Jugglers lose 17-14 in overtime to the Terry Fox Ravens in a close championship game at B.C. Place
Vancouver
Josh Tng / The B.C. Catholic
The Notre Dame Jugglers came within a field goal of hoisting their first B.C. high school AAA provincial football championship in 23 years.
The Jugglers faced the Terry Fox Ravens Dec. 3 in the Subway Bowl senior AAA Varsity final at B.C. Place stadium, ultimately falling short 17-14 in overtime.
The game was close, as it was tied after the first quarter 7-7 and at the end of both the first and second halves at 14-14.
“I was shaking the whole game,” admitted Notre Dame’s quarterback Steven Moretto. “I felt like I couldn’t breathe.”
Moretto fumbled the ball during the fourth quarter on his own two-yard line, giving the Ravens’ running back, Jeremie Kankolongo, a chance to put his team ahead. With four cracks at paydirt (playing American football, with four downs), the Ravens came up short, as the Jugglers held firm on a massive goal-line stand – including stuffing Kankolongo on a fourth-and-goal run.
“I was running the ball, and as I was switching my hands, I fumbled it,” said Moretto, of his early fourth-quarter gift to the Ravens.
Kankolongo returned the favour in the dying seconds of the fourth quarter with a flub of his own, dropping the ball in his own half of the field. This gave Notre Dame a chance to boot a field goal during the last four seconds of the game. The Juggler kicker missed, forcing the game into the extra frame.
Despite a largely equal game for the majority of the match, the Ravens prevailed in the end. Devin Passaglia, whose father is a cousin of former Notre Dame Juggler and B.C. Lions kicker Lui Passaglia, hit a 29-yard field goal during overtime, lifting the Ravens to the 17-14 win.
“I thought our team played great,” said Notre Dame head coach Richard Scott. “It’s just that the other team was better today. It was a very hard-fought game, and it’s a hard way to lose a game, during overtime. It was exciting and disappointing all at the same time.”
Moretto, who helped lead the Jugglers to the finals, was disappointed by the loss. Yet he remained confident in the Jugglers’ future in the sport. “Our Grade 8 team won the championship today, so we leave the future of the Jugglers in good hands,” he said.
He received the AAA Offensive MVP award for his efforts during the season, and remained thankful for the support of his team, his school, his family, and friends.
“I think we have come a long way,” added Scott. “This group set a standard when they were in Grade 8, and now they have become the example for the Grade 8s who won it this year. The players have a lot of talent, and will only get better going forward. We just came up short this time.”
jtng@rcav.org
