For Brendan Moreau and his Duchess Park Condors' teammates there is something more frightening than ghouls and goblins
on Halloween.
"Playoff football is always the scariest because one loss and you're out, so you've got to take every team seriously," said Moreau, B.C. High School Football's leading tackler. "We don't want to get beat so we've got to play hard."
The Condors (6-0) put their perfect season on the line tonight against Correlieu (2-5) of Quesnel in the Northern Conference semifinal game at Masich Place Stadium. Game time is 7 p.m. In the 5 p.m. semifinal, the NVSS Vikings (4-2) of Vanderhoof play the Kelly Road
Roadrunners (4-2-1).
The winners of both games earn automatic berths in the first round of the provincial championship, with the Prince George Bowl held Friday, Nov. 4 to determine the northern champion.
"I want to win it for my seniors this year," said Moreau.
The 15 year old middle linebacker led all B.C. players with 55 tackles this season and was second in quarterback sacks with nine - Travis Shields of Kelly Road had 11 sacks.
"I'm in Grade 11 so I've got another opportunity next year to have another good winning year," said Moreau.
Duchess Park also had the league leaders in passing with quarterback Rylan Matters, running back Josh Hughson and in receiving with Montell Lindgren.
Hughson racked up 701 yards on the ground in six games, averaging 8.76 yards per carry. It's the second straight season the 17 year old has led the league. Matters completed 59-of-89 passes for 66.3 completion rating and passed for nine touchdowns, while throwing only two interceptions.
Lindgren led the league with five receiving touchdowns on 33 catches for 490 yards.
Correlieu enters the semifinal with the Condors on a two-game win streak, having shutdown the College Heights Cougars in the final regular season game before upsetting an injury-plagued PGSS Polars in the quarterfinal.
"We've got to be mentally focused and stay positive," said Hughson. "They have a lot of big guys and their quarterback is really skilled - he can throw the ball really well."
Mike Rosilano, head coach of the Condors, said they've focused on teaching the kids the basics of football since Grade 9.
"All the offensive and defensive plays in the world aren't going to do nothing if you can't do the basics in football," said Rosilano, pointing out the Condors have done many tackling and catching drills as well as practicing running with the ball.
In 2009 the Condors were 1-6 before finishing with a 3-2 record last season, losing to the Polars in the playoffs.
Rosilano said he's confident his team will proceed to the final.
"If we play Condor football I think we'll proceed to the next game," he said.
