The Rick Hansen Hurricanes shut down the No. 5-ranked Robert Bateman Timberwolves 27-16 Friday.

“Winning this game motivated us to grasp the opportunity to finish first in our conference,” said Hansen head coach Paul Gill. “You only play five league games so every win is so important. We still feel we have room to improve.”

Hansen is taking no team for granted in what might be the most geographically perfect conference in all of B.C. high school football. And it’s creating a buzz when the ’Canes clash with No. 2-ranked Mission Roadrunners on Oct. 27.

On Friday, the Hurricanes built a 14-9 halftime lead behind the play of quarterback Alex Ho and running back Reagan Doucette, and led 27-9 heading into the fourth quarter.

“Tough first half,” said Bateman program coach Rick MacDonald. “We lost Ben Cummings, John Beckerleg and Cole Brien to injuries that may well keep them out of the lineup for weeks.”

That’s a huge blow. Cummings was sitting second in Double-A rushing.

Ho completed just eight of 24 pass attempts and was picked off twice, but he still finished with 192 yards, including a 50-yard strike to Zach Toews.

The Hurricanes rushed for 185 yards, 152 of which were earned by Doucette on 13 carries. He averaged 11.3 yards per pop and scored a TD. Ho also rushed for a score, while his brother Brandon Ho led the defence, racking up 13 tackles and scoring off a 20-yard interception return.

- with files by Howard Tsumura/The Province