Road to the Canadian Bowl: PFC, BCFC semi-final summaries
Source: Ryan Watters, CJFL Communications (@ryan2tswatters)
Photo credit: CJFL
BCFC Semi-Final Summary
The Sun and Raiders will meet for the Cullen Cup
The VI Raiders will play in the BCFC title game following a thrilling 28-27 victory over the Langley Rams on Saturday afternoon.
The two teams scored 10 points in the final 10 minutes and the Raiders defence forced a turnover in the final 14 seconds to secure the win.
Raiders quarterback Liam O’Brien finished 13 of 22 for 279 yards and threw three touchdowns in the win, including a 56 yard catch and run to Dustin Rodriguez for the eventual game winning score with under nine minutes to play. In all Rodriguez caught a game high six passes for 133 yards and a pair of TD strikes. Arthur Fabbro caught five balls for 116 yards and a score.
O’Brien also scored a rushing touchdown on eight carries.
The Raiders defence intercepted Rams quarterback Bobby Pospischil three times including with 14 seconds to play. Adam McDonald, Travis Novak and BCFC Rookie of the Year Cole Virtanen picked off passes. Kaelen Botel had the lone sack and Virtnen led the club with six tackles.
The Raiders head back to the Cullen Cup championship game for the ninth time and first time since 2013.
The season comes to a close for the defending BCFC champion Langley Rams.
Bobby Pospischil started his first game at quarterback and finished 8 of 16 for 110 yards, threw a touchdown strike to Seye Akinsanmi, but also three interceptions. He carried the ball a game high 19 times for 133 yards and scored two majors.
Khalik Johnson hauled in three passes for 53 yards, while Eldridge Sellers caught two balls for 26 yards.
Kicker Brian Hope was a perfect 2-2 in field goals.
Defensively the Rams allowed just 61 yards on the ground, but gave up too many big plays through the air. However they did record five sacks as Brock Gowanlock had a pair, while Shalheem Charles-Brown and Adam Marchetti each had a sack and a half. All-Star linebacker Brendan Desjardine had the lone interception.
In all the Rams outgained the Raiders 322-309 and outgained them on the ground with 245 yards, but it wasn’t enough. This will be the first Cullen Cup game the Rams haven’t appeared in since 2010 when the Sun hosted the Raiders.
The 2015 Cullen Cup will be held next weekend, with the winner heading to the PFC champion to complete in the Canadian Bowl and try to end a BCFC drought of five years without a National title.
SUN 75 – BRONCOS 7
The Okanagan Sun blasted the Kamloops Broncos on Sunday afternoon 75-7 punching their ticket to the 2015 Cullen Cup next weekend.
It was one of the most dominated semi-final games in BCFC history as the Sun offence collected 605 total yards while the defence allowed 128 yards of Broncos offence.
The Sun passing attack was the best of the season as quarterback Cam Bedore played three quarters finishing 16 of 25 for 328 yards and threw four touchdown passes. Back-up Josiah Joseph was 7 of 7 for 122 yards and threw a pair of TD strikes. BCFC All-Star Kyle Kawamoto caught seven passes for a game high 198 yards and three touchdowns including a 87 yarder. Kyle Patchell hauled in a game high 11 passes for 176 yards and three majors.
Bedore and Joseph also scored touchdowns on the ground and Abdi-Nasir Abdi had a 1-yard touchdown plunge.
Defensively the Sun tallied five sacks; Lucas Machado had two while Jonas Gering, Ryley Butler and Cory McCoy had the others. Cord Deline made two interceptions, returning one 86 yards for pick six. Wes Geisler also had an interception and Keagan Hughes and Layne Hull each had six tackles.
The Sun will host the VI Raiders in the Cullen Cup title game on Sunday at 1:00pm at the Apple Bowl.
The tone of the day was set on the first play from scrimmage for the Kamloops Broncos as the BCFC Outstanding Offensive Back Jacob Palmarin suffered a game ending injury.
All-Star quarterback Stephen Schuweiler completed 10 of 24 for 86 yards and threw three interceptions with pressure in his face all afternoon. The BCFC’s Offensive Player of the Year Derek Yachison caught three passes for 29 yards.
The lone Broncos score came from Jordan Angove’s 103 yard kick-off return for a touchdown. The return set a new BCFC playoff record.
