The 2023 regular season comes to a close.

Westshore Rebels 59
VI Raiders 0

The top ranked Westshore Rebels finished the BC Conference regular season just like how they opened it, with a shutout of the VI Raiders.

Saturday night the Rebels dominated like they have done in all three meetings against the Raiders. Their passing attack was unstoppable with quarterback Te Jessie seeing limited action completing six passes, three of them for touchdowns.  He finishes the regular season with an eye-popping 41 touchdown passes, a new CJFL single season record.  Back-up quarterback Ethan Pickard also threw a touchdown pass in the win.  

All-Star receiver Cairo Berry hauled in three of those touchdown passes and Ferrel Yakim-Kenfack caught the other. 

On the ground Gerren Hardisty, Malik Gagne-Smith and Manny Mansaray each ran for a major.   The ground game ate up 191 yards in total. 

Defensively the Rebels held the Raiders to 127 yards on the offensive side and forced three turnovers.  They also combined for five sacks.

The Rebels (10-0) complete the franchise’s first undefeated season and now prepare to host the Langley Rams (5-4) in a BC Conference semi-final set for Saturday afternoon.   The Raiders (0-10) head back to the drawing board looking at 2024.

Okanagan Sun 46
Valley Huskers 7 

The Sun clinched second place in the BC Conference and a home playoff date with an impressive win over the Valley Huskers on Saturday.  They meet again next weekend in a semi-final. 

Offensively the Sun were balanced with well over 200 yards on the ground and through the air.  Running back Aiden Wieberg rushed for two touchdowns but Elelyon Noa carried the workload with 123 yards on 12 carries and a score.  Meanwhile the aerial attack gained 296 yards with quarterback Hunter Norman throwing for 274 of those yards on 15 completions and threw touchdown passes to Noa and Ethan Marshall. 

The Sun defence didn’t give the Huskers much room to work, holding them to 131 yards and eight first downs.  They forced seven turnovers including three interceptions.

The lone Huskers points came in the second frame when Reece Wyke carried the rock into the endzone. 

They now both prepare to face each other yet again on Saturday afternoon at the Apple Bowl in Kelowna in a BC Conference semi-final.  The winner plays for the Cullen Cup.

Kamloops Broncos 41
Prince George Kodiaks 20

In the first ever “Rivers Cup Game” between the Broncos and Kodiaks, and the Broncos ran wild combining for 517 yards of total offence.

The ground game galloped for 298 yards, primarily using Cameron Grzegorczyk who rushed 34 times for 236 yards and three touchdowns.  Meanwhile in the passing attack quarterback Clark Snider completed 15 passes for 238 yards and found Colton Meikle three times for touchdowns. 

On the other side, the Kodiaks offence didn’t start rolling until the second half after getting shutout in the first two quarters.  In the second half running back Omarion Martin rushed for two touchdowns and Xander Shane rushed for another.

The Broncos and Kodiaks finish the regular season with identical 2-8 records and start to begin preparation for the 2024 season.  
 

Photo courtesy of Crazy Bees Photography

The BC Conference will wrap up the regular season on Saturday with three games, but only one still means something the standings.

Okanagan Sun @ Valley Huskers – Saturday October 14, 2:00pm – Exhibition Field | WATCH HERE

This game still holds some playoff implications when the Sun visit the Huskers in Chilliwack. 

With a win the Sun would clinch a home playoff date next weekend against the Huskers and would earn a seasonal series sweep. Conversely in order for the Huskers to claim a home playoff date, they will need to beat the Sun by more than 56 points after they fell 62-6 earlier in the season in Kelowna. 

Regardless of the outcome, the Sun and Huskers will meet in the playoffs next weekend, so it will be interesting to see if either team holds some cards to their chest.

The Sun have won four in a row coming into this game while the Huskers have won three straight, holding teams to just eight points a game over this stretch.

