Week 9

AA Varsity Week Nine

Week Eight Wrap

 

The playoffs became much more clear with Duchess Park, South-Delta and John Barsby sewing up their conference number one seed to the playoffs and both Vernon and Mission taking a big step in that direction.  If this week's scores proved anything, there is a lot of parity developing in AA ball this year.  Kudos to Hugh Boyd and Rick Hansen on their impressive outings against traditional powers South Delta and Mission.  Notice has certainly been served that top rail in the East and South will be contested in seasons to come.  Robert Bateman, Holy Cross, Ballenas and Pitt with their week 8 wins also are making the playoff seeding much more complicated and down to the wire as they are all playing great ball headed into a week nine that will set the table for the playoff feast to come.  Great weekend of ball for sure!

Scores

THURSDAY

 

College Heights vs Correllieu????

 

FRIDAY

 

South Delta 27 Hugh Boyd 20
John Barsby 21 Carson Graham 0
Pitt Meadows 36 G.W. Graham 0
Vernon 36 Valleyview 6
Clarence Fulton 44 Westsyde 22
Kelly Road 14 Nechako Valley 13
Ballenas 48 Argyle 13
Windsor 34 Sentinel 7
Robert Bateman 54 Langley 0
Holy Cross 50 Spectrum 6
Abbotsford 14 Samuel Robertson 7
Duchess Park 49 Prince George 0

 

SATURDAY

 

Mission 24 Rick Hansen 21

The Plus-Minus

 

+ Mission's come from behind win vs Hansen. 

+Hugh Boyd's solid outing vs #1 ranked S. Delta.

+Bateman and Pitt...Solid Wins Guys.  Headed the right direction for playoffs!
+Howard's Bulletin Board Material..Barsby loved it.

-Seaquam not having their gear on other side of the Ferry trip!

-North Score not reported again...page one of getting taken seriously (Duchess Park excepted), meet your obligations.

 

 

Gridiron's Top Five

1. South Delta Sundevils

2. John Barsby Bulldogs

3. Mission Roadrunners

4. Carson Graham Eagles

5. Rick Hansen Hurricanes

AA Varsity Game Of The Week

 

 

 

                                                                              VS

 

 

Gridiron's Picks

 

Friday

Nanaimo District @ John Barsby:   A well rested Islander crew faces the division leading Bulldogs Friday afternoon at Merle Logan Field.  This game has been named the Ray Kocher Classic in honour of the man who was principal at both schools when their respective football programs were formed.  The game is always hard fought and this year promises to be no different.  The Islander Sr.'s will be playing their last game of HS football and the Dawgs are looking to springboard into the playoffs healthy and with a lot of momentum.  Both teams can run and pass the ball well.  Barsby has much more depth however and ought to outlast their foes. GI's Pick: Barsby by 20

Windsor @ Argyle: Argyle is playing its best football of the year right now which is good to see after a trying varsity season.  Windsor's offense however is like a fine surgical instrument and it carves up folks with the slightest part of their defensive game out of place.  There will be a lot of slicing and dicing on Friday as the Dukes take their last step towards the post season.  The Argyle g. 12os are to be commended however as this is the first group of players to to have strapped on football gear at the program's inception.  Congratulations fellas as you have established a football legacy and tradition at your school that many, many young people will benefit from their whole lives to follow.  It is more than just the W's at the start.  Mad Respect To You All!  GI's Pick: Windsor by 30

Mission @ Robert Bateman: If Mission wins this game, they are 1st in the East.  If Bateman wins by 14 pts or more, they are first in the East or so me thinks.  Basically, Hansen beat Bateman in Sept. by 16 pts.  Mission beat Hansen by 3.  In the event of a three way tie, I think it goes head to head competition and then points spread up to 18.  Well, the math gives me a headache in the event of a three way tie.  Mission squeaked a close one out last week and now plays a red hot group out of Abbottsford in the Timberwolves.  Bateman's running back will be singled out all day so they better have some balance in their offensive attack come Friday.  Mission has to be healthy going into this one as they are not super deep.  Bateman has never come close at varsity to winning this game.  Same coaches, different year.  GI's Pick: Mission by 12

