The W.J. Mouat Hawks senior varsity team can exhale after a hard-fought 28-14 win over the Kelowna Owls on Friday (Oct. 4).
Preseason rankings had the Hawks as high as fourth in the province, but the team was in danger of dropping to 0-2 after an opening week 31-21 loss to the South Delta Sun Devils on Sept. 28.
Hawks quarterback Elijah Black shook off any nerves early, leading the Hawks downfield on the game's opening drive and connecting with wide receiver Max Pratt on a 24-yard major.
Kick is good for after a Max Pratt TD puts the Hawks up 7-0 on Kelowna in the first quarter
91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ” Ben Lypka (@BenLypka)
Kelowna responded with a running game that caused issues for Mouat's defence all evening. Owls running back Nate Boury made it a 7-6 game after about a 40-yard rushing touchdown, but the Hawks blocked the extra point attempt to remain up 7-6 after one.
The second quarter saw both team's defences step up. A solid Kelowna drive into the red zone ended in a blocked field goal and Mouat's Joel Muller picked up a big run late in the second quarter to put the Hawks inside the Owls 20 yard line with less than two minutes to go. Black connected with Santiago Llarena moments later and the Hawks ended the first half up 14-6.
Short pass to Santiago Llarena puts Hawks up 14-6 late in the second quarter.
91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ” Ben Lypka (@BenLypka)
They totally had me fooled, I was thinking rush - this video is evidence 😂
Kelowna's opening drive of the second half ended early after they fumbled the ball deep in their own zone. Black tossed a touchdown pass to Muller shortly after the turnover to put the Hawks up 21-6. The Owls followed with a long drive that was highlighted by a successful fake punt. They eventually went for a field goal, but the snap was botched and the Hawks caused an interception.
Kelowna fumble inside the 20 leads to Elijah Black TD pass to Joel Muller. Hawks now up 21-6 in the third
91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ” Ben Lypka (@BenLypka)
That Mouat drive stalled out inside the 10 yard line and the Owls stormed back with Boury again getting in the end zone and a successful two-point convert making it a 21-14 game.
Muller clutched up on the Hawks next drive, with a 30-plus yard touchdown run to seal the 28-14 win.
Hawks head coach Andrew Harder gave the Owls credit for pushing the Hawks.
"They're a good team, they have a big line, they're really aggressive and they pressure well on defence," he said.
He pointed out that the Owls starting quarterback left the game in the second quarter after an injury and the Kelowna team rallied around the back-up.
"When their quarterback went out and we weren't able to put the game away so easily it was a little frustrating," he said. "But you have to give them credit."
Harder said one of Mouat's strengths is the club's balance offence. They have the ability to lean on the passing or running game depending on the circumstances.
91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ” W.J. Mouat Hawks Football (@mouatfootball)
Mouat - 28
Kelowna Secondary - 14
Thanks for the coverage tonight!
"We've got a great Grade 11 quarterback [Black] and we have some stud receivers [Pratt and Llarena] and depending on how teams play us they sometimes force us to run the ball more and Joel [Muller, running back] is also very impressive," he said.
He said preventing the run has been an early problem for the Hawks, but he believes that team is skilled defensively.
"We're really athletic and fast on defence," he said. "We've got to do a better job of getting teams to run sideways on us so we can chase and run and not go downhill so much."
Harder said discipline was also an issue in week one against South Delta and penalties hurt them.
"Offensively I thought we were solid today," he said. "We had six possessions in the game and scored on four of them. Elijah Black was efficient with the offence and Joel Mueller had another great game on the ground for us. Our offensive line was great tonight picking up some blitzes from a very aggressive KSS team."
The Hawks improve to 1-1 on the season after the win and next take on the 2-0 G.W. Graham Grizzlies in Chilliwack on Oct. 11.
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