AA Varsity Week 1
Zero Week Scores
Colton Oregon 49 GW Graham 28
Robert Bateman @ Clarence Fulton Hi-Lites
https://www.hudl.com/video/2/22976/5b93df09f561500ab08b1abd#
1. Vernon Panthers
2. John Barsby Bulldogs
3. SRT Titans
4. Ballenas Whalers
5. Prince George Polars
GI's Picks
Thursday, 6 September
D.P Todd Trojans @ Kelly Road Roadrunners: Both of these squads have great numbers out for football this year. The Trojans had a big JV squad last year and a lot of talent is matriculating to the varsity level. Game one of the year can be pretty sloppy so look for this one to be heavily affected by turnovers and some big plays vs broken coverages etc. GI's Pick: Trojans by 6
Friday, 7 September
South Kamloops Titans @ SRT Titans: Well, gonna start week 1 with my most accurate prediction: This game is going to be Titanic! Ha! Seriously, there may not be a backfield trifecta as cumulatively athletic as the SRT fellas. They are big, fast and tough. That is saying a lot as there are some stud backfields lurking out there in four or five AA programs this year. SKS is going to have their defensive and special team hands full some Friday. GI's Pick: SRT by 21
Centennial Centaurs (AAA) @ Ballenas Whalers: Centennial is a huge school and draws from a significant pool of athletes. This said they struggled last year and are in rebuild mode. Ballenas was a JV finalist last year. The Whaler program has done a stellar job of building top to bottom the past three years and are absolutely massive physically for an AA squad. The Whaler offense is balanced and can play power football. They are lethal at times throwing the ball as well. Defensively, they attack well within a very disciplined scheme. Special teams are as always, game changers. GI's Pick: Whalers by 18
Salmon Arm Golds (AAA) at Westsyde Blue Wave: Salmon arm will have a deeper, bigger roster that takes the field than their opponents. Westsyde has played good, tough scrappy football the past three or for years. Look for Salmon Arm to lean on the Blue Wave pretty good and barring catastrophic turnovers, they ought to grind this one out. GI's Pick: Golds by 17
Argyle Pipers @ Langley Saints: Really like this one! Both teams are going to bring a lot of experience and talent to the field. Some coaching changes at the Argyle program mean players will be learning a new scheme early in the season whereas the Saints have years with the same staff and schemes. This will be a difference maker. The Saints also were a playoff team at JV and Varsity last year thus bringing much momentum and high expectations to the 2018 season. GI's Pick: Langley by 11
Robert Batemen Timberwolves @ Clarence Fulton Maroons: Another good tangle here. Coach Scheller always gets a great effort from his players and the Maroons are playing on home dirt. This said, Bateman is one of my dark horse picks to make a huge playoff run in 2018. The Timberwolves are big, physical, in great shape and have an experienced gunslinger/receivers offensively. They will be tough. GI's Pick: Bateman by 14
John Barsby Bulldogs @ Nanaimo District Islanders (AAA): This game is going to be a good ol fashioned neighborhood donneybrook played between two schools only blocks a part on the map. The players have competed with and against each other since starting flag ball in grade 5 in many cases! Adding to the rivalry is the fact that Nanaimo District tuned-up on Barsby in the 2016 AA JV final a couple years back. This year's match-up is going to be interesting indeed. The Islanders will field a bigger roster in terms of numbers on game day. Size is relatively even as is team speed. Barsby is going to have to withstand a grinding Islander offense that has big play potential on the run and via the air. Nanaimo District is going to have to defend a Barsby offense that can score fast in the air and on the ground as well. The kicking game looms large! The fight in the trenches is going to be epic. A very big crowd is expected for this tilt and the emotional swings are going to be BIG! The Islander School Band is going to really bring some atmosphere!! GI's Pick: Too Close to Call
Kelowna Owls (AAA) @ Vernon Panthers: Kelowna is a very competitive AAA program and a huge school. Vernon is the consensus number 1 AA program in the province. The individual match-ups are pretty much even here in terms of athleticism. Vernon however is much deeper mentally from the point of view of experience and familiarity with their systems. The Panthers also ran a controlled scrimmage last week vs a good Mt. Boucherie squad. The rust will be off. GI's Pick: Vernon by 8
Mission Roadrunners (AAA) @ Pitt Meadows Marauders: Mission is a AAA program on the rise and will be a playoff competitor this year at that level. I am sure of it. Pitt, you gotta love em for picking up this game, they are surely scrappers one and all! Both teams will get better by playing this game. Mission simply has the athletes in every offensive and defensive category and should overwhelm their brave opponents as the game progresses. GI's Pick: Mission by 24
Saturday, 8 September
G.W. Graham Grizzlies @ Holy Cross Crusaders: This will be a great match-up athlete for athlete. HC will have some good Sr. leadership and they were a solid JV playoff squad in 2017. Graham played a great second half vs US competition last week and this momentum will roll into this coming tilt. I have to give the Crusaders the edge in the air in this one. GI's Pick: Crusaders by 3
Valleyview Vikings @ Mt. Boucherie Bears (AAA): Valleyview is going to surprise a few teams in the AA Interior conference this year. I am really looking forward to how their new offense plays out. This said, the Bears are loaded with talent and will field a very big roster. Schemes have a say, but so does physics. GI's Pick: Bears by 21
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