The Vernon Panthers showed why they are the No. 3 ranked senior AA boys football team in the province Friday night.
VSS scored early and often en route to a 55-16 win over the host South Kamloops Titans. Quarterback John Garvie pitched a perfect game (7-for-7, 140 yards) including first-quarter touchdown passes to Karson Patommel, Zac Kronbauer and Grade 10 tight end Josh Hyer, recording his first-ever high school TD. A pair of rushing scores by Kronbauer (seven carries, 63 yards) and the Cats were up 35-0 before the quarter had elapsed.
“The boys came out strong in all phases of the game,” said head coach Sean Smith. “Our defensive intensity and execution was good to see as we opened the game with a fumble recovery and an interception on their first two drives.
Patommel led all rushers with 86 yards, including a beast-mode 56-yard score to end the third quarter. Kronbauer added two second-half field goals to push the lead to 55-10.
Carson Labrecque led all tacklers with 11 and Ben Hladik returned from injury to record eight.
The Panthers host the Valleyview Vikings of Kamloops on Friday, 2 p.m., at Grahame Park.
Meanwhile, in junior varsity action Wednesday afternoon at Grahame, the host Fulton Maroons fell 28-14 to Valleyview.
Tied 14-14 at the half, the Maroons struggled offensively against the wind after the break. A few missed tackles allowed Valleyview to pull ahead.
Ethan Eisenhauer, on a two-yard plunge, and Caden Doyle, snaring an eight-yard toss from Ike Olson, accounted for Fulton’s offence.
Olson went 13-22 for 168 yards and two picks. Doyle compiled 108 yards on eight catches, and Eisenhauer led the ground assault with 40 yards on 16 touches.
“We had a good first half and competed well,” said head coach Mike Scheller. “We moved the ball quite well in the first half, however, we had trouble running the ball in the second half and that slowed us down.”
Cole Hunter paced the Maroon defence with eight tackles, while Hunter Kreiger and Logan Emes each supplied four. Quinn Miller earned a sack, and Doyle an interception.
“We are too susceptible to giving up the big play,” said Scheller, of the defence. “We had opportunities to shut them down and we gave up too much yardage due to missed tackles.”
The junior Maroons visit the Mount Boucherie Bears in West Kelowna Wednesday.
