CJFL: Interconference & week 9 recap
Interconference Recap
For the first time in Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL) history, teams from the BC and Prairie conferences squared off in regular-season play.
The Rifles and Hilltops dominated
Photo courtesy of the Winnipeg Rifles
The PFC completely dominated the BCFC on Saturday in the two CJFL Interconference games, not allowing an offensive score. As a matter of fact the only scoring the BCFC could muster was a conceded safety. The BCFC is still in search of their first win over the PFC since the 2009 Canadian Bowl.
Winnipeg Rifles 35
Valley Huskers 0
In a downpour from the opening kick-off to the final buzzer the Rifles used their ground attack to near perfection gathering 380 yards and scored three touchdowns. Micheal Ritchott carried 22 times for 225 yards and scored a major while back-up quarterback Jonathan Remple scored twice.
Starter Jamie Ybarra completed just seven passes in the rain, finding Kai Madsen for a touchdown.
Meanwhile the Rifles defence created four turnovers including an interception by Stefan Conway and a fumble recovery from Nathan Dickson. Hayden Nellis tallied a pair of sacks.
The Huskers didn’t have much luck moving the football collecting 110 yards of total offence. Their pass game was slowed due to the rain, however quarterback Noah Falconer was 10 of 22 for 102 yards and threw a pick.
The Rifles (2-3) will host the Edmonton Huskies (2-3) in the lone PFC game on Saturday night. The Huskers will match-up with the Broncos (1-7) in Kamloops, also on Saturday night.
Saskatoon Hilltops 58
Okanagan Sun 2
The rematch of the Canadian Bowl didn’t live up to the hype as the Hilltops jumped out to a 14-0 within the first three minutes and never gave the Sun a chance to get back into it. Quarterback Jared Andreychuk picked apart of the defence finishing 9 of 13 for 173 yards and threw four touchdown passes and ran one in himself. Running back Logan Fischer carried 13 times for 105 yards and scored a touchdown. He also caught a 27 yard TD pass.
The Hilltops defence collected a pair of sacks and recovered three fumbles.
Not much to cheer about for the Sun as they were held to 21 net yards in the first half and 193 in the game. Rashaun Simonise made two receptions for 48 yards.
The Hilltops (5-1) will enjoy a bye week while the Sun (6-2) will travel to Vancouver Island to face the Raiders (3-4-1) on Saturday afternoon.
Week 9 recap
The Rams, Colts, Huskies win, plus the CJFL’s first tie
Photo courtesy of Adrian Broomfield
Westshore Rebels 25
VI Raiders 25
It was part 2 of the Island Rivalry this year with nothing really settled as these two clubs played to a tie. The Rebels scored eight points in the final quarter and shutout the Raiders to preserve the tie.
Rebels’ quarterback Ashton MacKinnon was solid throwing for 178 yards and threw a pair of touchdown passes to Nathaniel Pinto who had a game high 161 yards. MacKinnon also rushed 69 yards and had a major.
Defensively the Rebels had three sacks and Nate Skeete recovered a fumble.
The Raiders were sound on defensive creating two fumble recoveries and Jeremie Cheng intercepted a pair of passes. Mason Kelley had a career day with seven tackles and two sacks.
Raiders’ quarterback Jacob Laberge completed 27 of 45 for 328 yards, finding Brycen Mayoh eight times for 117 yards. He also rushed for a touchdown.
The Rebels (6-1-1) will visit the Langley Rams (6-2) in a very important match-up on Saturday night while the Raiders (3-4-1) will welcome the Okanagan Sun (6-2).
Langley Rams 34
Kamloops Broncos 10
The Rams went on the road and collected 445 yards of total offence in their sixth win of the season. Quarterback Tommy Robertson was 18 of 27 for 242 yards and threw three touchdowns to three different receivers including a 69 yard bomb to Nick Agnoletto. Running back Tyler Ogloff rushed 13 times for 122 yards.
The highlight of the night was when Rams’ defensive back Jordan Lund returned a missed field goal 111 yards for a touchdown.
The Broncos only score was a first quarter touchdown from Colby Henkel to Brody Bernier.
The Rams (6-2) will host the Westshore Rebels (6-1-1) on Saturday night while the Broncos (1-7) will welcome in the Valley Huskers (0-8).
Calgary Colts 15
Regina Thunder 12
The defences were outstanding in the first meaningful game in Medicine Hat since 1979 as the Colts remain undefeated. Their “D” held the potent Thunder running attack to just 13 yards and only two points through the first three quarters.
Offensively the Colts lone touchdown was a completion to Dylan Schrot from quarterback Bailey Wasdal who finished throwing for 288 yards.
The Thunder defence was just as strong, holding the Colts to 71 yards on the ground. Their offence didn’t get going until late in the fourth quarter, scoring their only touchdown with under three minutes to play. Sawyer Buettner found Paul Levi for the major. Buettner finished with 404 yards on 26 completions.
The top ranked Colts (5-0) will host the Edmonton Wildcats (0-5) in the lone Sunday game at 1:00pm while the Thunder (3-3) enter their bye week.
Edmonton Huskies 47
Edmonton Wildcats 20
The Huskies scored 28 points in the first half and held the Wildcats to seven on route to the victory and a seasonal series sweep.
“Ground and pound” was the motto for the Huskies recording 369 yards on the ground led by Jimmie Airey who rushed 23 times for 162 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Brad Launardt carried 15 times for 117 yards and a score. Through the air he finished with 14 completions for 229 yards and threw a pair to TD passes to Tanner Buchanon and Aaron Abrahamson.
The defence also got in on the scoring when Darian Nitti picked up a fumble and returned it 32 yards for a major. Jassen Brown made nine solo tackles.
The Wildcats tallied 230 yards through the air on 17 completions. Quarterback Colton Hippe found Luther Hakunavanhu for a touchdown and ran for two scores as well.
Linebacker Jeremy Fagnan was outstanding collecting 10 solo tackles.
This coming weekend the Huskies (2-3) visit the Winnipeg Rifles (2-3) in an important match-up on Saturday night while the Wildcats (0-5) visit the Calgary Colts (5-0) on Sunday.
Check your NCCP Certification