Shore football this weekend as the only senior team to make it to post-season play following the final regular season games played last weekend.

The Royals knocked off Richmond's Hugh Boyd Trojans 21-17 in a nonconference game last Thursday to bring their record to 3-5 on the season, 2-2 in league play. A 57-yard touchdown pass from Michael Lemoine to Alex Little provided the winning points for the Royals in a come-frombehind win over the Trojans. Lemoine also connected with Alex Graham for a touchdown while Chris Moon rushed for a score.

Handsworth finished the regular season in third place in the Western AA Conference and will face Abbotsford Collegiate, the second-place finisher in the Eastern Conference, this Saturday at noon at BC Place.

Windsor secondary, the North Shore's other AA team, lost 48-28 to Ballenas on Friday to close out their season with a 1-5-1 record, 0-4 in conference play. The Dukes missed the playoffs for the first time since 2006.

In AAA action the West Vancouver Highlanders saw their impressive bounce-back season come to an agonizing end as they lost to 21-14 to the New Westminster Hyacks in a straight-up battle for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

West Vancouver had a

chance to tie or take the lead with a fourth-and-goal opportunity from New West's one-yard line in the final minute of play but the Hyacks held firm to seal the win and claim the playoff spot.

Standout linebacker Graeme Tod-Tims opened the scoring for the Highlanders when he blocked a New West punt, scooped up the ball and took it in for a touchdown. Quarterback Johnny Franklin found Blake Whitely for a 27yard touchdown for West Van's other score.

The Highlanders finished the year 3-5 overall and 1-4 in conference play. Though they missed the playoffs, it was still an impressive year for West Van and coach Shawn Anderson. In 2010 the Highlanders were forced to fold midway through the season because of a lack of numbers. This season they re-established themselves as a contending team, scoring wins over North Shore rivals Handsworth and Carson Graham while also coming close to earning a playoff berth. The Highlanders have not qualified for postseason play since 2007.

Carson Graham ended their AAA campaign with a 37-13 loss to Mount Douglas Friday. The Eagles finished the season with a 2-6 record, 0-5 in conference play.

aprest@nsnews.com