Rams back on top of B.C. high school football world
The Mount Douglas Rams define what anybody would consider a dynasty in this era in sports.
The Rams won their fifth B.C. high school Triple-A football championship in eight years over the weekend in the Subway Bowl at B.C. Place.
But just like you don’t ask parents who their favourite kid is, never ask a coach to compare his championship teams. Coaches love them all in their own unique ways.
This Rams championship will be remembered more for its Cinderella qualities after Mount Douglas started slow and finished 5-2 in the regular season before breathlessly reeling off playoff victories against the Kelowna Owls in the Sweet Sixteen, St. Thomas More Knights of Burnaby in the quarter-finals, Vancouver College Fighting Irish in the semifinals and culminating in the final with a 48-24 victory over the defending-champion New Westminster Hyacks.
“It is difficult to compare the championships. But this latest one is special, because outside of our locker room, no one believed it was possible,” said Rams head coach Mark Townsend.
“After a couple of early season setbacks, the players still maintained their focus, worked hard to improve at every opportunity and played their best football of the season when it counted the most in the playoffs. We are extremely proud of this accomplishment.”
Mount Douglas quarterback and championship game MVP Gideone Kremler, who won his first B.C. championship in Grade 9, completed his high school career with a monster night against the Hyacks with 303 yards of total offense on 105 yards rushing with three touchowns and 198 yards passing with one touchdown strike.
“We have to recognize the sensational play of Gideone Kremler, who played like a warrior and led this team,” said Townsend.
“He is a talented young man but also a tremendous competitor.”
Twin brother Zairech Kremler ran for 141 yards and two touchdowns in the final and Sam Mosky 115 yards and one touchdown. That kind of ground yardage doesn’t come without an offensive line that creates gaping holes to run through.
“Football games are won in the trenches,” said Townsend.
“We challenged both our offensive and defensive lines to be aggressive and play with relentless effort. And they responded in a huge way. We had outstanding contributions from everyone on the team.”
This season’s Rams were such outsiders, there was no slogan such as Drive for Five or anything like that attached to the team. But how it ended gives Townsend a ring for every finger of one hand.