Salmon Arm Golds spoiled the Friday Night Lights party.
The Golds beat the Fulton Maroons 32-12 in front of a large crowd on hand to witness the first-ever high school senior football game played under the lights at the new Greater Vernon Athletics Park.
“This was the best game of the year for our kids, said Fulton head coach Mike Scheller. “The score was close for most of the game. They pulled away in the fourth quarter with a couple of late touchdowns.
“In the end, the Golds controlled possession of the ball and field position. They grounded us out on offence and were deserving of the win.”
It was 12-6 Golds at halftime, Fulton’s lone score coming in the first quarter when quarterback Isaac Olson hit receive Caden Doyle with a 58-yard pass.
The two connected again in the third quarter on a 75-yard pass-and-run play.
Olson was 3-8 on the night with one interception. Doyle also ran the ball 12 times for 74 yards.
“Caden Doyle was awesome, receiving and rushing the ball,” said Scheller. “He is a game-breaker and a difference-maker on offence.
It was a costly loss for the Maroons as solid inside linebacker Isaiah Foureyes was lost for the season after dislocating his shoulder in the third quarter.
“That really affected our run defence,” said Scheller, who also praised the fantastic effort at cornerback of Nate Banga, defensive tackle Quinn Miller and Olson at defensive end.
Banga led the defence with seven tackles.
Scheller loved the new venue.
“It was great to play at the new stadium,” he said. “It is a fantastic venue and a great addition to sports in our town. It was awesome to open the stadium.
The Maroons (0-3) host the Rutland Voodoos at noon Oct. 3 at Grahame Park.
The Voodoos rallied from a 14-0 first half deficit to tie the Vernon Panthers 14-14 in a rain-soaked exhibition senior varsity game Friday afternoon at VSS.
Levi Nicholas opened the scoring in the second quarter with a 19-yard touchdown rush.
As time was expiring in the first half, pivot Justin Haverkamp (4-9, 69 yards) connected with tight end Josh Hyer on a 17-yard catch to put the hosts up by two majors lead heading into the break.
“We had a great second quarter and started to find some rhythm which hasn’t been in our offence this season,” said VSS head coach Sean Smith. “It felt good to move the ball a bit and hit on the touchdown pass.”
The Voodoos took the second- half kickoff to the house to close the gap and steal the momentum.
One drive later, the score was tied following a Rutland rush.
“The kick return sparked them and we couldn’t recapture the energy we had in the second quarter,” said Smith.
The Panthers threatened in the red zone late in the game settling for a potential game winning field goal with under two minutes to play.
However, an errant snap turned the attempted field goal into a recovery effort.
Rutland had a chance to win the game with a field goal on the final play but the kick – which was on target – fell a few yards short of the upright.
“We are still not playing good assignment football and are making too many mistakes that are costing us,” said Smith. “Penalties and missed assignments are killing our drives. Until we become more disciplined, these are the results we are going to get.”
Levi Nicholas had a great two-way game for the Panthers rushing 13 times for 75 yards and a major to go along with his team-leading eight tackles. Tyler Semeniuk added five tackles and Ben Hladik continued to show why he could be the conference’s defensive player of the year with two tackles, two forced fumbles and one sack).
The Panthers visit the Pitt Meadows Marauders Friday.
