They are the New Kids on the Block, but the Belmont Bulldogs aren’t about to break out in a rendition of Summertime. They would rather attempt their best version of Hanging Tough.
And the senior boys team is taking its first year in triple-A play in the B.C. High School Football Association Step by Step, as it were.
“It’s been a change in culture, really. Which has been awesome,” Bulldogs head coach Kevin Harrington said of the step up to the higher level. “We knew that going triple-A was going to be really hard and our kids have worked hard all off-season to get us ready.”
They responded by sinking their teeth into an impressive 41-0 whitewash of West Vancouver last Friday in the rain at Goudy Field in Langford. They will try to make it 2-0 when they visit New Westminster Friday at 5 p.m. The Hyacks were thumped 51-0 by Mount Douglas last Friday at Westhills Stadium.
Belmont used Cody Wist’s 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to open the game and never looked back.
“Going in, we were hoping and expecting to win, which is what you hope to do every game,” said Harrington. “We came out really strong and the opening kickoff was helpful, that’s for sure.
“I wouldn’t say we were surprised by the result, but we were excited about it.”
Wist also had two interceptions in the win. Offensively, Sam Varao and Jordan Worth each had two rushing TDs. Varao finished with 118 yards along the ground and Worth added three catches for 108 yards.
Quarterback Josh Tipton — who became the starter when Court Boice separated his shoulder for the second time in a year — was 5-of-12 for 135 yards through the air and added a rushing touchdown.
The Bulldogs are also without Matt Pastro — a big part of the Bulldogs at both runningback and linebacker — who is awaiting knee surgery.
“Sam has played very well and Jordan has had back-to-back games where he’s posted more than 200 yards rushing and receiving,” said Harrington. “They’re a good tandem in backfield.”
Varao and offensive lineman Tristen Forish are a pair of Bulldogs among the list of 56 players looking to earn a spot on the Under-18 Team B.C. squad which will represent the province at the FBU International Games, as part of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl Week, to be held in San Antonio, Tex., in early January 2014.
Belmont defensive co-ordinator Alexis Sanschagrin is also a part of that team and Pastro was on that list prior to his injury. Mount Douglas leads the way with 10 of the 56 players, along with coach Mark Townsend.
“Our strength is we’re a running team,” Harrington said of his Bulldogs. “Josh is doing a great job of managing it and taking his shots when he gets them. The strength is our offensive line and our backs.”
But one game does not make a season. Harrington knows that and is stressing that to his charges.
“We’ve had a good look [at New West on film] and we think we’ll be ready. They’re a fast-paced team that likes to catch you off guard,” he said.
“There’s room for improvement with us. We watched our film against West Van and although we did very well against them, there were some glaring mistakes we need to look after if we’re going to compete at the Triple-A level with games coming up against the New Wests, Mount Dougs, Vancouver Colleges, Notre Dames and Handsworths of the world,” stressed Harrington.
“We let them know that just because you won a game it doesn’t mean you’re ready to play with the bg boys, so we’ll see how they respond.”
