Ballenas Whalers suffered a heartbreaking 7-6 loss to the John Barsby Bulldogs in the 2025 ‘Border Battle’. The senior varsity game, played under wet and muddy conditions at Kwalikum Secondary field on Oct. 31, was also the final BC High School Football League regular season game. This year’s Border Battle didn’t produce a lot of touchdowns but it highlighted the defensive game of both schools. The Whalers defence was able to slow down the aggressive Bulldogs rushing game and also grabbed the early lead 6-0 on Spencer Jordan’s unconverted touchdown in the second quarter. In the third quarter, the Whalers were battling to move the ball forward and were having little success. The series that changed the Whalers’ fortune was when they were denied three times by the Bulldogs late in the quarter. It was fourth down and the Whalers decided to punt the ball to keep it far away from its end zone. Quarterback Tyler Robinson, also the Whalers’ kicker, saw an opportunity and decided to run the ball instead. It was an uncalled play but it appeared that he stretched the ball beyond first-down marker before being tackled but the referee called the attempt short, despite protestations from Whalers coaches. The questionable call led the Bulldogs to score and they also kicked the convert to take the lead 7-6, which they never relinquished. The Whalers fought hard to find that extra point. They created a scoring opportunity when they advanced the ball close to the Bulldogs red zone. However, disaster struck when a fumble essentially ended the Whalers’ chance of a comeback. The Bulldogs decided to take knee and let time ran out. “We had a good game plan going in and everything was working pretty well,” said head coach Dan Smith. “I am really proud of the way we played. We had some stuff happen to us and I thought we had a first down by at least two yards over here. And that cost us the touchdown. Otherwise, we’re still marching down the field. I’m really disappointed in this crew. I don’t really say much about the referees but this crew was awful today.” Smith commended the team’s defence, who did everything to frustrate the Bulldogs’ offence. “They were just phenomenal today,” said Smith. “That stoppage there when they were just like a couple of yards away, that was big. Huge. That’s big-time football. That is what football is all about.” The Whalers ended the regular season with a 3-3 record and shared third spot with the Nanaimo Islanders. They still advance to the playoffs where they will face the Argyle Pipers. It will be an opportunity for the Whalers to avenge their loss to the Pipers, who blanked them 31-0 earlier in the year. Smith said the Whalers performance against the Bulldogs is a good indicator they will be ready for the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Whalers junior varsity side fell 48-0 in their own Border Battle at Kwalikum Secondary. The JV Whalers will get a chance to redeem themselves when they face the Bulldogs in the playoffs. web1_251112-pqn-border-battle-game_3 [https://www.bpmcdn.com/f/files/shared/feeds/gps/2025/11/web1_251112-pqn-border-battle-game_3.jpg;w=960]Ballenas Whalers defence were not letting the John Barsby Bulldogs offence get anywhere. (Michael Briones photo) web1_251112-pqn-border-battle-game_4 [https://www.bpmcdn.com/f/files/shared/feeds/gps/2025/11/web1_251112-pqn-border-battle-game_4.jpg;w=960]The Ballenas Whalers defence makes a huge play when they stop the John Barsby Bulldogs from crossing into the end zone. (Michael Briones photo)
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