The Ballenas Whalers senior varsity squad got back on the winning track Friday in Surrey, 44-0 shellacking of Holy Cross Crusaders in their final BC Secondary School Football Association regular-season game of the season.
Coach Jeremy Conn indicated it was a morale-boosting victory the Whalers needed as they head to the playoffs to face the South Kamloops Titans in quarter-final play on Nov. 19.
“It was good team win and everyone got to play so it’s a great feeling going into the playoffs,” said Conn. “Hats off to Holy Cross as they had several big plays even they they had a young team and were missing some guys. So now we have a long trip to South Kamloops we need to focus on.”
The Whalers had quarterback and tight end Ryker Sansbury back in the lineup andhe immediately got Ballenas offence going with an eight-yard TD pass to Reme Conway. He then tossed an 18-yard TD to Ayden Chambers.
Chambers made it to the end zone again when he took off 68 yards for a touchdown run and the Whalers were up 22-0 at the half.
In the second half, the Whalers continued to dominate with Kooper Chambers scoring on 30- and 42-yard touchdown runs. Sansbury sealed the deal with a 37 yard TD run.
Ayden Chambers carried the ball nine times for 127 yards while brother Kooper ran six times for 106 yards. Sansbury had seven carries for 86 yards.
Defensively, Brayden Harvey led the Whalers with seven tackles while Enzo Agostini and Will Dubeski each had five.
The Whalers ended the regular season with four wins and four losses to place fifth in the AA Coastal Division standings.
Meanwhile, the Ballenas Whalers junior squad closed out their season with a 42-6 loss against Holy Crusaders at home on Nov. 3.
The senior Whalers team will now be preparing for their trip to the Interior. But while the players will be busy honing their game, parents, teachers, coaches and volunteers are scrambling to raise funds for the trip.
The Whalers have drawn the most expensive trip possible and expect the cost that will include bus, ferries, hotel and meals to run up to nearly $8,000. They hope to get the game switched to avoid having to stay a second night and have to come up with an additional $4,000 in cost.
Due to COVID-19, the team’s fundraising activities were significantly impacted and they are seeking donations.
Anyone wishing to help can make an e-transfer to wfsstreasurer@gmail.com or to email Ballenas Whalers Football Society president Jim Lynch at wfsspresident@gmail.com.
Lynch indicated that he believes if the funds are donated to Ballenas Secondary, a tax receipt can be issued.
