For a high school football coach, there is nothing more worrying than seeing a player get carried off the field on a stretcher.
But that was the case for the Centennial Centaurs' Ryk Piche on Friday, when offensive player Nathan Lund was knocked down in the third quarter of a game against Lord Tweedsmuir and complained of tingling in his neck. As a precautionary measure, an ambulance was called and Lund was carefully taken off the field by paramedics.
"It is very nerve-racking," Piche said. "I would rather err on the side of caution. This is a kid's future."
Fortunately for Lund, there was no serious damage and the Grade 12 back has been able to join his team in practice this week.
Piche said he expects Lund will be able to play when the Centaurs take on St. Thomas More this Friday in Burnaby.
It is expected to be the first game since week one where the Centennial coach will have his full complement of players after the team was riddled with injuries and the flu over the last few games.
Missing six starters last Friday, Piche said the team was in "survival mode" against Lord Tweedsmuir, a game the Centaurs lost 21-8. St. Thomas More could also prove challenging for the Coquitlam squad.
The fast, physical team has a lot of weapons, Piche said, and the Centaurs will have to play a perfect game if they hope to walk away with a victory.
"I think we can match up against them if we are healthy," he said. "If we are not prepared they can turn it into a track meet very fast."
Friday's game will take place at Burnaby Lake field at 7:30 p.m.
The Terry Fox Ravens got a taste of St. Thomas More's scoring prowess last weekend.
The Ravens were also suffering from the injury bug, playing without the services of starting quarterback Trevor Casey, who is nursing a collarbone injury, and backup Jake Bye, who was suffering from an undisclosed lower-body injury.
QB duties fell to Brad Lyons and Kyle Miller, players who have not had much practice in the position, according to assistant coach Jorge Knizek.
Lyons did manage to put up the team's only points, scoring a 24-yard scramble in the second quarter when the team was already down 22-0.
Lyons ended the game with 20 rushes for 114 yards, while Mate McLeod-Genest had seven rushes for 24 yards.
Nick Agnoletto, Brad Peters and Kyle Miller all had rushes than ended in negative yards. Miller had zero completions on three attempts while Lyons had zero completions in one attempt.
While the offence languished, Knizek said there were some bright spots on the other side of the ball, despite the fact the Ravens surrendered 36 points.
Kyle Deugau had nine tackles, while Lyons had eight tackles and a sack.
Mike West had six tackles while Mike Beck had two tackles and a sack.
With the loss the seniors fall to 3-3 on the season and according to Knizek, the "road doesn't get any easier with the remaining team."
The Ravens still have to play league powerhouses the Centennial Centaurs and Vancouver College. Next week Terry Fox will play W.J. Mouat, (6-1) on Friday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. at Town Centre Stadium. For more information go to www.bchighschoolsports.ca.
