Terry Fox Ravens' turn-around season hit a heart-breaking end Thursday.
After struggling through a 1-8 campaign last season, the Ravens pulled a 180-degree turn to go 8-1 this year, only to then fall 23-18 to Victoria's Mt. Douglas Rams in a B.C. AAA junior varsity high school football clash at Burnaby Lake Sports Complex.
Centennial Centaurs were spilled 37-6 in Thursday's other JV semifinal, spoiling a chance for a Tri-City team to play for a provincial title Saturday at BC Place Stadium.
The Ravens fell behind 16-0 to the Rams before Sam DeGroot plowed into the end zone from two yards out to cut the margin to 16-6 late in the third quarter.
After the Rams made it 23-6, the Ravens stormed back with quarterback Conner McKee connecting with Nick Agnoletto on a 62-yard pass-and-run major to make it a 23-12 count. After recovering the ensuing on-side kick, it took just three plays for McKee to hook up with Jake Bye for a 19-yard scoring toss to trim the Rams' lead to 23-18.
The drama continued to build, as the Ravens then forced the Rams into a three-and-out and regained possession on their own 48-yard stripe with time winding down.
McKee hit DeGroot on a key 19-yard pass on fourth down to take Fox to the Rams' 20-yard line, and eventually to the 15, where the Ravens took two cracks at scoring before losing the ball on downs after two tosses to the end zone went incomplete.
It marked a tough end to an otherwise stellar season under new head coach Dave Lehman.
"Throughout the season, there were many fine reports and comments about this young crew [of players] and they have been a credit to our school," said Fox spokesman Jorge Knizek. "Really, it was such a fine, fine season for these boys and I really can't say enough good things or heap too much praise on them."
McKee finished 10-of-19 passing with a pair of touchdowns, while DeGroot rushed for 97 yards and a major on 18 carries. McKee also packed the ball himself 20 times for 93 yards, with Agnoletto his top target with three catches for 57 yards, including a score.
Defensively, Fox was led by Jason Shamatutu with 4.5 tackles.
Adrial Sellers was next with 3.5, with Kyle Miller and Isaiah Stevens were next with three apiece.
