The KSS Owls suffered their first loss of the season but proved again they belong with the top teams in B.C. high school football.
Friday night in Coquitlam, the Owls put up a fight before going down 27-13 to the perennial powerhouse Terry Fox Ravens.
Touchdowns by Matt Blanchard on a fumble recovery return and a 74-yard pass from Parker Simson to Adam Diabase had KSS even with Fox 13-13 at half time.
But the second half belonged to Fox, as the Ravens (3-0) scored a pair of majors to put the game away.
“They were great tacklers and gave us pressure all game, particularly in the second half and we could not find a rhythm,” said Owls head coach Ben Macauley.
The Owls compiled a season-low 228 yards of total offence.
The KSS defence had its moments against Fox, making a pair of goal line stands and forcing turnovers.
Despite some turnovers of their own and some untimely penalties, Macauley was pleased with his team’s effort.
“We showed we can play with one of the best teams in the province but also proved that we can be our own worst enemy with unnecessary penalties and turnovers,” he said.
The Owls (3-1) return to action on Saturday, Oct. 31 when they host the Centennial Centaurs.
Kick off at the CNC turf is 2 p.m.
Meanwhile, the Mt. Boucherie Bears (1-1-1) return to action Saturday when they travel to Abbotsford to take on the Mouat Hawks.
Rutland 9 Salmon Arm 8
It was a slippery and cold night as the Voodoos (2-0) emerged with the win in a defensive battle Friday at Little Mountain Park in Salmon Arm.
The Golds jumped on top early, scoring on a muffed punt, then adding a safety for an 8-0 lead.
Jonas Gering put Rutland on the board before halftime with a 25-yard field goal to make it 8-3.
The score held until the fourth quarter when Matt Klak broke free for an eight-yard touchdown run to put the Voodoos on top to stay.
Tyson Sigler snuffed out Salmon Arm’s final drive with an interception.
Jacob Kalshnikoff lead the Voodoos defence with nine tackles and a sack.
“Our defense tackled well and bent at times, but they didn’t break,” said Rutland coach Peter McCall. “Salmon’s defense was excellent, also. The had a lot of two-way players that never came off the field. Hats off to their toughness and effort.”
The Voodoos will travel to the coast this Friday to take on the Handsworth Royals.
