PG Bowl Championship

Duchess Park defeats PGSS to win PG Bowl

Nov 5, 2021 | 11:03 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – Carson Briere hauled in a hat-trick of touchdowns as the Duchess Park Condors got redemption over the Prince George S.S. Polars in Friday’s BC Secondary Schools Football Association North Division Championship.

“It feels great. Two years ago we were here and lost it,” explained Condors’ quarterback Quinn Neukomm following his team’s 35-12 win. “It feels great to come back and get it, finally. It’s been a long road.”

Heading into the PG Bowl at Masich Place Stadium, the Condors and Polars were posting similar records of 3-1 from the regular season. However, the Polars clinched the top-seed after defeating the Condors 26-20 in the two’s final match ahead of playoffs.

The scoring Friday night got underway after a drive the Condors utilized the tried and true through running back Noah Lank, BCSSFA Double A’s leading rusher (784 rushing yards through five games). As the Condors neared the goal line, Quinn Neukomm found Carson Briere on a quick slant route over the middle.

On the ensuing drive for the Polars, the score was knotted up following a long connection between quarterback Jason Kragt and receiver Kaleb Lizotte. The Polars failed their two-point conversion.

Neukomm, a Team BC selection, kept the arm hot in the first quarter and put his mobility on display as well as he avoided the Polars’ pass rush before connecting with Aiden Lewis along the Duchess Park sideline. Lewis then turned upfield and rumbled to reestablish the Condors lead, 14-6.

In the 2nd quarter, Duchess Park had luck on their side. After driving much of the field to get into the red zone, Neukomm threw his second interception of the game. The following play, the Polars offence fumbled on an option play with the gritty Condors defence pouncing on the loose ball.

The next play, Briere found the ball threw the air for his second touchdown as Duchess Park began to pull away.

In the second half, Euan Murray came up big on the defensive side of the ball for Duchess Park. The Grade 12 player hauled in two interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown to put the Condors ahead 28-6.

Late in the third quarter, following a long pass completion, the Polars found themself on the doorstep of the endzone. Kragt called his own number and plunged ahead for Prince George’s second touchdown. For the second time, they couldn’t find a way into the end zone on their two-point conversion attempt.

Opting to stick to the run, the clock began to tick away and out of the hands of the Polars in the fourth quarter.

With the Condors leaning on the running power of Noah Lank, the Polars’ defence began to adjust in hopes of shutting him down. Lank took a toss from Neukomm and then heaved the pigskin 30 yards downfield to Briere, who scampered in the rest of the way for his third and the Condors final score of the game.

“Biggest thing is I’m just so proud of them all,” said Duchess Park head coach Craig Briere. “A lot of these guys, I’ve been coaching for five years. Especially our Grade 12’s; to see them be successful on the field, play to their full ability and play to their full potential, and the win was very rewarding.”

With the final score reading 35-12, the Condors won their first PG Bowl championship and hoisted the Matt Pearce Memorial Trophy for the first time since 2016.