Ballenas Secondary School’s junior varsity football team takes their game up the road on Saturday, rested and raring to go.
The locals last conference game was Oct. 12 when they were blasted by the Bulldogs from John Barsby. Last Thursday the squad returned to Nanaimo and dumped the NDSS Islanders 27-6 in an exhibition game.
“Because it was exhibition game we wanted to rest some starters — we had some key injured players that needed to rest, so we went with a lot of the backups,” said JV Whalers’ head coach Mike Di Giacomo, adding “the kids played well.”
The two teams played to a 6-6 draw in the opening half, and Ballenas put it away with 21 unanswered points in the second.
Willy Kierstead got his first start behind centre and played the entire game at quarterback, scoring twice. Scott Childs and Coltin Laplante scored the Whalers’ other two TDs.
Two first year players stepping up at the offensive tackle position were Brendil Sabatino and Jeremy Wheaton. Jesse Roberts went in at the tailback and played a strong game.
GAME ON
The JVs, currently 2-1 in the six-team AA Island Conference (and 4-3 overall), are back in action Saturday in Courtenay against the GP Vanier Towhees for an Island conference matchup.
The Whalers are tentatively scheduled to close out the regular season the following Wednesday in Sooke against the Wolverines.