loading...
The Vancouver Island Raiders are headed back to the Canadian Bowl for the fourth consecutive season.
Saturday afternoon the Raiders showed why they set a new CJFL record for points scored in a single season after beating the South Surrey Rams 50-14 to retain the Cullen Cup.
The Raiders took over after a very competitive first quarter and never looked back. Quarterback Jordan Yantz finished the game seven of 16 for 163 yards and two touchdowns. Jared Ralko caught three passes for 104 yards, a touchdown and was named Offensive Player of the Game.
Robin Medeiros was a special teams killer for the Raiders as he continued to give the offense excellent field position. Medeiros would also return a kick for a touchdown. “It always starts with the blocking, I get put back there because they see something, but there is only so much I can do, I’m one guy and it’s a team game, there’s 12 of us on the field,” said the Ontario native. For his efforts Medeiros was named Special Teams Player of the Game.
The defense of the Raiders completely shut down Cam Clark and the Rams offense, not allowing a single point in the second half. Clark finished seven of 18 for 120 yards and a touchdown. Raider defensive back Walker Morrison was named Defensive Player of the Game.
The Raiders will host the Canadian Bowl on Nov. 14 at Caledonia Park at 1 p.m. “I’m really proud of our coaching staff, our training staff and all the players, for us to win the BCFC, go undefeated through the whole year is quite the accomplishment for all these guys,” said head coach Matt Blokker, who received his Coach of the Year award at half time.
“They had a lot of pressure on them at the beginning of the year, and they decided to go undefeated and win the BCFC, you know everyone talks about that at the beginning of the season, but to go out and do it, is quite a feat.”
The Raiders had defeated the Okanagan Sun 25-16 last weekend in the semi-finals to earn a spot in the final game with home field advantage.
The Raiders will now wait for their Canadian Bowl opponent as the Ottawa Sooners, winners of the Ontario Football Conference will host the Edmonton Wildcats, winners of the Prairie Football Conference Sunday afternoon.
sports@kelowna.com
250-575-3981
2 Responses to “Vancouver Island Raiders repeat as BCFC champs”
Tags: BCFC, Raiders champions
loading...
Congratulations RAIDERS. It is so wonderful to have a team of Men in our town to be proud of. And the same goes for all the coaches. I’m sure you’ll go all the way.
loading...
Raider’s Andrew Harris Tucks Buono Away for the Long Haul
Vancouver, BC – 4th November 2009: All Star running back Andrew Harris of the Canadian Junior Football League’s Vancouver Island Raiders has been named as the 2009 Wally Buono Award winner. Harris becomes the seventh junior football player in as many years to win the nationally coveted Wally Buono Award. “Andrew was an outstanding player who represented his team off and on the field. He did whatever was asked of him, whether he was the star running back or a special teams soldier he always did what was best for the team. I got the pleasure of knowing Andrew when he attended our training camp and I was impressed with his commitment and composure for such a young man,” stated BC Lion’s Head Coach Wally Buono.
“There was no question in my mind that Andrew was worthy of the award. Not only were his ‘stats’ outstanding but after getting to know him as a part of the BC Lions, he is a young man with a desire to be the best both on and off the field. He demonstrates leadership, selflessness and the willingness to give back to the community, all qualities of what the WBA represents. He should be very proud of his accomplishments but I think they are only the beginning. He definitely has a bright future ahead of him” added WBA Director, Christie Buono.
Vancouver Island Raider’s Coach of the Year, Matt Blokker added; “Andrew Harris is competitive and he is a leader. Leaders like Andrew hold themselves accountable at all times and that is what makes them great. Andrew Harris is simply the best football player I have ever coached.”
During the 2009 season, Andrew Harris gained 1,476 yards on 102 carries for an average of 14.5 yards a carry for the Vancouver Island Raiders as he accumulated 24 touchdowns. The Raiders are currently undefeated as they head into the Canadian Bowl which will be held in Nanaimo at Caledonia Fields on Saturday, November 14th. Kick-off for the game is set for 1:00 PM. Harris will be in the hunt for more CJFL records as he is currently the record holder for the most touchdowns in a career. He is chasing former CJFL running back and WBA 2007 winner, Tristan Jones, in several other categories.
Born in 1987, Harris stands 5’11” and weighs in at 195 lbs. He is currently a member of the BC Lions Practice Roster as a non-import running back as well as a member of the Vancouver Island Raiders. The WBA Award presentation will be made on November 6th at the BC Lion’s home game. Edmonton Eskimo special teams and backup fullback Chris Ciezki, who is the 2004 WBA winner, will be on the field Friday evening as well.
About the Wally Buono Award:
The Wally Buono Award was established in 2003 and is funded annually by The Saint Bernard Pass Charitable Foundation for the purpose of recognizing Canada’s top junior football player. The award is a national award as it is the only award that recognizes all junior football players throughout Canada. Recipients must prove their athletic and leadership ability on the field as well as a high level of leadership within their community. Previous recipients have included 2003 winner, Al Giacalone, who is a former running back for Canada’s St. Mary’s University and a former Calgary Colt. In 2004, Chris Ciezki, running back for the University of British Columbia and the Edmonton Huskies, was awarded the Wally Buono Award. Jeff Halvorson of the Okanagan Sun Junior Football Club was the third winner of the Wally Buono Award in 2005. Known as the fastest man in junior football, Jeff died suddenly on the practice field on the first of September 2004, just before the end of a practice session. Halvorson was well on his way to breaking several Canadian national junior football rushing records. 2006 saw University of Manitoba pivot and former Winnipeg Rifle, Nate Friesen, take the award. Edmonton Wildcat record holder, Tristan Jones was honored as the 2007 Wally Buono Award winner as the finest junior football player in all of Canada. Cassidy Doneff followed Jones as the WBA winner in 2008.
Please continue discussion on the forum: link