It will be a traditional Catholic school rivalry this Saturday.
The St. Thomas More Knights, under head coach Bernie Kully, will get a third crack at the Vancouver College Fighting Irish following a 40-14 win over the Notre Dame Jugglers at UBC's Thunderbird Stadium on Saturday.
The Knights got nearly 100 yards and three rushing touchdowns from Elliott Nelson in the B.C. high school AAA football quarter-final win over the East Vancouver/Burnaby regional school.
Nelson scored two first-quarter TDs in his first game back off an injury, including a 10-yard run up the middle with five seconds remaining in the opening period that put the Knights up 14-7.
STM stopped the Jugglers on their next possession and got great field position when the ensuing punt attempt went to ground at the Notre Dame 28-yard line.
Five plays later, all-star receiver Giovanni Trasolini caught a Chase Malcolm pass on a slant pattern and scored from 11 yards out.
A fourth Knights scoring drive was stopped at the goalline when Notre Dame's Anthony Quatrano intercepted a Malcolm pass.
STM opened the second half with a quick, three-play scoring drive that culminated in a razzle-dazzle, 44-yard touchdown run from Jalen Jana.
Nelson, who rushed for nearly 100 yards in the win, got his third TD to begin the fourth quarter on a two-yard run off tackle.
"Getting Moose (Nelson) back was key. It's a different vibe when he's on the team. He's our heart even when he's not on the field," said STM linebacker and backup running back Noah Usherwood, who got the Knights final rushing TD, and an interception on defence.
"We play for our starters, and they play for when the seconds come on. It's a
team effort. We're showing right now that we can hang with the big boys."
STM rushed the ball for 250 yards, while Malcolm was good on eight-of-14 pass attempts for 183 yards and one TD.
Jana, who had more than 100 all-purpose yards in the win, also caught a pass for a 35-yard gain.
Malcolm Lee, Dante Vigini and Trasolini had a couple of catches for the Knights.
Michael Aranzaso rushed for 77 yards for the Jugglers.
Quatrano also had a 43-yard kickoff return in the final quarter that set up Notre Dame's final score by Aranzaso on a two-yard run.
We're almost back (healthy), and it's coming, it's coming at a good time," said Kully after the game.
But who will emerge as the provincial finalists this season is still anybody's guess.
During the regular season, the top four teams, STM, College, W.J. Mouat and Mt. Douglas, all had just one loss and each one was to one another, making this year's betting line way too close to call.
"I'm ready to go, and the Grade 12s have a history with Vancouver College," Kully added.
"Vancouver College beat us in the Grade 8 final, and as juniors, we lost to College in the semifinals. This should be ammunition for them. It is for me. I was there for both games."
The matchup between STM and Vancouver College is scheduled for Saturday at 8 p.m. at T-Bird Stadium.
