It was as complete a victory as the St. Thomas More Knights of Burnaby could have hoped for against Holy Cross.
Quarterback Chase Malcolm threw for three first-half touchdowns and Sebastian Adugalski and Malcolm Lee ran for 87 and 60 yards respectively to stake the Knights to a 37-0 first half lead en route to a 43-0 final over the Crusaders.
As impressive as Adugalski's day was - he added the final touchdown and finished with 207 yards on the ground - it was Malcolm's deft passing touch that really stood out.
His first TD, to Trasolini in the left corner of the end zone, was a perfectly flighted 33-yard fade that nestled in the big 6-4 receiver's outstretched hands.
His second, set up by an Adugalski fake run to the left, was a roll out and 25-yard pass to Kevin Marshall, and his third was a 54-yard swing pass to the speedy Lee, who blazed up the left sideline for the score.
The Knights struggled on their opening drive, with two fumbles they recovered and a fourth down play converted by an Adugalski run up the middle.
"It was a typical first game and first drive jitters," said Knights head coach Bernie Kully. "But we got things rolling and some of the guys we wanted to step up stepped up in a big way. ... Chase had a good game. And Sebastian, we knew he had speed, but when our linemen open up a hole, he gets through it so quickly."
Kully was even happier that his team was strong in all three phases of the game, with Dante Vigini his star on defence.
"The way he gets around the edge, I think his first step is the best I've seen since (Jon) Cornish," said Kully. "He was one of the guys who stepped up and led. ... We were looking for a new group of leaders to come forward and be the new leaders of this team. We got that from a bunch of guys."
Making the Knights even scarier is that they were playing without bruising running back Elliot Nelson - out with a lower body injury for Friday's game - but they expect him back in time for next week's road match-up against the Vancouver College Fighting Irish.
"It's a big rival game," said Kully. "It's their Homecoming game and maybe we can go there and spoil their party."
As for the prospect of having the speedster Adugalski and the battering ram Nelson in the same backfield, Kully said, "It's like having a thoroughbred and a Clydesdale. It gives us a lot of options."
Fighting Irish head coach Todd Bernett, fresh off his squad's win over Mt. Boucherie on Friday afternoon, was conspicuous in the end zone scouting the Knights-Crusaders game. Bernett knows his squad will have to be at its best to beat the Knights.
"They're an extremely well-coached team and they have a bunch of explosive kids who can make big plays," said Bernett. "Our job is to match their explosive plays with big plays of our own. I can see it coming down to who scores last and that's going to make for a great game."
Bernett was impressed with Malcolm's arm and Trasolini's hands.
"The way (Trasolini) opened up on that and let the ball come to him, that was nice," said Bernett, "and Malcolm, I'm impressed by his accuracy and the way he throws the ball. ... We'll have a tough game when they come visit."
St. Thomas More and Vancouver College face off at 1:30 p.m. at O'Hagan Field in Vancouver on Saturday, Sept. 15.
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