 Thank you to all students, parents, administrators, trainers, faculty, staff and supporters that helped make this season special. Thank you to the dedicated coaching staff who share their time and enthusiasm for teaching football and coaching young men. Congratulations to the student-athletes who made the fall 2017 an outstanding football season. The standard of excellence for West Vancouver Secondary School Highlander Football is at a new height. We are especially proud of the academic achievements of the student-athletes this fall. In addition to our many fine students, award winners and Pacific Conference All-Star honorees, we must recognize all the student-athletes that put in the extra effort to academically better themselves. First and foremost, each West Vancouver Secondary School student-athlete is a student. There is no football at West vancouver Secondary without academic commitment. While the Varsity and Junior Varsity teams in the program had their own win-loss records and they enjoyed their share of big victories and emotional defeats, the games of this past fall will eventually fade into fragmented memories. In the end, the measures of success are not the statistics or wins, rather, they are the friendships, lessons and maturing that are the result of effort, selfless commitment to the team and dedication to personal betterment. The student-athletes of the 2017 West Vancouver Secondary School Highlander Football Program were truly successful. We as parents, players, coaches and supporters are fortunate to have been a part of it. To all the Grade 12 players, we are honoured that you played for us in your last year as a West Van Highlander. Take these memories, friendships and experiences as you go forward in life. You will forever be a Highlander. As we have said to the Grade 12's in the past "Life is to be lived". Be successful in whatever makes you happy and know that your Highlander family always has your back. As we look back, we can’t help but to also look forward to Spring 2018. We am excited to see how the student-athletes of spring season embrace the legacy of out 2017 fall season. 
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 The 2017 season has almost come to a close. The final activity is the invitation only West Vancouver Highlander Football Program Banquet.
Please make sure you RSVP to the e-invite sent out as soon as possible. Pride ~ Respect ~ United  West Vancouver Varsity Highlanders Football Players named AAA BC High School Football Pacific Conference All-Stars: QB Ben Corbett OL Ethan Lock WR Ethan Johnston LB Ryerson Wallace LB Connor Chapman DL Thomas Pedley DB Ben Welsh http://varsityletters.ca/aaa-pacific-conference-all-stars-mvps-white-currie-prove-to-be-a-royal-pair/    Seven members of the West Vancouver Varsity Highlanders Football Team have been named AAA BC High School Football Pacific Conference All-Stars:
QB Ben Corbett OL Ethan Lock WR Ethan Johnston LB Ryerson Wallace LB Connor Chapman DL Thomas Pedley DB Ben Welsh Head Coach Dourandish noted that the West Vancouver Varsity Highlanders finished with the second most all-stars in the conference even though the team eventually finished 3rd place in the conference.   It is always tough to end the season with a loss, but the West Vancouver Varsity Highlanders Football team competed all the way to the end. Coach Anderson, Coach Dourandish, Coach Franco and all of the other coaches are very proud of our team.
Injuries are sadly always part of the game. During this year we were stung hard by non-football related injuries and in-game injuries. The West Van Varsity Highlanders consistently had players stepping up and playing with a tenacity that hasn’t been seen at West Van for a long time. The coaches are already looking forward to next year and building on the success of this year with our promising group of grade 11s. For the grade 12's this was a successful season with at season end 4-3 record (technically 5-3 with the Salmon Arm forfeit). Offensively, West Van had a tough time moving the ball on the ground and relied on Grade 12 Quarterback Ben Corbett's arm and pocket mobility to move the team down the field. This was definitely not the first time the team relied on Ben's arm and passing prowess to move the ball and he delivered as usual. Ben ended up throwing for over 180 yards and 2 touchdowns and also adding one more touchdown on the ground by muscling in from the 1 yard line with a late game QB sneak. Wide Reciever Ethan Johnston made plays all day. Ethan converted on 3rd and 4th downs in key situations. He ended up catching 6 passes for 62 yards and a TD, but the statistics told tell the story of the fight and desire in each catch. Ethan was named the "Hard Hat" player of the game for his great game play. Defensively, once again Ryerson Wallace led the team in tackles with 11. Ryerson's nose for the ball, agility and ability to tackle was once again on display. There hasn't been a game this season where Ryerson has either led the team in tackles, made huge play or both. Full credit to Handsworth for the win. They took advantage on a few key big plays when they needed them. The coaches again are very proud of the team. You never know how a group of young men will come together, bond, fight adversity and perform. This team is just that... a team of great young men who never gave up and kept scratching for every inch. Remember football is a game of inches.  In the JV Highlander's last game of the season, we set our focus on playing a complete game. That means playing four (4) quarters of complete offensive and defensive football. In prior weeks we had lacked the ability to make key tackles.
Coach Currie notes its a little unfortunate that this had to be the final game of the year, because the team came out and put together a gutsy performance in miserable conditions. Those who watched in the monsoon like downpour will understand. It was wet and very cold. The game started as planned by Coach Currie; take the opening kickoff and wear down Handsworths defence with the JV Highlanders power run game which has been picking up steam the last few weeks. the JV Highlanders were able to move the ball downfield taking up a good chunk of the clock before ultimately stalling out and punting away. It was time for the Highlanders defence to prove that we could make something happen and we did just that. Two (2) plays later Lucas Haldane who was playing his first game back from injury made a big hit in the backfield forcing a fumble and turnover. The JV Highlanders proceeded to march down the field, primarily with running back Ben Mason picking up big chunks of yardage and capped it off with Jay Armitage reverse for a touchdown. Handsworth was not ready to give up and responded with a quick touchdown and out team had a battle on our hands. Down at half Coach Currie stressed to the team that we needed to finish out our season with a strong 2nd half and that were in this game until the final whistle. The battle continued in sloppy conditions and we found ourselves down 22-8 in the 4th quarter. West Van held Handsworth to a couple punts and forced two (2) turnovers in a strong defensive display. West van stuck to their original game plan continued and continued to pound the ball on the ground with Ben mason and Joey Cradock each getting a couple of big timely runs.runs from Nolan Zen capped off and nice drive after Jay Armitage ran to get down to the one (1) yard line. Nolan Zen executed a great QB sneak for the touchdown. West Van were down 22-16 and if they could get the ball back with under two (2) minutes to play, they had a shot to pull out a great comeback and win. the West Van defence stepped up big and forced a three (3) and out giving West Van a chance on offense to go win this game. Unfortunately the clock just didn't have enough seconds left and West Van came up a bit short on this and fell 22-16 to a strong Handsworth squad. Although the score wasn't in our favour, this was a game where the team can all hold their heads high. West Van played with pride and a ton of heart on a day when many other teams in our position may have given up. Highlanders don't give up...we just try harder. Coach Currie has lots to be proud of this year. The West Vancouver Junior Varsity Highlanders Football Program is looking very bright |
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August 2019
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