By all indications, today鈥檚 sa国际传媒 high school triple-A football matchup between the undefeated Mount Douglas Rams and Vancouver College Fighting Irish (both 3-0) at O鈥橦agan Field should be a beauty.
Two lethal offences, built behind solid O-lines, will clash in the Western Conference kickoff at 1:30 p.m.
Mount Douglas has not lost a senior varsity regular-season game since Oct. 12, 2013, dropping a wild 52-49 result to W.J. Mouat and wants no part of losing this one in a battle of the No. 1-ranked Rams and No. 3 Irish.
鈥淭he loss? The one where Maleek Irons ran for 496 yards (and five touchdowns) in a game? Uhm, I know our defensive co-ordinator would like to forget about it,鈥� Rams head coach Mark Townsend said with a chuckle, when asked if he remembered the last regular-season defeat.
The Rams earned their revenge on Irons and Co. in the semifinal that season and went on to win the Subway Bowl.
They should face a very similar tough test today.
鈥淭hey are the best offence we鈥檝e seen this year,鈥� Townsend said of the Irish. 鈥淭hey have a very impressive offensive line, they鈥檙e big, athletic and they get to the second level.鈥�
Six-foot-five quarterback Jacob Samuels runs the show, with six-foot-six receiver Rysen John a lethal weapon along with solid running backs Jasper Schiedel (a sa国际传媒 track star) and Michael Le.
鈥淵ou have this great offensive line and a three-headed monster in the backfield. It鈥檚 going to be a huge challenge for us,鈥� insisted Townsend. 鈥淲e鈥檙e preparing hard and hoping that our guys can elevate their game. We need to have our guys playing their very best.鈥�
But the Rams feature plenty of talent of their own, led by a Grade 9 quarterback in Gideone Kremler who continues to improve weekly and shows no signs of cracking. Declann Michielin and Manny Lopez form a solid combo in the Mount Douglas backfield.
Among the receivers are Oliver MacKenzie, Gevhahn McNally-Hardisty and, of course, Gavin Cobb, who continues to prove he鈥檚 one of the best football athletes in the province. He added to his reputation with a wicked one-handed grab last week against New Westminster that set off the home crowd. Cobb snared a high Kremler pass with one hand along the sidelines, right in front of the stands. He turned and nodded his head in approval of the fans, who showed their appreciation.
鈥淯nbelievable. Week to week I get to see his amazing abilities. Then you see that and it makes you shudder,鈥� said Townsend. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the type of catch that [New York Giants receiver] Odell Beckham Jr. would stand up and applaud.
鈥淛ust when you think you鈥檝e seen everything you can see out of Gavin, he comes up with another phenomenal play.鈥�
The 17-year-old senior, who has talked to numerous CIS schools including Guelph, Manitoba, UBC, Regina and Toronto, is having a fantastic year and is a game-breaker.
鈥淚 just kind of saw it, threw my hand up there and caught it. It feels cool when you make them,鈥� said Cobb, who believes he鈥檚 pushing 40 inches on his vertical leap. 鈥淵ou see Odell Beckham do it on TV and you think, 鈥榃ow, I wish I could do that.鈥� Then you go out and just try it.鈥�
To even attempt it is a sign of confidence.
鈥淚 do practice it, but, yeah, you have to have confidence. I鈥檝e been blessed with a great vertical leap,鈥� said Cobb, who knows how important today鈥檚 game is.
鈥淲e have a good rivalry with VC and we鈥檙e looking forward to it. If we can beat them in the trenches, then I think we can beat them,鈥� said Cobb.
