BCFC week 1 summary: Sun, Raiders and Rebels start with wins

The 2011 British Columbia Football Conference kicked-off this past weekend in fine fashion with all three road teams winning. The season would officially kick-off on Saturday night with the first ever game in the City of Langley.

The five time defending Cullen Cup champion Vancouver Island Raiders would travel to Langley to open the season against the Rams on Saturday night. With a huge crowd at beautiful McLeod Athletic Park the visitors would spoil the party with a 39-13 victory.

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The Raiders offense didn’t seem to miss a beat from last season compiling 464 yards in a balanced attack. They would record 283 yards through the air, while picking up 225 on the ground. The reining CJFL Offensive Player of the Year, quarterback Jordan Yantz would finish 15 of 29 for 276 yards and three touchdowns. His favourite receiver in week one was Andrew Smith who caught six passes for 149 yards and ALL three touchdowns. Dustin Pederson caught four balls for 70 yards, while Michael Schaper hauled in three passes for 39 yards.

On the ground Jordan Botel started where he left off last year as he would carry 14 times for 127 yards. He won the BCFC rushing title in 2010. Backup Alex Jobson carried nine times for 75 yards and had a major.

New kicker Ryan Jones was good on three of four field goals hitting from 17, 32 and 33 yards.

Defensively the Raiders were led by linebacker Ranji Atwall who had four solo tackles and one assist. They would create three Ram turnovers as Cole Bishop intercepted a pass while Ash Gayat and Earling Skuggedal jumped on fumbles. Nick Woznesensky had three solo tackles and two sacks.

The Raiders (1-0) will stay on the road on Saturday traveling to Westshore to take on the Rebels (1-0) in a 7:00pm start.

The Rams couldn’t get the offense going against the Raiders “D.” They would tally just 130 offensive yards, 81 through the air and 76 on the ground.

Their biggest highlight was a 107 yard kick-off return for a touchdown by All-Canadian Nick Downey. It’s the second longest return for touchdown in BCFC history.

Starting quarterback Nate White completed just three passes in 18 attempts for 47 yards and had an interception. Backup Steven Martinez was one of two for minus five yards. Only two receivers caught passes on Saturday night, as Downey made three catches for 74 yards and Zack Middleton received one pass for seven yards.

On the ground Kyle Albertini carried seven times for 27 yards while White scampered six times for 25 yards.

Kicker Nick Naylor was good on his only field goal attempt hitting from 22 yards.

The Rams “D” found themselves on the field for the majority of the game. Both Arie Nakagawa and Sharif Ali each made four solo tackles. Charles Scott made four tackles and had a fumble recovery while Jordan Linnen shut down his side of the field making just one tackle.

The Rams (0-1) will travel to Kelowna to face the Sun (1-0) on Saturday night. Kick-off is set for 7:00pm.

Sunday afternoon the Chilliwack Huskers hosted the new look Westshore (Victoria) Rebels in their 2011 home opener. Like Saturday it would be the road team finding success in a 37-8 Rebels win.

The visitors would compile 366 yards on the afternoon, 245 through the air and 125 on the ground. Quarterback Cat Todorovich in his second year at the helm finished seven of 12 for 184 yards and threw three touchdowns. Backup Mark Black also threw a touchdown completing just two passes for 61 yards. Eric Eggleston would catch four passes, three of which resulted in touchdowns. Cole Hamlin would catch the other touchdown pass.

The ground attack of the Rebels looks significantly different without Sam Adu in the backfield. Greg Morris carried the ball 13 times for 56 yards, while Niles Goguen had three touches for 42 yards.

Kicker Quinn Van Gylswyck hit two of four field goals, from 15 and 47 yards away.

Defensively the Rebels would hold the Huskers to 203 total yards. They were led by Colton Farago who made four solo tackles, had four assists and one interception while Tanner Rodinsky had four tackles. Mike Berry also picked off a pass.

The Rebels (1-0) will host the Raiders (1-0) on Saturday at 7:00pm in their 2011 home opener.

For the first time since 2009 the Huskers were coming off a win after their exhibition win last weekend in Prince George. The offense would sputter gathering 140 yards through the air and 89 on the ground, Quarterback Adann Hendrickson completed 15 of 28 passes for 122 yards and had one touchdown to Cody Parray.

Ben Skerrett would make four catches for 47 yards and Adam Leggott had three receptions for 22 yards. Skerrett was also busy returning kicks, compiling 60 return yards on four attempts. He would rush for 32 yards on four carries.

The Huskers run game was snuffed out by the Rebels “D” as quarterback Hendrickson would rush give times for 39 yards. Misha Otanga would carry six times for just seven yards.

On the defence Cody Hillhouse had six tackles and three assists while Levi Weaver had four solo take downs and three assists. The Huskers defence did force two turnovers as Curtis Schindel picked off a pass and Jayson Bates recovered a fumble.

The Huskers (0-1) will stay at home in week 2 and host the Kamloops Broncos (0-1).

The final game of week 1 was the Okanagan Sun visiting the Kamloops Broncos at the VERY windy Hillside Stadium. The Sun would shine brightly in a 40-14 victory.

The Sun would tally 499 yards on offense; 296 through the air and 203 on the ground. Starting quarterback Bobby Davis would play the first half and complete eight of 19 for 148 yards and one touchdown. He would play the second half in the secondary anchoring the “D” as the safety. Backup Jeremy Joseph-Mraovic played the second half and was an impressive eight of 13 for 148 yards and two touchdowns.

The receiving corps was led by Ben White who caught five balls for 127 yards including a 48 yard bomb from Joseph-Mraovic. Tommy Howes hauled in six balls for 78 yards and had two majors. Dan Turek had three catches for 42 yards.

On the ground the Sun were led by Mikhail Maloff who carried 11 times for 54 yards and Alex Bradley rushed seven times for 64 yards.

Defensively the Sun would force four Bronco turnovers as Brennan Van Nistelrooy and Brandon Donkers picked off passes and Steven Doege and Derek Hurlock jumped on fumbles. Jeff Mock had four tackles while Doege had three tackles and three assists.

The Sun (1-0) will host the Langley Rams (0-1) in their 31st home opener on Saturday night at 7:00pm.

The Broncos offense played a good game compiling 261 yards in a balanced attack. Starter Jesse Neufeld was nine of 22 for 128 yards including a 35 yard touchdown pass to Brennan Plante. Adam Nesbitt caught four passes for 54 yards. Neufeld would spread the wealth as five receivers all caught passes.

The ground game for the Broncos was very impressive as Mike McMaster was the featured back carrying 13 times for 101 yards and had a 15 yard touchdown run. Joel Mukendi added nine rushes for 27 yards.

The Broncos “D” created two turnovers as Clayton Ludba and Tyler Lee picked up fumbles. Ludba would tally four tackles and three assists. Lee also added four tackles while Mitch Day had eight tackles, one assist, a quarterback sack and a forced fumble.

The Broncos (0-1) will head to Chilliwack (0-1) on Saturday night at 7:00pm.

Photo courtesy of Wayne Moore – Castanet.net