The top two teams in the B.C. Football Conference standings will go helmet-to-helmet on the gridiron in Nanaimo this weekend.
The V.I. Raiders and the Okanagan Sun meet this Saturday, Sept. 29, at Caledonia Park.
The first-place Raiders are one point up on the Sun in the standings, but Okie won the first game of the season series two weekends ago in Kelowna, 35-22.
“The race to the playoffs heats up with just [three] weeks to go and the top five teams separated by just two points,” notes a B.C. Football Conference press release. “With just four teams qualifying for the playoffs, this weekend may not solve anything, but it will give teams a leg or, or leg down.”
The V.I. Raiders go into this weekend coming off a successful road trip to the Interior where they defeated the Kamloops Broncos last Saturday, 31-7.
In Kamloops, V.I. led only 5-0 at halftime but had improved success with both the run and pass game in the second half.
Quarterback Jake Laberge finished 9-for-13 for 188 yards, two rushing touchdowns, two passing touchdowns and no interceptions.
Raiders receiver Brett Ablitt, playing against his former team, caught both those TD passes and amassed 87 yards.
Jérémie Cheng led the Raiders’ defence with two interceptions and was chosen the BCFC Player of the Week. Matthew Cox had six tackles. Connor Kyliuk had two sacks and Doyle Sosnowski had one.
GAME ON … The Raiders play the Sun this Saturday, Sept. 29, at 2:30 p.m. at Caledonia Park. Tickets will be available at the gate.