After a couple of hard fought battles with Eastern Conference opponents in exhibition play, the Vernon Panthers returned to face their first Interior Junior Varsity Football League foe in Week 3. And what a return it was.
The Cats rattled off five touchdowns on five straight possessions to take a 36-0 lead in the second quarter and held on for a 36-6 win over the Rutland Voodoos.
All-purpose back Caden Danbrook scored three TDs, including an opening 70-yard reception. He added two rushing scores from 18 and 16 yards to finish with 112 TDs receiving, 79 yards rushing and an interception.
Jonathan Bielski joined the scoring parade, taking a pass from QB Zack Smith to the end zone from 13 yards. It was Bielski’s first career touchdown. He later registered a two-point convert on his TD when Smith hit him on a botched snap. Smith was an efficient 10-of 13 for 180 yards with three TD passes.
Ethan Mitchell finished the scoring barrage for the Cats on a beautiful 35-yard jumping catch in tight coverage at the goal line and also led the team with a game-high four tackles.
“We had a great offensive performance in the first half,” said Panther head coach Sean Smith. “We were missing two starting receivers from last week and had Danbrook out of position again so it was nice to see that we could adjust and keep moving the ball. For the second straight week, I thought our O line improved. We have four out of five linemen that are new to the position and they are becoming a strength on our team. The second half was a great chance to see what our new players could do and they got lots of reps,”
Isaiah Ondrik and Brady Szeman each rang up three tackles, while Liam Reid was 4-for-4 on extra points and averaged 39 yards on two punts.
Due to the high school mercy rule, when a team is up by 28 or more points ,the clock doesn’t stop which made the second half go by quickly. The Voodoos got on the board on a blown coverage assignment. The Junior Panthers put their 3-0 record on the line next Wednesday when they take on the Westsyde Blue Wave (Kamloops) at 4 p.m. on Panther Field.
The senior Panthers host the Hugh Boyd Trojans of Richmond Friday, 3 p.m., at the Greater Vernon Athletics Park.
The South Kamloops Titans grounded the visiting Fulton Maroons 32-6 in Interior Junior Varsity Football League play Tuesday.
Ethan Schiman hauled in a seven-yard touchdown pass from Quin Williamson for Fulton’s score. Williamson completed five of 11 passes with one interception.
Seth Pallister had 14 touches for 68 yards rushing, while Schiman recorded 31 yards on seven carries while catching five balls for 43 yards.
Schiman was also a force on defence with seven tackles, one fumble recovery and one sack. Liam Gombrich rang up five tackles, while Van Kozak earned four tackles and one sack It was 16-6 Titans at the break.
“We had a good first half vs the Titans,” said Fulton head coach Mike Scheller. “We have a small and inexperienced group and they played hard. We had a couple of key injuries in the second half and do not have the depth we would like. Schiman was excellent on both sides of the ball. He made key tackles, receptions and blocks for us. He was a stud. Williamson was also very good. For a first-time QB, he shows a ton of poise. He had some drops by receivers and was very tough on defence. Liam Gombrich continues to really impress us on both sides of the line. He blocks hard and is a force at defensive end. He is playing great.”
Meanwhile, the Senior Varsity Maroons stopped the Omak Pioneers for the first time in school history Friday night in Washington State. Caden Doyle supplied three TDs as Fulton won 19-14.
“This was a huge win for our kids and our program,” said Scheller. “We have a great relationship with the Omak Pioneers and they are a class act. They always do an excellent job of hosting and welcoming us every year. We have played them 14 times since 2000, and this was our fist victory down there. Our kids played their guts out and we fought hard for the win.”
Doyle caught TD passes of 34 and 22 yards from Ike Olson and ran back a 65-yard punt return for another score.
Olson completed seven of 12 aerials for 128 yards with three picks.
Doyle compiled 87 rushing yards on six carries, while Koalden Gudeit-Oakden totalled 53 yards on 16 touches and Olson ran the ball 13 times for 52 yards. Doyle had four catches for 106 yards.
Nate Banga pocketed 10 tackles and one pick, while Olson produced eight tackles and two sacks and Gudeit-Oakden made eight tackles.
Grade 10 linebackers Ethan Schiman and Quin Williamson and offensive lineman JJ Heaton drew special props from Scheller.
Fulton takes on the Rutland Voodoos Friday, 2 p.m. at Grahame Park.
Meanwhile, the Vernon Magnums fell 52-46 to West Kelowna Wildcats in Atom football play.
Boston Ciccion and Dominic Zaino led the Magnums with six tackles each.
Bennett Nicholason racked up 235 yards on only 10 rush attempts for three second-half touchdowns. Max Power had a 30-yard scamper along with four tackles.
“The Magnums didn’t come flying out to start the game but regardless they played ’till the final whistle and never quit,” said Vernon coach Tyler Swanson. “I couldn’t be prouder for them; they are a team that will only get better stronger and smarter.”
