A school record touchdown scoring play helped the St. Thomas More Knights to a 36-6 victory over injury-riddled Terry Fox last in B.C. AAA high school football last Friday.
Quarterback Chase Malcolm and wide receiver Giovanni Trasolini hooked up for a 95-yard catch-and-run in the second quarter for what proved the game-winning touchdown.
The 6-4 senior also hauled in an 18-yard scoring pass from Malcolm in the third quarter on the rain-soaked Burnaby Lake Sports Complex-West turf.
"The conditions didn't affect us at all," said Malcolm after the game. "Tonight was our homecoming and we wanted to do this for our fans. We did it for them."
The win gave the No. 2-ranked Knights a 2-1 record, which put them in a temporary first-place tie with three other schools in the tough Eastern conference.
STM jumped out to a 22-6 halftime lead, taking advantage of four first-half fumbles by the understaffed Ravens.
Dante Vigini, who had a monster night on defence, helped set up the Knights' opening score with an interception.
Eight plays later, Elliot Nelson rumbled in from four yards out for his first of two scores. Thomas Tassone booted the convert for a 7-0 lead.
In the second quarter, a Noah Usherwood fumble recovery led to a promising drive that sputtered after Malcolm was intercepted inside the Terry Fox red zone.
STM came away with a two-point safety after a defensive stand and Jalen Jana then put the Burnaby independent back within scoring touch with a 59-yard kick return. Nelson scored his second TD of the game three plays later.
Fox's only score came in the final minute of the second quarter following a STM fumble.
But defence played a key role in the game for the Knights.
Vigini and Nico Repole led the red Knights with 14 and 11 tackles, respectivley. The two defensive linemen registered a pair of sacks apiece, while Repole also had two fumble recoveries. Nelson also finished the contest with double-digit tackles.
STM's final score came off a late 90-yard drive that consumed 16 plays and much of the fourth-quarter clock before Kevin Marshall took a pass into the end zone from 16 yards out.
The win improved STM's conference record to 2-1.
However, with Nelson not yet at 100 per cent and Sebastien Adugalski still on the mend, the Knights can look forward to only getting better as the season progresses.
"We have a good second unit," said Malcolm. "It doesn't affect us at all." And he could be right.
In a AAA season that is stocked with huge talent on the top-ranked teams, STM stands alone as perhaps the most balanced of all of them.
Last week's upset win over W.J. Mouat, a 52-49 winner over top-ranked Mt. Douglas on Saturday, is an indication of the Knights' potential, added the Grade 11 pivot.
I want to go out there and do good things, and be a leader out there, Malcolm said.
STM plays Centennial at Burnaby Lake-West on Friday. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.
