Ray Moon has put his tool belt away and his head coach's hat back on in time for the South Delta Sun Devils' biggest game of the season Friday in the provincial capital.
The longtime boss of the Tsawwassen high school school football program returned to the practice field Monday after a five-week absence to be part of a home renovation reality tv series.
Moon and his daughter Crystal were casted for W Network's Game of Homes. The 10-episode season features four teams of two "talented amateurs" given four weeks to renovate a home they were each assigned. It is scheduled to air in early March.
"It was a once in a lifetime opportunity with my oldest daughter, explained Moon who has been coaching the Sun Devils program for over a decade. (Laughing) We had a lot of fun with it and got on each other's nerves too.
"We were isolated on location for the entire filming and allowed only minimal contact with our families. The (casting) process started back in June and I couldn't believe it when we reached the second, then third stage.
"What made it easy is I have an excellent coaching staff with a lot of individuals who are capable of stepping in and doing what I do. They proved it over the last five weeks."
During Saturday's 43-14 win over Belmont at Dennison Park, Moon stood a few feet away from his team and took in his first game since early September as a spectator. However, with the visitors managing to routinely move the ball up field, Moon was asked to step in at halftime. The defensive specialist addressed his players and was back on the sidelines as South Delta pitched a second half shutout to improve to 5-0-0 in Western Conference AAA play.
The result sets up the Devils' biggest test of the season this week against the Mt. Doug Rams - a match-up of the province's No. 4 and No. 2 ranked teams respectively.
The Victoria powerhouse is the three-time defending provincial AAA champion and enjoying another impressive campaign under head coach Mark Townsend. The Sun Devils dropped a 56-20 decision to the Rams in exhibition play last year but at least no longer have to worry about graduated star running back Marcus Davis who was virtually unstoppable. South Delta is also better matched-up in the trenches.
"They are a well-coached team with a junior varsity program that is also always contending for provincial championships," said Moon. "It's an interesting match-up in we have a good aerial attack that is supplemented by the run and with them it's the other way around. We like the talent we have and this group has worked very hard for the success it has had so far."
Senior quarterback Lucas Kirk continued his outstanding season against Belmont with three more touchdown passes.
None was bigger than a 50-yard strike to Bryce Connors in the late stages of the second quarter. The Bulldogs had just pulled within a touchdown and had the Sun Devils in a third-and-15 situation when Kirk found Connors behind coverage for his second major of the afternoon.
South Delta then struck again before halftime as twice Kirk connected with Michael Mann, including a five yard touchdown reception.
Blake Gau also had a pair of majors, including an 18-yard strike from backup quarterback Kyle Chace. South Delta lost Jack McDonald to a first half leg injury, however, the senior two-way standout is expected to be in the lineup Friday.
