It was one of the best phone calls to his players Sean Smith ever had to make.
The Vernon Panthers head football coach phoned tight-end/linebacker Ben Hladik to inform the UBC-bound star he’d been selected the B.C. AA High School Football Most Valuable Player, the first-ever Vernon player to earn the honour.
Smith then got to speak to Hladik’s younger brother, Bradley, and let him know he’d been named Top Grade 11 Defensive Player, the same award Ben won last year.
Two other members of the No. 1-ranked Panthers – Josh Hyer and Riley Bos – were named to the B.C. AA all-star team.
“When Mr. Smith called me, I was ecstatic,” said Ben. “I’ve worked so hard for it and put everything I could towards it in my final year.
“I couldn’t have done it without my quarterback (Thomas Hyett), O-line, and having other great receivers on the team to not let teams key on me to get yards is a big help.”
Hladik was also ecstatic for his younger brother.
“He deserved the award,” he said. “He’s worked his ass off the whole year. He’s been the best corner this year. I’m very proud of him.”
Bradley Hladik made the move to defensive corner after spending last season at defensive end.
“It means a lot,” said Bradley of the award. “Being named player of the year is great and winning it after Ben is pretty cool.”
Hyer, who has committed to the University of Calgary, and Bos were thrilled to be named provincial all-stars, though both said the bigger prize – winning a provincial title – remains the main focus.
“It’s pretty special to be named an all-star in my final year,” said Hyer.
Added Bos: “It’s pretty cool (the honour) but we’re focused on the team. Four teams are left and they’re all pretty even.”
The Panthers meet Richmond’s Hugh Boyd Trojans in a Saturday semifinal at noon at B.C. Place Stadium.
Both teams are 8-1.
The Trojans, earlier this season, beat the then-ranked No. 1 team, the Seaquam Seahawks of Delta, 14-7, but also lost 68-42 at home late in the year to the Ballenas Whalers, the team VSS dispatched 28-6 in last week’s quarterfinal.
The Seahawks play Chilliwack’s G.W. Graham Grizzlies in the other semifinal, also at B.C. Place.
“They have a speedy tailback (Reace Mok, a 1,000-yard rusher) and a quarterback (Tyler Moxin) that can run and read the option very well,” said Smith of the Trojans.
“They have very large offensive and defensive lines that can move bodies in the run game and plug holes on defence.”