When James Harney and Tyson Thompson were playing football in 麻豆社国产as boys, they hoped to take the field together as adults one day.
The two have since had the chance to do just that, both on the same side and most recently as opponents.
鈥淲e always talked about it. Obviously, when you鈥檙e young you have pretty big dreams,鈥� Thompson, 21, says.
The two started as youngsters playing flag football. For a while Thompson lived in Whistler but still kept coming to 麻豆社国产to play.
Both played Titans GSL football together and also were members of the Sounders when they were at Howe Sound Secondary.
Harney, 20, recalls they had some good seasons together, in particular during one when they made a run to the playoffs.
Thompson had hoped the two would play together for his senior year, but Harney tore his ACL and missed his Grade 11 season.
The next year Thompson moved on, and Harney left to play his senior year of high school ball in Vancouver at Notre Dame.
Their paths would cross again though. Thompson was playing CIS ball at Bishop鈥檚 University in Sherbrooke, Que., and had a hand in coaxing Harney to come back east to play university ball.
鈥淲e both had the idea we wanted to play university football,鈥� Harney says.
Thompson realizes he could have better taken advantage of the experience in university ball, but he decided to switch to the junior ranks and come back to British Columbia.
鈥淚 really felt prepared for this experience, playing junior football,鈥� he says.
He made the move to the Westshore Rebels in Victoria and is happy with the support and resources the team has, including the team鈥檚 own workout facility.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e trying to build something that鈥檚 as competitive as university football,鈥� he says.
Harney decided to follow the same path, though he is interested in returning to university ball after playing one more season in junior.
The first game in August ended with the Sun winning at home 27-21, though Harney did not get on the field as he was recovering from a concussion.
When the two sides met on Vancouver Island this month, it was the Rebels that came out on top with a last-minute 29-23 victory, snapping a 24-game regular season winning streak for the Sun.
鈥淭hat was a very tough, tight game,鈥� Harney says.
He did play this time, but he switched from defensive line to offence after a few games this season because of injuries to teammates, so he was not on the field at the same time to line up against his friend.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 get to go against Tyson,鈥� he says.
He did do battle though with another former Bishop鈥檚 teammate, Jeremie Drouin, who was playing on the defensive line for Westshore. Come playoff time he expects he will be playing both offence and defence, so he could have the chance to face Thompson.
The two are friendly rivals and did have a chance to talk for a bit after the game, though Harney said that his team was off to the locker room pretty quickly after the loss.
All season, the Sun and the Rebels have basically been at the top of the standings in the BCFC, so there is a good chance the two will meet once again for the rubber match come playoff time.
鈥淥ne-hundred per cent, there鈥檚 going to be a third game,鈥� Harney says.