Head-to-Head

Records: Sun 7-1 – Huskers 7-2
Avg Points For: Sun 53.6 – Huskers 35.3
Avg Points Allowed: Sun 15.3 – Huskers 20.8

Passing Leaders: Adam Rocha – 67 of 95 for 880 yards and 10 touchdowns (Sun) – Tyran Duval – 95 of 153 for 1420 yards and 9 touchdowns (Huskers)

Rushing Leaders: Aiden Wiberg – 105 carries for 794 yards and 8 touchdowns (Sun) – Reece Wyke – 145 carries for 1077 yards and 11 touchdowns (Huskers)

Receiving Leaders: Colby Miletto – 26 receptions for 359 yards and 3 touchdowns (Sun) – Payton Lake -36 receptions for 558 yards and 4 touchdowns (Huskers)

Leading Tacklers:  Michael Jourdan – 19 tackles (Sun) – Jaiden Claassen – 40 tackles (Huskers)

Prince George Kodiaks @ Kamloops Broncos – Saturday October 14, 6:00pm – Hillside Stadium | WATCH HERE

Pride will be on the line for both the Kodiaks and Broncos on Saturday night at Hillside Stadium as both teams play their final game of the season.

This is the second time they face one another after a 25-11 Kodiaks win in Prince George on August 19th.  Coming into this weekend they have lost five in a row while the Broncos are coming off a 30-point loss at home.

Players on both teams will be trying to build momentum heading into the offseason and show the coaching staff they deserve a job for next year.

Head-to-Head

Records:  Kodiaks 2-7 – Broncos 1-8
Avg Points For: Kodiaks 11.3 – Broncos 9.2
Avg Points Allowed: Kodiaks 43.2 – Broncos 40.8 

Passing Leaders: Quinn Neukomm – 33 of 83 for 380 yards and 2 touchdowns (Kodiaks) – Clark Snider – 56 of 115 for 748 yards and 3 touchdowns (Broncos)

Rushing Leaders: Omarion Martin – 71 carries for 422 yards (Kodiaks) – Cam Gregorcyzk – 93 carries for 450 yards (Broncos)

Receiving Leaders: Kaden Wagner – 30 receptions for 282 yards and 3 touchdowns (Kodiaks) – Colton Meikle – 34 receptions for 487 yards and 4 touchdowns (Broncos)

Leading Tacklers: Nicolas Tremblay – 32 tackles (Kodiaks) – Maxim Bosc – 35 tackles (Broncos)

Westshore Rebels @ VI Raiders – Saturday October 14, 7:00pm – NDSS Field | WATCH HERE

The undefeated Rebels visit the winless Raiders in the final game of the regular season for both teams.  The Rebels know they will host a playoff game next weekend and have homefield advantage throughout the CJFL playoffs.  They will no doubt rest some of their players to ensure they are healthy heading into next weekend’s postseason.

Rebels’ quarterback Te Jessie set a new single season record for touchdown passes last week connecting on his 38th and if he plays will be looking to add to that total.  

This will be the third meeting of the season between them with the Rebels completely dominating in the first two matchups winning 69-0 and 95-14.

The Raiders are coming off their bye week and will play their final game of the year. 

Head-to-Head

Records: Rebels 9-0 – Raiders 0-9
Avg Points For: Rebels 58.2 – Raiders 14.6
Avg Points Allowed: Rebels 12.4 – Raiders 58.4 

Passing Leaders: Te Jessie - 144 of 202 for 2343 yards and 38 touchdowns (Rebels) – Ben Chomolok – 135 of 254 for 1590 yards and 10 touchdowns (Raiders)

Rushing Leaders: Gerren Hardisty – 102 carries for 991 yards and 12 touchdowns (Rebels) – Favour Analike – 83 carries for 405 yards and 2 touchdowns (Raiders)

Receiving Leaders: Kieran Poissant – 51 receptions for 811 yards and 13 touchdowns (Rebels) – Paul Romanoff – 21 receptions for 395 yards and 1 touchdown (Raiders)

Leading Tacklers:  Demar Hohnstein – 54 tackles (Rebels) – Jacub Gillman – 31 tackles (Raiders)