The John Barsby junior varsity team will host Mount Douglas in a provincial semi final game Nov. 19 at 3pm. (John Barsby Football)

By Dan Marshall

Gunning for the FInal

John Barsby junior varsity football team to host provincial semi final

Nov 18, 2025 | 3:30 PM

NANAIMO — The always-strong John Barsby high school football program is in line for another provincial title.

The junior varsity squad is coming off a 32-0 win in the B.C. quarter finals against Parksville’s Ballenas Secondary, and will next host Mount Douglas in the semi finals on Wednesday, Nov. 19.

JV head coach Rob Stevenson said his team is well rounded.

We’ve got very good team speed. We’re a disciplined team and we play very complimentary football. Our defense has been playing lights out the last five weeks. Our offense can move the football. We’re very good on the ground and opportunistic in the air.”

Stevenson calls Mount Douglas a power house out of Victoria but Barsby will have home field advantage for the game.

On the Lake

Training, fundraising take precedence in winter months for Nanaimo Rowing Club

22h ago

clean-up

Locals plan to remove shoreline hazard in Qualicum Beach

Dec 13, 2025

Wings Clipped

Seguin-Lescarbeau and Rimmer lead Clippers to Teddy Bear Toss win

Dec 13, 2025

Teams at John Barsby have consistently been among the top in the province and Stevenson explained part of the success comes from preparation and focus.

“Today it’s all about winning the reps at practice, stacking your wins and that turns into performance. We take it one day at a time, we don’t look past the tip of our skis. We’re gonna go play as hard as we can and we don’t change anything. It’s about commitment, effort and showing your talent.”

If Barsby can win their semi final, they will play in the B.C. final at BC Place against either Vernon or Argyle (North Vancouver).

At the varsity level the Bulldogs had a 6-0 season but lost out 49-41 to South Kamloops in the provincial quarter finals.

Stevenson said the team went down in the game and couldn’t fully recover..

“We got into a shootout with a very well coached and talented South Kamloops team. They had a quarter back who’s going to play at the next level and a couple of lineman. We got behind three scores in the third quarter and kept making it a two score and a one score game but just ran out of time.”

Stevenson was proud of the varsity season and is very optimistic about the team in 2026.

Only six players will be lost to graduation and several top JV players will move up to the varsity level.

The B.C. 2A awards were handed out recently, with the Barsby squad well represented.

Running back Noble Nnadi was named the top running back, while Elias Root (OL), Owen Bishop (DL) and Kofi Lyle (DB) were named all-stars.

Subscribe to our daily news wrap. Local news delivered to your email inbox every evening. Stay up to date on everything Nanaimo and Oceanside.

info@nanaimonewsnow.com

Follow us on: Twitter (X) | Bluesky | Facebook