Matt Seymour was all New Westminster needed to end a first-round playoff curse.
The senior All-East conference wide receiver scored three straight touchdowns between the second and third quarters to help the New Westminster Hyacks to a 40-7 win over the Mt. Boucherie Bears in a B.C. high school AAA wild card football playoff at Mercer Stadium on Friday.
The victory was the first playoff win in five seasons for the varsity Hyacks and sets up a second-round matchup with No. 1-ranked Terry Fox Ravens on Friday.
“We wanted to make a statement. We wanted it to be meaningful, that’s for sure,” said Seymour after earning player of the game honours. “It was the last game at Mercer for the seniors and a good way to go out.”
With the Hyacks leading 12-7 late in the second quarter, Seymour took a short pass over the middle from Jamie Shiho, froze a defender with a step inside and then raced half the length of the field for his first of three scores.
Seymour also scored a TD off New Westminster’s opening possession of the second half on a 12-yard toss into the corner of the end zone by Mackenzie Ratcliffe.
The third TD was a perfectly executed jet sweep that showcased Seymour’s athleticism and nearly set a program record as the longest run from scrimmage.
Seymour outlegged the opposition, racing 97 yards on an end-round play that put the Hyacks on top 32-7. Vivie Bojilov holds the Hyacks’ longest run from scrimmage on a 99-yard romp set in 2009.
New Westminster will play Terry Fox at Percy Perry Stadium on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
In another second-round AAA playoff, the No. 3-ranked St. Thomas More Knights will host independant rival Vancouver College at Burnaby Lake Sports Complex-West. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
In varsity Tier II action, Burnaby Central lost 21-6 to Eric Hamber in a playoff semifinal at Burnaby Lake-West last Friday.
