Everything Brett Lemiski touched turned into points Saturday as the VSS Panthers grounded the host Kalamalka Lakers 27-6 in Southern Interior High School Football League action.
Lemiski returned a punt 70 yards for the Panthers’ first touchdown in the opening quarter, tying the game at 6-6.
Lemiski then hauled in TD receptions of 60 and 70 yards, while Colten Klein completed the VSS offence on a 23-yard run in the fourth quarter. Isaiah Hennessey booted three converts.
Perry Klymchuk connected with Lemiski on his second-quarter score, while Klein found Lemiski on the fourth-quarter 70-yard TD.
“Lemiski was definitely our spark on offence,” said VSS head coach Sean Smith. “He got behind their defence twice for big receptions and ran back a punt when we were struggling to move the ball.”
Klein also enjoyed a monster game, racking up 55 yards on 12 touches while recording seven tackles on defence. Ryan Messer carried the ball a dozen times for 44 yards.
Thomas Mills pocketed eight tackles and one interception, while Josh Froom earned five tackles and Noah Miller had four tackles and one fumble recovery.
Colten Gaudet collected four tackles and one sack, while Lemiski had four tackles and Cody Bell registered three tackles and one fumble recovery. Keaton Hubner made three tackles.
“Our defence was stout up the middle all game,” said Smith. “Other than a gadget play, we were in position to make tackles and were prepared for what they threw at us. Our D-line (Gaudet, Froom, Hennessey, Miller, Messer) played an outstanding game which allowed our linebackers to be clean.”
The Panthers were down to third-string quarterback Jon Garvie (Grade 9) and stayed focussed.
“These boys continue to amaze me with their toughness and ability to overcome adversity,” said Smith. “Kal is a very strong, well-coached team but we managed to make a few big plays to come away with the win. Our O-line gets lots of credit for moving the ball in the second half and eating up the clock.”
In other Saturday league play, the Fulton Maroons rallied to stop the South Kamloops Titans 22-12 at Grahame Park.
The Titans led 12-7 at the half and three-quarter time as Blaine Boomer hooked up with Jacob Adams and Spencer Hamer-Jackson for touchdown receptions.
“We did not have our first lead until the last six minutes of the game,” said Fulton head coach Mike Scheller. “Our kids kept grinding them, and we persevered for the victory. We also did a great job of limiting our mistakes. We only turned the ball over on downs once, and had three penalties.”
Mike Ochoa supplied a pair of TDs for Fulton, one on a five-yard pass from Kyle Richardson and another on a three-yard rush.
Richardson scored on a 30-yard ramble and also ran in a pair of two-point converts. Kacey Smart caught a pass from Richardson for a two-pointer.
Ochoa ran 15 times for 63 yards, while Lucas Hofer had 15 touches for 79 yards and Matt Parlee provided 34 yards on seven attempts.
Richardson completed six of 12 passes for 76 yards. Broden Romanovitch hauled in two passes for 41 yards, while Clayton Mottus had two catches for 20 yards.
Hofer led Fulton with seven tackles, while Mark Wagner had four tackles and Matt Eso three. Cody Lutes and Wagner each had one fumble recovery, while Sean Greene recorded one sack.
The 3-1 Maroons, who gave up a couple of deep passes early before changing their coverage, stuffed the Titans’ running game.
“Lucas Hofer was a standout at linebacker for us,” said Scheller. “He was all over the field, making plays. He was also great for us on offence, stepping up for injured tailback Matt Parlee. Mark Wagner was disruptive for us inside, and he forced South Kam to double-team him.
“Cody Lutes was solid at defensive end for us, playing his best game at that position this year.”
Richardson was stellar as he scrambled to hit Ochoa on the TD pass, while the O-line with Tyler Annesley, Lutes, Tanner Bishop, Clay Coles and Roman Le opened up some big holes for the backs in the second half.
Fulton meets the Okanagan Mission Huskies Friday night at the Apple Bowl.
