There was no quick start to Saturday’s contest, but the St. Thomas More Knights made sure it finished in similar fashion.
Burnaby’s AAA senior football team shook off a rare slow start and bore down for a resounding 49-0 triumph over Mount Boucherie in Kelowna.
And as it’s been throughout their 7-0 (5-0 in conference play) season, the Knights rode the wave of a stifling defence to stay undefeated.
“It took us a little while to get our legs going in this one,” remarked head coach Steve De Lazzari.
But when the offence was stalled, the defence was motoring.
Three interceptions gave STM good field position, with Luke Benedet, Jonah Fridfinnson and David Osho each turning their snags into 25-yard pickups. Mateo Carteri, Sam Steele and Benedet counted six tackles apiece, while Josh Wilson scooped up a fumble for a 28-yard touchdown. Fridfinnson and Osho tacked on five tackles each.
That well-worn cliché on football being a team game was proven true again.
“Our defence is all about fast play and a high football IQ,” said De Lazzari. “It’s been the same this year no matter who we play.”
At the other end, the offence tallied 339 yards, including a 11-for-12 performance from quarterback Dario Ciccone, for 140 yards and one major.
One of the passes was a 45-yard dart to Osho, who fumbled the ball but saw teammate Michael Simone pick it up and run it in from 30 yards.
Tyler Eckert continued his league-leading pace with 150 yards on 15 carries, including three TDs. One was a 55-yard second-half major, as STM built upon a 28-0 halftime lead.
Justin McCloskey, on an eight-yard TD pass, and Ciccone, on a two-yard QB keeper, also scored.
The Knights host 1-4 W.J. Mouat on Friday, 7:30 p.m. at Burnaby Lake.
