Big plays and a sound defence gave the St. Thomas More Knights a win in their high school football season opener.
The Knights scored two big-gainers in the first half and 20 more points in the second to blank independent Vancouver rival Notre Dame Jugglers 34-0 in the season opener for both schools at Burnaby Lake Sports Complex-West on Friday.
Shane Noel rattled off a 20-yard touchdown run to open the contest in the first quarter and Matt Duda went up the middle for a 59-yd score midway through the second quarter to give the Knights a 14-0 lead at halftime.
Grade 11 quarterback Terrell Jana had a big game in his season start for the No. 2-ranked Knights, rushing for 96 yards while passing for 127 yds. and two J.J. DesLauriers scores in the fourth quarter. Noel rushed for 101 yds. for the Knights.
STM corner Jordan Stewart picked off a Theo Landers pass and scored on the return from 40 yards out in the third quarter to silence the Jugglers, who started the second half with an impressive drive inside the Knights' 10.
But that long drive, helped out by a pass interference penalty, stalled in the red zone following a great goal line stand by the Knights' defensive line.
In the fourth quarter, DesLauriers caught a 26-yd. pass from Jana in the end zone after the ball went in and out of the hands of a Jugglers defender. DesLauriers also hauled in a 13-yd. TD toss following a fumble recovery off the ensuing kickoff.
Despite the big scoring plays, most of the highlights came on the defensive side of the line.
Defensive ends Ben Steele and Kieran Janes both stood out on D for the Knights. Steele led the team with 10 tackles, including five for a loss and four quarterback sacks, while Janes had seven stops. Linebackers Spencer Moore and Landon Jackson shared in 16 other tackles for the Knights, who allowed Notre Dame just one entry into the red zone all game.
"We're fortunate we have some big play athletes who can help us out a bit," said Knights head coach Bernie Kully of the otherwise less than efficient start to the season.
"I definitely see potential. We have some athletes, we have some size and we have some toughness, and I like that," said Kully. "I told (the team) enjoy it for tonight and we wake up tomorrow with Vancouver College."
The two independent school rivals meet on Saturday at O'Hagan Field on Saturday for a 1:30 p.m. kick off.
