The game of the week was in Nanaimo where the Raiders escaped with a 30-29 win over their rivals, the Okanagan Sun after a missed seven yard field goal.
Neither run game was effective as both defensive lines stood tall. The game was left up to the quarterbacks as veteran Jordan Yantz and rookie Cam Bedore went stride for stride.
The Raiders (2-0-1) ultimately got the last laugh as Yantz finished 22 of 35 for 404 yards and two touchdowns, but threw three interceptions. He was under duress all game long as the Sun defense was in his face.
His favourite target was Michael Schaper who caught a game high seven passes for 180 yards and a 98 yard spectacular touchdown. Matt Sawyer hauled in six passes for 76 yards, while Dustin Pederson found four balls for 68 yards a score.
Defensively the Raiders held the Sun to just 22 yards, but didn’t have much of an answer for Bedore. Rockerson Angrand led the charge with six tackles, while Glenn Boyce made five stops and knockdown a pass. Ariel Fabbro intercepted a pass.
The Raiders will now travel to Kamloops to face the Broncos (1-2) on Saturday.
The Okanagan Sun offense would gain just 262 yards against the Raiders on Saturday afternoon, but it was their defense that was outstanding.
The “D” would make the best quarterback in the country very uncomfortable all day long, forcing four turnovers including three interceptions. In his first game in the BCFC Alex Hupe had a terrific afternoon, compiling three tackles, one assist, two special teams tackles, a sack, an interception and a 40 yard dash to the end zone after recovering a fumble. Steven Doege was a man on a mission putting pressure on Yantz, sacking him twice, forcing a fumble and made three tackles. Doege is now just half a sack from tying the all time CJFL record in just his third season.
Terrence Mendes would also record a sack, while Blake Butler and Wes Geisler make interceptions. Sheldon Macdonald compiled six tackles and two special teams tackles.
Offensively Bedore finished 13 of 32 for 252 yards and three touchdowns. He would find Ben White, Bobby Davis and Jesse Kendall for majors of more than 35 yards.
Kendall caught three passes for 92 yards. Davis also caught three balls for 64 yards and White hauled in two passes for 57 yards.
The Sun (1-2) will play their third straight road game on Saturday when they travel to Langley to play the Rams (2-0-1).
Also on the Island on Saturday, the Westshore Rebels won their second straight with a 34-21 win over the visiting Kamloops Broncos.
The Rebels would compile 394 total offensive yards, 207 of which were on the ground. Greg Morris would lead all rushers with 13 carries for 131 yards. Connor Willis had five rushers for 27 yards while quarterback Mark Black scampered for 20 yards on two carries.
Black would also complete 14 of 26 for 200 yards and threw four touchdowns. Morris caught two of those majors on his only two catches of the ball game. Eric Eggleston led all receivers with five catches for 71 yards and a major, while Fikreiwnet Yitna made the other touchdown catch.
Defensively the Rebels recorded six quarterback sacks. Wyatt Gray led the charge with two sacks, while Nicholas Swaby, Sam Narkaj, Chris Pastro and Colton Farago all had one. Farago and Quincy Vandelcruitzc both had four tackles.
The Rebels (2-1) will host the Chilliwack Huskers (0-3) in the lone Sunday game at Bear Mountain Stadium.
The Kamloops Broncos would keep pace with the hometown Rebels, compiling 286 offensive yards, but ultimately lose their second straight. Quarterback Jesse Neufeld was 10 of 24 for 188 yards and also rushed seven times for 66 yards and a touchdown.
He would spread the ball around to seven different receivers as Brennan Plante and Mike McMaster each caught three passes; Plante for 82 yards, McMaster for 34.
On the ground the Broncos tallied 114 yards, led by the quarterback. McMaster carried nine times for 24 yards and a touchdown.
Kicker Aaron Smit was good on both field goal attempts, hitting from 37 and 40 yards out.
On the “D” the Broncos were led by Tyler Lee. The veteran had five tackles and an assist, while Derek Apps had four tackles and an assist.
The Broncos defense forced three takeaways as Chris Rosa and Kirby Barker each recovered fumbles and Evan Parr picked off a pass.
The Broncos (1-2) will host the Vancouver Island Raiders (2-0-1) on Saturday night at 7:00pm.
The final game on Saturday saw the Langley Rams dismantle the Chilliwack Huskers 66-8 in their home opener.
The Rams would compile 528 yards offensively, including a heavy dose of Daniel Xavier on the ground. The veteran runner rushed for a game high 14 times for 151 yards. Kyle Albertini ran four times for 48 yards.
Quarterback Greg Bowcott was tremendous completing 10 of 13 for 276 yards and threw five touchdowns. The reigning BCFC Player of the Week Malcolm Williams caught three passes, all of which resulted in touchdowns including a 56 yarder. Nick Downey, the “McKinnon Career Coaching Player of the Game” had two catches for 94 yards and a major, while Steven Martinez also caught two balls for 35 yards and a score.
Downey would also show why he is one of, if not the best returner in the CJFL. He would return seven punts for 201 yards and two touchdowns. He becomes the BCFC All-Time leader in punt return yards. His 201 yards on Saturday gives him 2,400 career return yards breaking the old mark of 2,393 which was held by former Vancouver Island Shark/Victoria Rebel Jason March who played from 1997-2001.
Downey currently has 129 punt returns and nine touchdowns. His 353 all-purpose yards on Saturday marks the third time he has recorded over 300 yards in a single game.
Defensively the Rams were led by linebacker Arie Nakagawa who had five tackles. The “D” recorded four quarterback sacks as Brandon Klein had a pair and Evan Foster and Jarron Ralf each tallied one. The lone turnover was a fumble recovery by Jeremy Preston.
The Rams (2-0-1), who didn’t have to punt once on Saturday night will host the Okanagan Sun (1-2) on Saturday night in a rematch of Week One.
The Chilliwack Huskers were frustrated by the Rams defense compiling just 104 yards of total offense. Quarterback Braden Churley finished eight of 21 for 77 yards and a touchdown. He would also lead the team in rushing with 11 carries for 36 yards.
Dylan Boykowich made two catches for 13 yards and had a touchdown, while Josh Hayden led the club with three catches for 35 yards.
The Huskers defense would record three turnovers as Tyson Plain picked off a pass, while Ryan Gallo and Buomkuoth Matuet-Samuel jumped on fumbles. The club was led by Dan Coffin with six tackles, and Kris Bush who made five. Travis Shields had 1.5 sacks.
The Huskers (0-3) will travel to Westshore on Sunday to face the Rebels (2-1).
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