Neither wind, snow nor the College Heights Cougars could stop the Fulton Maroons Saturday.
The Maroons went to cold, windy, snowy Prince George and beat the hometown Cougars 35-18 in one of four B.C. High School Senior Varsity AA Football wildcard contests.
Fulton will now travel to Langley to meet the Saints in a quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 16, at 9:30 a.m. at BC Place Stadium.
Quin Williamson had a terrific game at quarterback for Fulton, scoring a three-yard TD himself and later connecting with Dylan Wapple on a 38-yard touchdown pass.
Fulton rushed for 350 yards in the snow, thanks to great work from the team’s offensive line. Wapple also scored on a 25-yard run and Hayden Catt added TD runs of 25- and seven-yards.
“Happy with the effort,” said Fulton head coach Mike Scheller. “It was a cold snowy night and our kids handled it well. Williamson has a fantastic game for us. He gave our offence a spark. We have struggled this year offensively. This game we got some big chunk plays of yardage that we have not gotten all season. The big plays help to open up other plays and players and it simply makes our offence more effective. The offensive line had a great game, we had 350 yards rushing. That is a tribute to the big dudes upfront. Hayden Catt was an effective threat for us all night running and catching the ball.”
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Williamson finished with 186 yards running on 20 carries while the combo of Wapple and Catt had 15 carries for 112 yards.
The Maroons’ defence also had a stellar game, led by all-star Dayton Ingenhaag’s 14 tackles. Seiji Bott had seven and a quarterback sack while Quaid Willett also had a sack along with four other tackles.
“We kind of forced College Heights to get out of their running game and made them pass,” said Scheller. “That helped turn the game in our favour. Dayton Ingenhaag was his usual dominant self in the middle. He really sets the tone for our defence. Seiji Bott was moved from tackle to end due to injuries and I was really happy with his play. It was really a good team win for our kids.
“I would really like to thank all the parents who came up to Prince George to support our club. We had great support on a snowy, minus 10 night. Also, Fulton coaching legends Roger Scales and Cole Tucker came on the trip to aid our team. They were a big part of our win.”
The defending champion and No. 1-ranked Vernon Panthers will host North Vancouver’s Windsor Dukes Friday, Nov. 15, at 6 p.m. at Greater Vernon Athletics Park in a B.C. quarterfinal.
The Dukes traveled to Prince George as well and knocked off the North’s No. 1 team, the Nechako Valley Vikings of Vanderhoof, 20-8. Vernon earned a bye after going 4-0 to win the Interior Conference.
Elsewhere on Wild Card Saturday, the Holy Cross Crusaders of Surrey went to Nanaimo and blanked the John Barsby Bulldogs 15-0 to earn a date with the G.W. Graham Grizzlies of Chilliwack. Those teams are on Fulton’s side of the draw.
The Robert Bateman Timberwolves of Abbotsford edged the hometown South Kamloops Titans 8-7 to advance to face the Ballenas Whalers of Parksville. Ballenas and Bateman are on Vernon’s side of the draw.
JUNIOR VARSITY
The undefeated Vernon Panthers, seeded third out of the remaining eight teams, host the Windsor Dukes in a B.C. Junior Varsity football quarterfinal Wednesday. The game will take place at Greater Vernon Athletics Park starting at 3 p.m.
Winner of that game will play the winner of quarterfinal between G.W. Graham Grizzlies and Robert Bateman Timberwolves.
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