Morning Star Staff
After five years of almost reaching the Subway Bowl Senior AA Varsity high school football championship game, the Vernon Panthers are now booked.
The No. 1 Panthers stopped the Hugh Boyd Trojans of Richmond 21-7 in Saturday’s semifinal at B.C. Place and will tangle with the Seaquam Seahawks of Delta in this Saturday’s 4:30 Subway Bowl final back in Vancouver.
The second-ranked Seahawks smothered the No. 3 GW Graham Grizzles of Chilliwack 26-7 in the other semi.
It is the first time since 1995 that a team east of Abbotsford has advanced to play in high school football’s golden game, and the first time ever that a Vernon team will be playing for the title.
The Panthers scored on their opening drive when Bradley Hladik hauled in a nine-yard pass from quarterback Thomas Hyett, who finished 10-of-14 for 119 yards and two touchdowns.
Bradley’s brother, Ben, (four receptions for 68 yards) followed with his own nine-yard TD catch to put the Cats up by 14.
“Once again, we got off to a good start and were able to mix up the run and pass just enough to keep them off balance,” said VSS head coach Sean Smith.
“Getting an early lead was a huge factor later in the game and it set us up well.”
The Trojans, who won the Western Conference, responded when quarterback Tyler Moxin called his own number midway through the second quarter and scored on a one-yard sneak.
“Boyd took over the momentum after our second touchdown and had us reeling for a couple of drives,” said Smith.
There are always game-changing plays and the big one occurred when Boyd had the ball on the Panther 14-yard line. Facing a fourth down and five with nine seconds to go, the Trojans passed on a field goal and gambled. The Panther defence held and took the seven-point lead into the change room.
“That was a huge stop for us as it got some of the momentum and energy back,” said Smith.
The second clutch play happened midway through the third quarter. On third down and five inside their own 15, the Trojans elected to pass to the flats for the first down. Grade 10 linebacker Charles Lemay tipped it to a waiting Bradley Hladik, who ran it into the end zone to put the game out of reach.
“That play was one that I’ll recall fondly for years to come,” said Smith. “Charles expanded perfectly to his zone and was able to get his hand on it. Bradley has been opportunistic all year and pounced on the chance to score.”
With the Trojans pressing for a score, they went back at Hladik one more time. A deep Moxin pass to the end zone bounced off the intended target’s head to a waiting Hladik, who returned it 30 yards.
The Panthers worked the clock and kept the ball on the ground for the remainder of the game. Ben Hladik led all tacklers with five, while Josh Hyer and Tyler Semeniuk both contributed 4.5 to go along with a sack apiece.
Ben Hladik rang up 83 rushing yards on eight touches, while Riley Bos had a dozen carries for 61 yards.
Josh Hyer recorded three catches for 32 yards, while Bradley Hladik had two receptions for 22 yards.
“I am so proud of the boys and what they were able to accomplish,” added Smith. “That was a big, fast, well-coached team that we beat on Saturday. That semifinal win is dedicated to all the former Panther players and coaches that have contributed to our program and made it stronger over the years.
“We’ve had a tough time getting over the semifinal hump as a program (losing five times in the last six years) so it’s been a lot of blood, sweat and tears along the way to get that win. Hopefully, we have one more game in us to bring the title to Vernon.”
Seaquam scored a staggering 220 points while allowing 76 while tying Hugh Boyd for the Western Conference titlt at 5-1. VSS put up 155 points and gave up just 22 going 4-0 atop the Interior Conference.
“This is a different team than we have played all year,” said Smith, of the Seahawks. “They are super athletic, fast and explosive…and can pass very well. We are going to have to play our best game of the year to compete. If my guys play the way we’ve been playing. we are going to have a real shot to get it done.”
Ben Hladik, the UBC-bound star, received the B.C. AA High School Football Most Valuable Player Tuesday night at the Subway All-Star banquet at the Vancouver Cultural Centre.
Bradley Hladik, named Top Grade 11 Defensive Player and Josh Hyer and Riley Bos, both first-team all-stars, were also honoured.
Andrew Goldenthal of the Fulton Maroons, was also an all-star but missed the banquet due to pneumonia.
Goldenthal, 17, has started all three years with the Maroons, playing offensive guard and middle linebacker. He had a season-best nine-tackle game.
“We would get a touchdown because I would block a certain spot,” said Goldenthal. When I first started playing offensive guard, it wasn’t fun, but once I learned the position, it was great.”
The Grade 12 student is in talks with the UBC Thunderbirds.