Mission's hope of back-to-back Double-A titles faded in the fourth quarter at B.C. Place Stadium as the Roadrunners lost 31-14 to the unbeaten South Delta Sun Devils in varsity football Saturday.

"We're extremely proud of this group," said MSS principal Jim Pearce. "Our expectation was to get to the final."

Mission kept the game close, down just 11-7 at the half, thanks to a 46-yard touchdown run from quarterback Kevin Wiens in the second quarter.

Just minutes into the second half Mission went to the air with Wiens hitting Jesse Walker on a 21-yard pass, and the Roadrunners suddenly had their first lead of the game.

The Sun Devils answered and the score was still a close 17-14 at the end of three quarters.

But the Devils were not to be denied in their title quest as they forced three Mission turnovers in the fourth frame to put the game out of reach for the Roadrunners.

Not making any excuses, Pearce noted that many Mission players are in grades 10 and 11, battling against the predominantly Grade 12 squad of Delta.

"We were undersized, we didn't match up as well."

After a stellar regular season, Mission advanced to the final after beating Windsor 21-7 in Q-finals and then in a nailbiter 28-27 win over Ballenas in the Double-A semifinal.

But a second consecutive championship was not in the cards for the Roadrunners.

"They left everything on the field, there was nothing left to give," said Pearce. "They went down swinging."

JKonda-Witte@abbotsfordtimes.com