The VSS Panthers ambushed the Westsyde Blue Wave of Kamloops 52-26 in Southern Interior High School Junior Varsity Football League action Wednesday at Grahame Park.
Zac Kronbauer supplied four touchdowns for the Cats, while Jon Garvie tossed a pair of touchdown passes. Travis Froom had two scores and Andy Hladik added one.
VSS scored early and often with Kronbauer scoring on a 20-yard pitch. Then, after a Hladik interception, Kronbauer turned around and punched in a TD on a three-yard dive.
Brandon Richter earned the convert before suffering a knee injury to make it 16-0. Kronbauer scored early in the second quarter on a pitch led by pulling guard Ben Alder.
Westsyde responded quickly, and after holding the Panthers, scored again to pull with 10 points. VSS went back to work and marched the field behind their offensive line of Alder, Tyler Wiebe, Dylan Cleland, Braydon Lodder and Tylar Onjukka, with Kronbauer plunging three yards for a TD.
Wiebe recovered a fumble just before the half at the Panthers’ 40. Garvie then tossed a laser to a streaking Froom for a 60-yard touchdown. Kronbauer ran in the two-point convert.
The Blue Wave took the opening third-quarter possession in for a TD and stopped the Panthers’ offence before another Wiebe fumble recovery at midfield. Offensive coach Tim Thorpe opened up the playbook and watched as Froom ran in a 50-yard reverse to finish off the third quarter.
Kronbauer rattled off a pair of touchdowns early in the fourth quarter off a Garvie swing pass and a 20-yard scamper up the middle.
“We were very good on offence today, executing our blocks well,” said VSS head coach Dave Tetrault. “Defensively, we have some work to do. We missed some assignments and, as defensive co-ordinator, I have to put kids in positions to be successful.
“That will be our focus as we prepare to travel to Kamloops next Tuesday to play Valleyview (Vikings). I want to recognize two rookies who played well today. Zac Hyer and Brandon Melbourne made big plays on defence and special teams. I love both these kids’ attitude; they’re positive and not afraid of hard work. That’s what a coach loves.”
The Fulton Maroons brushed back Valleyview 6-0 in junior varsity action Wednesday in Kamloops.
Davron Polok scored on a 49-yard run for the 2-2 Maroons. Quarterback Tye Kitzman completed five of 10 passes for 70 yards while carrying the ball 10 times for 51 yards.
Polok had seven touches for 80 yards, while Max Chapman earned 18 yards on 10 attempts.
Caleb McCuaig caught two passes for 24 yards, Chapman hauled in one 24-yarder and Liam Curran had a 17-yard reception.
Polok paced Fulton with 10 tackles, while Trevor Feeney supplied six and Chapman five.
Chapman, Layne Greene, who returned from injury reserve, and Brandon Issac each had one fumble recovery.
“It was a hard-fought, entertaining football game that went back and forth in tough weather conditions,” said Fulton coach Mike Scheller. “Valleyview has a big physical squad, and our kids went at it with them. Lots of big hits, tough blocks and it was as even as the score indicates.”
Valleyview fumbled five times before the Maroons recovered one.
“I thought our secondary of Ben Aspenlieder, Brandon Issac and Liam Curran played great today. They tackled well, and broke up a few passes. They were solid back there. Curran also played well on offence, and had his best game as a Maroon. Polok was his usual exceptional self at defensive end, making play after play for us. Linebackers Chapman and Feeney were also key in halting their attack. Defensive tackle Darrien Broomfield was also tough inside.
