The Carson Graham Eagles overcame a most unpleasant start to rally back for a 33-18 win over the Handsworth Royals in front of a booming crowd in the 32 annual Buchanan Bowl played Saturday at Carson Graham Secondary.
Handsworth opened the scoring with speedy receiver Steele Young corralling a tipped pass and racing 95 yards for a touchdown. The Royals then widened the gap on the next series with Robert Lutman intercepting a pass and taking it 60 yards for another long Handsworth touchdown.
From there, however, it was much smoother sailing for the Eagles as quarterback Charlie McMillan and the Carson offence went to work. McMillan, back under centre after missing the previous two games with an illness, found Austin James for a 25-yard touchdown pass to get the Eagles on the board, with running back Mahyar Hosseini following that up with an eight-yard rush for a score.
The Eagles continued to pour it on during the game, getting a one-yard rushing touchdown from McMillan, and 39-yard receiving score from Ethan Smith, and a 100-yard kick return touchdown from Jade Duque.
“It was a great day and a great occasion,” said Carson Graham head coach Brian Brady. The game is named after James Buchanan, a former principal at Handsworth, Carson and Argyle secondaries and a big supporter of high school sports. James Buchanan’s son John was the head coach at Carson for many years and is still involved with the program. The game is one of the highlight events on the North Shore sports calendar, drawing huge and colourful cheering sections from both school.
“We were able to hold our focus in an exciting environment,” said Brady. “We had great pursuit on defence and rallied to the ball each play. On offence, we played fast and were able to have a handful of big plays. I was impressed with our receivers who were able to find space and Charlie McMillan who was able to get the ball to them.”
McMillan finished 19-34 for 286 yards passing with two touchdowns and two interceptions, adding 16 carries for 91 yards and another score. Braedan Lifton tallied six catches for 65 yards while Logan Weidner grabbed four catches for 41 yards. On defence the Eagles were led by Hosseini who had nine tackles, a sack and a forced fumble; Parker Henderson who had two sacks and a blocked kick; and Sam Hoar who picked up a sack.
As for Handsworth, quarterback Ryan Jensen was 12-18 throwing the ball, racking up 299 yards through the air. Young finished the day with three catches for 137 yards and a touchdown while adding four tackles on defence. Star receiver Keelan White – a Canadian junior national team player bound for UBC next year – faced triple teams much of the game but still hauled in four catches for 110 yards, including a 65-yard touchdown. He also picked up 40 yards rushing and grabbed an interception that he returned for 40 yards. Lutman rushed seven times for 70 yards while also completing one pass for 35 yards and registering four tackles on defence.
Defensive linemen Darren Colpitts and linebacker Bowen Drzymala-Bokitch both registered six tackles and two quarterback sacks to lead the defence for the Royals.
The win moved Carson Graham into a tie with Handsworth in the tough AAA Western Conference, with both teams now 1-3 in regular season play. Handsworth is on a bye this week while Carson Graham will travel to Delta to take on Seaquam Secondary.
Elsewhere around the league West Vancouver Secondary lost 26-7 at home against Nanaimo District Friday. The 1-2 Highlanders will travel to Surrey to take on Earl Marriott Secondary in AAA Pacific Division action Friday.
At the AA level the Argyle Pipers fell 30-7 on the road against Howe Sound Secondary Saturday. The Pipers will host Holy Cross at William Griffin turf field Friday at 3 p.m.
