Only one point separated B.C.’s best AA varsity high school football teams.
The John Barsby Bulldogs were runners-up in the Subway Bowl provincial championship final on Saturday, Dec. 2, at B.C. Place stadium, falling 23-22 to the Vernon Panthers.
The contest was close all the way through, but the champs played pretty much mistake-free football and that was enough to eke out a victory.
Rhondé Lyle scored Barsby’s first major, a 10-yard TD run, and then a 22-yard TD reception from Cohen Cadieux to Kai Rednour-Bruckman gave Barsby a 14-10 lead with 36 seconds left in the half. However, the Panthers completed a 69-yard TD reception just 12 seconds later to take a 16-14 lead into halftime.
Vernon scored early in the second half to extend the lead, and Barsby turned the ball over on downs on the Panthers’ 20-yard line. In the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs fumbled on the Panthers’ one yard line and although Barsby did get the ball back and score on a 30-yard TD catch by Meshach Imanzenobe, there wasn’t much time left. An onside kick attempt was unsuccessful and the Panthers were able to run out the clock.
Lyle was chosen best back after the game.
The John Barsby Bulldogs and the Vernon Panthers are about to kick off the AA varsity B.C. championship game here at B.C. Place stadium… #bchighschoolfootball pic.twitter.com/gTHz4reUlR
— Greg Sakaki (@BulletinSports) December 3, 2023
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