Another year, another thriller between the Argyle Pipers senior football team and the two-time defending AA champion John Barsby Bulldogs.
The Pipers, it would seem, still haven't gotten the memo that as a young program still finding its footing in the B.C. high school football world, they aren't supposed to be able to hang with the powerhouse Bulldogs. Last season Argyle scored a shocking 13-12 win on the road in Nanaimo. The Bulldogs went on to win their second straight provincial title, that loss to the Pipers the only blemish on their record.
On Friday the two teams butted heads once again in exhibition action - Argyle has now been bumped up to the AAA level for the first time in team history - and once again it was a barnburner. Trailing 7-0 late in the game, Argyle scored the potential game-tying touchdown through a two-yard run from Nicholas Pearce.
There were just six seconds left on the clock and the Pipers needed to choose whether to kick the convert for a tie or go for two and the win.
"We went for the win," said head coach Wayne Theobald. "It was an exhibition game. We've got a good rivalry with Barsby so I just thought, 'what the hell, let's go for it.'" The Pipers had a two-point convert play drawn up for just such an occasion. The only problem was that Argyle's offensive co-ordinator had forgotten the play diagram in his car. They needed something, though, so the co-ordinator made up a play on the spot. It wasn't exactly drawing Xs and Os in the sand, but it was pretty close.
"He actually went on the field and made one up last second. It was a good play too," said Theobald with a laugh. "We got close, we actually had an open receiver, but they kind of pressured us so it just was overthrown by a couple of inches. The Barsby kids were pretty happy."
The missed throw left the Pipers just inches away from another upset of the Bulldogs, currently ranked No. 4 in the AA league.
"It was really fun. It was incredibly hard-hitting.... We've just had a great rivalry the last couple of years," said Theobald. "(Barsby) were pretty jacked up. They're very well coached and they're tough kids as well."
The Pipers will now turn their attention to regular season action with a team stocked with a lot of Grade 12 talent led by quarterback Cole Theobald, Wayne's son.
"He's been playing football since he was five years old, playing quarterback since he was seven," Wayne said. "He loves it. He trains really hard, super athletic kid. He's looking really good." Pearce, who works on both sides of the ball as a lineman, linebacker and slot receiver, is also expected to lead the team.
"He's pretty big, pretty tough," said Theobald. "He's always been one of our more physical guys."
Other Grade 12 leaders include lineman Troy Martell and receiver/defensive back Ken Dajani. The squad also has a strong class of Grade 11s coming up, said Theobald, led by Christian Lawry who was the backup quarterback before an injury to another player forced him into the rotation as a running back.
"We had to throw him in there and he's been fantastic," said Theobald. "He looks like he may be one of the best running backs we've ever had."
In their regular season opener the Pipers will renew acquaintances with a familiar rival, the Handsworth Royals.
"It should be a lot of fun - a lot of these kids know each other from the GSL and from our spring flag league, they've played against each other for a long time," said Theobald, adding that he is good friends with Handsworth head coach Jay Prepchuk, having run football camps alongside him.
Prepchuk, known for his offensive wizardry, will be calling the offence for the Royals while Theobald will be matching up against him as Argyle's defensive co-ordinator. "It's not really fair," said Theobald with a laugh. "He's in his 39th year, I'm here in my second year and I've got to go try to match wits with Jay." While the rivalry is friendly, the battle for
regular season points should be a fierce one. The Royals and Pipers are in the brand-new AAA Pacific Division alongside North Shore rival West Vancouver as well as Rutland, Seaquam and Salmon Arm. It's a conference that's missing most of the traditional powerhouse AAA programs, making it a wide open landscape heading into regular season action. Two of the six teams will advance to the AAA playoffs.
"We're hoping to be one of the two teams," said Theobald." It's going to be a good conference because all the teams are pretty comparable. Everybody is going to have a chance to win it."
Game time between Handsworth and Argyle will be Friday starting at 3 p.m. at William Griffin turf field.
In other North Shore football action West Van lost 7-6 to Notre Dame at home on Oct. 2. The Highlanders will begin regular season play on the road in Kelowna against Rutland Friday at 4 p.m. at the Apple Bowl. At the AA level Carson Graham dropped a 41-6 decision Oct. 2 against AAA powerhouse South Delta secondary. The Eagles will host Earl Marriot in exhibition action Thursday starting at 3:45 p.m. Windsor also fell in exhibition action last week, losing 35-6 on the road against Abbotsford. The Dukes will open regular season play this weekend at home against Ballenas. Game time is 3:45 p.m. Friday at Windsor secondary.
