Just two weeks into the B.C. high school senior football season, and there has already been big changes to the top of the standings.
The top ranked team in AA, the Vernon Secondary Panthers, suffered their first loss over the Sept. 14 weekend, losing to Kelowna's Rutland Thunder, 24-21, in exhibition play at the Kelowna Apple Bowl.
The Thunder, ranked third in AAA, eviscerated the Nechako Valley Vikings of Vanderhoof, 32-0, in Week 1.
Unranked in AA, the Clarence Fulton Maroons made a statement with a dismantling of Prince George's Shas Ti Kelly Road Grizzlies, 41-6, to move to 2-0 in the pre-season.
"I was super happy with how our defence played," said Maroons head coach Mike Scheller. "We put their offence under a lot of pressure with three sacks, three picks and three fumbles which put our offence in great field position."
Running back Caden O'Dwyer rumbled in for two touchdowns, while quarterback Gabe Adam tossed two through the air, as he went 11-16 for 137 yards.
"I thought Adam had a great game," Scheller explained. "He moved well in the pocket and read the defence well."
Next up for the Maroons is a matchup against the fifth-ranked Westsyde Blue Wave out of Kamloops as the AA/AAA Interior Conference regular season begins. Game time is 7 p.m. from the Greater Vernon Athletic Park on Friday, Sept. 20, the back end of a Friday Night Lights doubleheader.
The Panthers open the regular season against Armstrong's Pleasant Valley Hawks Friday at 4 p.m. The Hawks did not play a pre-season contest.
In the junior varsity division, the VSS Panthers have a new-old rival joining the fray.
Seaton/Kalamalka has made a triumphant return after nearly a 10-year hiatus.
The Sonics (the team name for now, confirmed Seaton athletic director Melaina Ovington) have combined with players from Kalamalka Secondary to join the reigning provincial junior varsity champion Panthers as a league and city rival for 2024. Seaton/Kal went 1-1 in the pre-season, losing 8-7 to the Westsyde Blue Wave before thumping the Salmon Arm Golds 34-6.
“We put a joint team application with Kalamalka Secondary for junior varsity,” said Seaton athletic director Melaina Ovington. “So, the team will consist of Grade 8, 9, 10 students from Kal and Seaton together.”
VSS was 2-0 in the exhibition slate, winning a
Like the Panthers, the Seaton-Kal combo will play home games at Greater Vernon Athletic Park. The two rivals will play their only regular season meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 23, at GVAP.
The last time Kalamalka had a football program was 2011, at the senior varsity level.
VSS opens the regular season Wednesday, Sept. 18, with a contact against the Rutland Thunder at 3:30 p.m. at GVAP.
Seaton/Kal opens the regular season at home Thursday, Sept. 19, at 4 p.m. at GVAP against the Okanagan Mission Huskies of Kelowna.
