SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7    VS    RICK HANSON H.S. (N.D.S.S. FIELD)

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11    VS    NOTRE DAME H.S.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18    AT    HANDSWORTH H.S.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25    VS    PINETREE H.S.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2    AT    WINDSOR H.S.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9    AT    WEST VANCOUVER H.S.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16    AT    COWICHAN H.S.

SATURDAY,OCTOBER 26    VS    NANAIMO DISTRICT H.S. (KOCHER CUP!)

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30    VS    SENTINEL

WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6/7    WILDCARD GAME

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14    BC QUARTER-FINALS

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21    BC SEMI-FINALS (BURNABY LAKES)

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30    CHAMPIONSIP GAME @ BC PLACE

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AUGUST 19,20,21,22 3:30-5:30 PM

AUGUST 26,27,28,29 3:30-5:30 PM

SEPTEMBER 2,3, 3:30-5:30 PM

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John Barsby Football officially came into existence in January of 1996 with the formation of the senior squad.   Year one presented many challenges for the young and inexperienced coaching staff but as the year progressed big strides were made towards a foundation for long-term success.   By year’s end a weight room was under way, equipment bills were being liquidated, the core of a coaching staff being formed and most importantly, a football culture at the school was finding its roots.

Nineteen ninety-seven saw improvement on and off the field with progress being made in terms of field and weight equipment.   New coaches and trainers were added to the staff and student participation/involvement with the program was on the rise.   Game Day scores reflected more competitive play by the team and it was noted that a large interest towards the sport of football existed amongst the younger athletes at the school.

Nineteen ninety eight can be seen as the end of the beginning of the John Barsby Football program.   Junior Head Coach Jeremy Conn teamed up with Rob Stevenson to recruit, register, equip and fundraise a Junior Varsity squad at Barsby.   Together with his coaches, Coach Conn led the young squad to a 5-4 season ending with a tough first round playoff loss in early November.   The tone had been set for big things to come!   Biting the bullet and leaving the grade 10’s at the Junior Level, the senior Dawgs played a gritty, never quit 1-8 season.   Guts and character prevailed with a season ending victory and several members of the team went on to BC High School Senior Bowl appearances.   Those who remained rededicated themselves to victory in 99.

The “watershed-bench mark year” is how 99 is going to be remembered.   It seemed that the hard, hard, work of the preceding three years is now paying off in ways that were program “dream-goals” only two or three short years before.   January 99 saw the completion of the Bulldog Iron Den weight-room, the finest high school weight facility in British Columbia!   On any given winter morning at 0700 hours or after school this facility can be found jam packed with Barsby’s finest working their tails off to get better on game day.   The weight-room spearheaded by the football program, is also used by PE classes and the community at large.   This facility represents a   real centerpiece and contribution to the greater school community by these young men.   In April of 99 the football program moved into its own home, the Barsby Dawghouse team-room and locker facility, a vacated auto shop refurbished, dressed up and carpeted by the coaches and players.   Players meet, change, chalk-talk and take the field as a team from this building.   In British Columbia, there is no comparable high school football facility.   Hard work, dreams and initiative have translated to a four tier logistical foundation for football success: 1)Weight Room and training regime; 2) Dawghouse team room and meeting facility 3) Junior Varsity Football Team; and finally the Senior Bulldogs.   Upon entering the football program at Barsby in the spring of his eighth grade year, a young man can look forward to having four years of unparalleled opportunity for football development.  

It should be noted again and again that none of these developments, accomplishments, and opportunities would be possible without the tremendous administrative support we received during this period from Principal Jeet Purhar and her administrative team of VP’s Marty Cross and Ray Ward.  

THE PAYOFF

Spring 99 showed just what hard work and training could do as the Senior Bulldogs dominated their four team Jamboree in May, while the Juniors impressed with a 28-0 blanking of the 98 playoff competitors R. C. Palmer (Richmond).   A July 7 on 7 passing tournament against top-flight U.S. and Canadian competition also ended with notable success.  