On the defensive side the Broncos were on the field often. Chris Rosa led the club with six tackles and Kieran Muir had five tackles and a fumble recovery.
It was a great year offensively for the Broncos, who will look to fill the missing pieces in the offseason.
PFC Semi-Final Summary
Colts and Hilltops back in the PFC final
As they say, what’s old is new again as the Saskatoon Hilltops will host the Calgary Colts in the 2015 PFC Final next weekend for the second consecutive season.
HILLTOPS 49 – RIFLES 21
Sunday afternoon the Hilltops won the first PFC semi-final 49-21 on the strength of 502 yards of total offence, a very balanced attack and a 21 point third quarter.
Hilltops quarterback Jared Andreychuk finished 15 of 21 for 276 yards and threw three touchdown strikes. Evan Kopchynski made two receptions, both for touchdowns while Evan Turkington hauled in the other. Andreychuk also scored a major with his legs.
Speaking of the ground game Andreychuk’s touchdown was just one of the four scored. Logan Fischer carried a game high 19 times for 130 yards and two touchdowns, while Des Vessey scored the other ground major.
Defensively the Toppers allowed 14 points in the first half and only seven in the second half. James Vause led the club with six tackles and two interceptions. Cameron Schnitzler also had five tackles, while Tom Schnitzler had the lone sack and Matt Kozun blocked a kick.
The Hilltops are back in the PFC title game and will host it for the eighth straight year. They will welcome the Colts on Sunday at 12 noon.
The Winnipeg Rifles season comes to a close despite outgaining the Hilltops with 586 yards of total offence.
Quarterback Jamie Ybarra Jr. kept the game close in the first half and finished 24 of 41 for 350 yards and three touchdowns, but threw a pair of interceptions as well. His top target was Alexander Tachinski who caught a game high seven passes for 107 yards and a score. Julian Banares and Brendan Naujoks also caught touchdown passes.
On the ground, Michael Ritchott led the club with 18 carries for 119 yards and Odun Ogidan carried 10 times for 86 yards.
The Rifles defence gave up 21 points in the third quarter and never really recovered. Chris Brown-Fillion led the team with five tackles and Stefan Conway picked off a pass.
It’s the second consecutive year the Rifles season ends in Saskatoon.
COLTS 17 – THUNDER 3
In a much lower scoring affair, the Calgary Colts upset the Regina Thunder for the second straight year with a 17-3 victory, as the PFC’s top scoring offence didn’t score a touchdown.
The Colts defence was terrific forcing nine turnovers. Including five interceptions and four turnover on downs. Defensive back Owen Redlick intercepted two passes, Alex Ogbongbemiga, Cole Meyer and Dalton Winkworth each had one. Seven different Colt defenders had multi-tackle games. Ryland Couture and Akida Lewis each had a sack and Ryan McNeily and Christopher Peet-Schwarz shared one.
The Colts primarily used the ground game, collecting 161 yards, compared to just 98 through the air. Dylan Minshull carried a game high23 times for 128 yards and a score.
Quarterback John Kiesman finished 10 of 17 for 98 yards and a touchdown pass to Kyle Brick who made a team high four receptions.
Kicker Kyle Byrne connected on a 16 yard field goal.
For the second straight year the Colts are off to the PFC final, when they face the Hilltops on Sunday at 12 noon.
The Regina Thunder season comes to a close after not scoring a touchdown. During the regular season the Thunder scored a Conference high 340 yards, but could muster only three points on Sunday on a single and a safety.
Quarterback Jaeden Marwick was forced to leave the game after a blow to the head and finished 4 of 10 for 55 yards and threw two interceptions. Back-up Sawyer Buettner finished game 16 of 34 for 187 yards, but threw three interceptions. Levi Paul caught a game high seven passes for 78 yards and Preston Bews collected five passes for 80 yards.
The PFC’s rushing champ Colton Klassen carried 19 times for 75 yards, averaging just three yards a carry.
Linebacker Paul Toth intercepted a pass, had two tackles and seven assists to lead the Thunder. Dustin Erbach had a good game in the loss, with the lone sack, a tackle, four assists and forced a fumble.
For the second straight season the Thunder will be watching the PFC final, rather than playing in it.
