The BC Conference will open the CJFL Canadian Bowl Playoffs this Saturday with a pair of games. The stakes are high in BC with the winner of the Conference hosting the 2023 Canadian Bowl on November 11th.
#3 Valley Huskers @ #2 Okanagan Sun – Saturday October 21, 2:00pm – Apple Bowl | WATCH HERE
The BC Conference opens the CJFL Canadian Bowl Playoffs on Saturday afternoon when the second seeded Okanagan Sun welcome the third seeded Valley Huskers. These teams are very familiar with each other after meeting just last weekend with the Sun claiming a 46-7 victory completing the seasonal series sweep.
The Sun defence has been outstanding in the seasonal series shutting down the Huskers offensive attack. In the two games they have given up just 13 points and only one touchdown a game. The Sun secondary has been hard on the Huskers offence combining for five interceptions.
Offensively the Sun have averaged 54 points in the two meetings thus far and have used an impressive mix of running and throwing the ball. Last weekend Elelyon Noa outrushed his All-Star counter part Reece Wyke collecting 123 yards compared to Wyke’s 22.
The Huskers offence can put up points as evident in the regular season when they averaged over 32 points a game. They will need a big performance from Wyke to chew up yards in an effort to tire the Sun defence, but that starts up front. The Huskers line must have a solid game up front and open holes for Wyke, while giving time for quarterback Tyran Duval to throw and look for his playmakers.
The Sun have never lost to the Huskers in the postseason and are the favourites going into this weekend. Saturday will be a tall task for the Huskers to go into the Apple Bowl and complete the upset, but they have the players and talent able to do it and will no doubt be hungry.
Head-to-Head
Records: Huskers 7-3 – Sun 8-1
Avg Points For: Huskers 32.6 – Sun 53.4
Avg Points Allowed: Huskers 23.4 – Sun 14.4
Passing Leaders: Tyran Duval – 100 of 162 for 1458 yards and 9 touchdowns (Huskers) – Hunter Norman – 52 of 64 for 879 yards and 11 touchdowns (Sun)
Rushing Leaders: Reece Wyke – 156 carries for 1099 yards and 12 touchdowns (Huskers) – Aiden Wiberg – 114 carries for 836 yards and10 touchdowns (Sun)
Receiving Leaders: Payton Lake – 37 receptions for 575 yards and 4 touchdowns (Huskers) – Sam Melanson – 31 receptions for 426 yards and 3 touchdowns (Sun)
Leading Tacklers: Jaiden Claassen – 44 tackles (Huskers) – Michael Jourdan – 21 tackles (Sun)
#4 Langley Rams @ #1 Westshore Rebels – Saturday October 21, 4:00pm – Starlight Stadium | WATCH HERE
The top ranked Rebels begin their CJFL Canadian Bowl Playoffs on Saturday afternoon when they host the fourth seeded Langley Rams in a BC Conference semi-final.
They faced each other twice during the regular season with the Rebels winning both en route to their first ever undefeated record. Their first meeting was the smallest margin of victory for the Rebels this year when they won 28-21 in Langley. Their second meeting and most recent was different when the Rebels dominated in a 61-7 win.
Offensively the Rebels were led by quarterback Te Jessie who threw five touchdown passes in the series and threw for 581 yards. In all the offence gained 945 yards in their two meetings.
The Rams will need to play a perfect game and try to find a way defensively to slow this high-powered offence to have any chance. Oh, they also need to score against the Conference’s stingiest defence, something teams have had difficultly doing.
In the series the Rams were able to gain 540 yards, but they were not overly balanced in the first two games something they will need to change this weekend.
The last time they met in the postseason was in 2019 when the Rams won 35-12.
The winner will play for the BC Conference Cullen Cup next week.
Head-to-Head
Records: Rams 5-4 – Rebels 10-0
Avg Points For: Rams 33.5 – Rebels 58.3
Avg Points Allowed: Rams 20.7 – Rebels 11.2
Passing Leaders: Trey Jones – 125 of 209 for 1821 yards and 18 touchdowns (Rams) – Te Jessie – 150 of 212 for 2453 yards and 41 touchdowns (Rebels)
Rushing Leaders: Kairo Hassan – 107 carries for 536 yards and 5 touchdowns (Rams) – Gerren Hardisty – 108 carries for 1084 yards and 13 touchdowns (Rebels)
Receiving Leaders: Isaiah Edwards – 36 receptions for 549 yards and 6 touchdowns (Rams) – Keiran Poissant – 54 receptions for 849 yards and 13 touchdowns (Rebels)
Leading Tacklers: Evan Nolli – 33 tackles (Rams) – Demar Hohnstein – 56 tackles (Rebels)