The 1999 season was an all-round success.   Several firsts were accomplished as the Junior Squad defeated arch-rival Windsor with a last second score ending the game in celebratory pandamonium.   Later the same week the Senior Squad defeated long time powerhouse Sentinal at their own park.   The stage was set for playoff runs at both levels.   The Junior Dawgs ran in to trouble early in the playoffs losing to the undefeated and eventual BC Champion Holy Cross Crusaders.   The season was a big success as the program goal of a playoff appearance a solid conference standing were accomplished.   Most of all a lot of players developed over the season and had a lot of fun while doing so.   The ripple from this team will be felt around the province at the senior AA level of play for the next two years!  

The Senior Dawgs surprised even their coaches in 99 with a Championship appearance!   Great talent, team-unity, and lots of heart and desire were the story here.   Barsby hosted its first ever play-off game delivering a crushing defeat to the Vernon H.S. Panthers.   Second round action at Burnaby Lake was perhaps the teams greatest effort all season with a 8-6 come from behind win over the undefeated Clarence Fulton Maroons of Vernon.   A game that will never be forgotten for its tenacity and back and forth action!   The championship game against a powerful Delta squad was our Waterloo as we needed to play a near perfect game to win.   Unfortunately our second half performance fell far short of perfect.   Upon reflection, 99 can be seen as the year where a winning tradition firmly took root at Barsby.

CHAMPIONS! 

The 2000 off-season was a continuation of the positive direction of the preceding years.   It was in the weight room where the Dawgs went to work guided by the motto UNFINISHED BUSINESS!   Entering Spring football the Barsby Football program had high hopes all around and was not disappointed with the results of the Jamboree, dominating all competition on the field.   The 2000 season saw one on-field success after another with hi-lites being the dismantling of arch-rival Delta before a large home crowd

REALITY HITS AND THE DAWGS OVERCOME!

The 2001 campaign was a year of transition in the football program. Expectations were high as on paper, Barsby was senior and experience laden.  Off field events took their toll as non football sporting injuries and a tragic car accident decimated our senior ranks.  Those who remained struggled valiently and after a brutal 0-4 start to the year they clawed their way to four straight victories and a share of first place.  The season highlites had to be the opener against Orcas Island Highschool of Washington State (who went undefeated and on to the State semi-final game) and the upsetting of a red hot Ballenas team on Barsby Turf when no one expected it to happen!  Dawg grit and character carried the day that fine Autumn morning! The Senior Dawgs went on to play in the BC quarter-final against then #1 ranked John Oliver.  Wow! What a game.  In a flip-flop of the 2000 championship tilt, the Dawgs got out to an early lead against JO and dominated the clock for three quarters.  A great 4th down stop by the jokers kept the game close enough going into the half for them to stage a comeback and secure victory that afternoon.  The contest was a brutal physical affair and a pyrhic victory for the Jokers who just didn't have enough gas a week later to defeat a Ballenas Whaler squad on its way to its first BC Championship appearance.
the 2001 Junior Dawgs set a new standard of excellence under the tutelege of Coach Demetreos Bourodemos and fought their way to a share of first place in the conference and a wild-card playoff victory.   The Junior Dawgs almost pulled off the upset of the year against the legendary St. Thomas More Knights as they were only a few mental mistakes from a possible victory.  Wisdom is on the far side of agony they say and this group of players has a bright future ahead with many more big games yet to play!!

NEW HORIZONS

The 2002 off-season has seen a rededication to the weight room within the program and is a time when great changes have taken place amongst staff and in terms of recruitment within the school as Barsby lost Cedar as a feeder program.  The Dawgs of 02 represent one of the smallest student bodies in BC and that has brung with it new challenges. Offensively and defensively schemes have changed to fit our "streamlined" talent pool and the training process now demands more efficiency than ever.  Can the Dawgs do it in 02?  Well if history is a guide to how the program approaches diversity then you betcha they can!   The Double-Wing Era has begun at Barsby! Wear sunglasses round here cuz the future looks bright!

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The Barsby Football Program is always on the lookout for committed, motivated coaches.  We firmly believe that what occurs on the football field is a reflection of what is delivered by our coaching staff during practice and prepatory sessions.  If you are selfless, love working with young people, and a team player, we invite you to join our ranks.  If you think you have what it takes to coach with the Dawgs, contact Head Coach Rob Stevenson by e-mail to arrange an interview.

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