AA Varsity Week 5

AA Varsity Week 5

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Gridirons Top 5

1.  Vernon Panthers
2.  John Barsby Bulldogs
3.  Ballenas Whalers
4.  Windsor Dukes
5.  Langley Saints

GI's Picks

Thursday, October 4th

D.P. Todd Trojans @ Prince George Polars: The Trojans are in over their head against the Polars in this tilt.  PGSS is to big, to fast and too strong on both sides of the football for the visitors.  Look for a heap of offensive stats, particularly on the ground for the boys in green.  GI's Pick: Polars by 22

Friday, October 5th


Valleyview Vikings @ Westsyde Blue Wave: A well rested Valleyview squad plays cross town rival Westsyde this Friday in a good ol fashioned Kamloops rivalry game.  Westsyde played a challenging September exhibition schedule and will be hitting on all cylinders come kick-off.  It is my belief the momentum of the September exhibition crucible will serve the Blue Wave well and they will have an execution edge in all three phases of the game.  GI's Pick: Blue Wave by 14

Holy Cross Crusaders @ Argyle Pipers: Big divisional game here with major playoff implications for both squads coming off of last weekend's losses.  Both teams ran into tough running offenses in week four with devastating results.  Now it is spread on spread and the ball is going to be thrown all over the field.  Holy Cross may have a bit of an edge in terms of "big play" athletes and a solid kicking-game.  You can never count out Argyle as they have won a lot of respect with their version of the short passing game which can give zone coverage defenses literal fits of frustration.  This one is going to be tight! GI's Pick: Crusaders by 6 if they can win the turnover battle.

South Kamloops Titans @ Clarence Fulton Maroons: This is a very good match-up between two teams that will be in the hunt for a 2nd-4th seed out of the Interior.  The rosters match and it will be fairly close through much of the game.  Fulton's running game is better and this will be the difference when the final whistle blows.  GI's Pick: Maroons by 11 

Ballenas Whalers @ John Barsby Bulldogs:  Air Barsby hosts Ground and Pound Ballenas...who would have thunk it?!!!! This year's Border Battle will be like no other witnessed in living memory since the rivalry series began in 2000.  The undefeated Whalers have ground-up, trampled, rolled over and spit out every defense they have come across this year.  That offensive line has killed more defensive fronts this year than smallpox.  That power running offense is stylistically and spiritually dear to this child's heart.  I never get tired of watching that kind of football!  To compound Barsby's defensive anxiety is the fact that Ballenas has a lethal passing game when need be.  Whaler special teams are a nasty and cerebral thing for opponents to deal with as well.  I think that their short kicking game  could give a kick-return squad composed of mongooses up front fits!  They are that good and are quick to the ball.  The Whaler defense is bend, but don't break with some great strategic and opportunistic blitzing.  Barsby beware!  Barsby for it's part has done a good job via the air this year and its special teams have been solid as well.  Big plays are on the menu for the Barsby Offense at any given time.  Defensively, the Dawgs get to the ball well and have added a few wrinkles to their stingy defensive scheme.  GI's Pick: Barsby by 1

Langley Saints @ SRT Titans: The winner of this game has the inside track to being the number one seed coming out of the East come November.  The match-ups are pretty much even across the board except for the offensive line where Langley just might be top one or two in the province.  They are monsters in football equipment and they are starting to really get some unit mojo going on.  This said, the Titan backfield is as good as it gets in AA when it comes to the run and short passing game.  The respective defensive coordinators are going to be burning the midnight oil this week!  Special teams and taking care of the football will be the difference on Friday in my opinion. GI's Pick: Langley by 4

Frank Hurt Hornets @ G.W. Graham Grizzlies: This game is just what the doctor ordered for a short benched Grizzly squad held together by tape and a will to compete.  Graham has ducked no one and this weekend will be a test for the whole program.  The Hornets have struggled in September, but love their football.  The Graham run game will be tough for Hurt to handle and they can throw pretty well to balance things out.  GI's Pick: Graham by 17

Saturday, October 6th

Kelly Road Roadrunners @ Vernon Panthers:  There is a poem based on a calvary charge in the Crimean war called " The Charge Of The Light Brigade" by Alfred Lord Tennyson.  Kelly Road should read it and be prepared for a bunch of snarling Panthers licking their chops for fresh meat.  Those who stagger out of this game will definitely be battle hardened headed in to the rest of the Northern schedule that awaits them.  Vernon is good and rains offense on opposing defenses.  Special teams for the Panthers are solid and their kicking game keeps people penned-up on a long field.  GI's Pick: Vernon by 40 plus.