Mt. Baker @ Valleyview: Valleyview got clobbered last week.  Now they get one more shot to do their thing this season vs the Wild.  The Viking offense ought to go wild on Friday. GI's Pick: Valleyview by 30

Westsyde @ Salmon Arm: Pride game both ways and the last game of HS football for a dedicated group of g. 12's.  Whatever the score may be, treasure thes couple of hours on the field fellas.  GI's Pick: Salmon Arm by 16

Pitt Meadows @ Langley: This game is for the 4th and final playoff seed coming out of the East and features Langley's gunslinger against a much more rounded Pitt Offense.  Looking at their respective scores I'd have to say that Pitt is on a more advanced trajectory heading into this tilt. GI's Pick:

Pitt by 16

 

GW Graham @ Samuel Roberts Technical: Last game for the 12's in both programs.  Look for Graham to light it up via the air come Friday night against their defensive foes.  Much to build on for both programs and better days ahead at Varsity.  Treasure these final practices and game experiences fellas! GI's Pick: Grizzlies by 18

Saturday

Vernon @ Clarence Fulton: Well, this is for first place in the Interior and it is a cross-town rivarlry to boot!  The atmosphere and lead-up to this game is going to be electric!!  Vernon seems unstoppable to me looking at the scores to date, but every now and then Fulton shows flashes of greatness.  I will take consistency over flashes in this one however. GI's Pick: Vernon by 21

Carson Graham @ Ballenas: Well hec, here is another math problem!  If Ballenas wins this game, which is a very real possibility, then there ought to be a three way tie for second place out West.  The Whalers lost to Windsor 28-0 and Carson beat Windsor by 1.  If the Whalers win by a Margin of 18 I think they place third in the tie breaker and Carson 4th.  If Carson wins, they are 2nd and Ballenas is 4th.  Someone get me the advil please.  Back to football.  Carson wins the speed match-up, the Whalers the push factor and the Whalers the home field advantage (game is in Parksville not at Merle Logan!).  Passing game draw, physicality, draw, running game, edge Carson.  Special teams, edge Ballenas.  GI's Pick: I don't think the Whaler defensive front is quick enough to smother the screens/counters and option game to Carson's outstanding RB.  Carson by 9

Frank Hurt @ Holy Cross: Well folks, here is yet another decisive game in terms of the playoff picture.  The upstart Frank Hurt Hornest vs the surging Holy Cross Crusaders.  I think the HC crew has has better outings against quality divisional opponents this year and that Frank Hurt is still a bit young in several key positions.  If HC can dominate the LOS against Hurt's zone blocking schemes this thing is a lock.  I think they can. GI's Pick: Crusaders by 14

Abbottsford @ Rick Hansen: Swan song for the Panther Sr.'s and neighborhood pride on the line both ways.  The Hurricanes will be licking their wounds and scheming for round 1 in the playoff tournament.  Hansen will do what it takes to win while conducting a bit of risk management health wise. GI's Pick: Hurricanes by 18

Spectrum @ Seaquam: A Huge Kudo's to the Spectrum Thunder team one and all as they finish their pioneer year as a program.  Every week these guys have come to practice and play!  The net result is going to be a battle tested, veteren bunch of players with a deep and lasting hunger for improvement the next four seasons.  Look for great leaders to emerge from this game and keep an eye on this program folks, they will be in the mix a lot sooner than most would think.  Seaquam, dang guys, your equipment left on the boat at BC Ferries last week?  Well, try to finish this one out with a bunch of positives.  The Seahawk program has laid a good foundation for future seasons and is headed in the right direction overall. GI's Pick: Seaquam by 36