AA Varsity Week 9

AA Varsity Week Nine

Gridirons Top 5

1. Vernon Panthers
2. Langley Saints
3. Holy Cross Crusaders
4. Prince George Polars
5. John Barsby Bulldogs

GI's Picks

Friday, November 2nd

Ballenas Whalers @ Argyle Pipers: This could be a trap game for Ballenas.  They are on the road; This is Argyle's last hurrah for their Sr. Class; the rosters match-up in terms of size and athleticism.  With HS kids, you just never know for sure how they are going to come out of the gates when the opening whistle blows.  This said, I will go back to "could be".  Ballenas is very good and after a bye week, wounds have been licked and the preparation has been thorough.  Look for the Whaler rushing game to light things-up once again and play action to follow.  Argyle just won't be able to stand in front of that for four quarters. GI's Pick: Whalers by 26

Holy Cross Crusaders @ Windsor Dukes: The stakes couldn't be higher for either team in this game.  A Crusader win puts them in 1st place with a couple weeks to prepare for the BC Quarter-Final.  A loss drops em to 4th.  The Dukes win and they secure the #2 seed out of the West with a bye and a home game in the quarters.  Both squads are playing the best football of their respective seasons.  Defense will be the name of the game in this tilt.  HC is very dangerous with their quick strike deep passing game and has a superbly coached offensive line to run behind.  Windsor has an offense that can hurt you any place, any time on the ground or in the air.  Looking at stats, their pass game is the most efficient percentage wise in the province by a very wide margin.  Their ability to get the right call on the field on every time is something to envy.  Specials in this one are pretty much a draw.  So defense?  Well, who wins this chess game?  I think Windsor does.  They will have more time to think than their opponents.  HC has to win the big game with its own coaches spotting for them as well.  Advantage Windsor. GI's Pick: Dukes by 18 plus.

Clarence Fulton Maroons @ Vernon Panthers: The City of Vernon's HS Football rivalry game is upon us.  Vernon has the dominant roster headed in to this one and should by all objective standards, cruise to a big win this year.  Thing is however, this is a RIVALRY game and things sometimes take "objective standards" twist them into strange football origami and take a life of their own.   I have to say "sometimes" though as Vernon is too well coached and too veteran a roster to fall off the rails in this one. GI's Pick: Big day offensively via air and land for the Panthers who will win by 22 plus.

Westsyde Blue Wave @ South Kamloops Titans: Another cross-town rivalry game here Kamloops style!  There will be 40 and 50 year olds watching this one who wore Blue Wave and Red Devil jerseys back in the day.  The PA better dig up some good 80's tunes!! I would expect a couple grey beards by the name of Bridges and Olthuis to be looking on. On the field, you can expect two very evenly matched rosters laying down the smack for four quarters.  The Titans have been playing some good offense of late and this may very well be the difference come game day.  GI's Pick: Titans by 8

G.W. Graham Grizzlies @ SRT Titans:  This will be a close game.  SRT has tanked since mid-season, but Graham is very short benched.  The Grizzlies will rely heavily on JV's playing-up in order to be effective.  This week of practice will be critical for both squads as this is where the victor will emerge.  Defensively, Graham has to keep the ball from getting any kind of an edge.  The Titans will need their best all around game of the year to win.  GI's Pick: Grizzlies by 11

Robert Bateman Timberwolves @ Langley Saints:  Call this one the AA Varsity Game of The Week.  Up for grabs is 1st place coming out of the East.  Both teams have had a bye headed in to this one.  Both teams are extremely physical.  Langley is the best straight-up power offense in AA football with no one even coming close in that spectrum of the game.  Bateman is FAST and very well balanced on the offensive side of the ball.  Langley has a lethal passing game in store for teams that rob the defensive cupboards to stop the run.  Each team as a result, has some defensive dilemmas before them.  Bateman is the underdog based on weeks 1 thru 8.  Being an underdog is a good thing because it forces a coaching staff to think out of the box a bit.  As long as one does not stray too far out of the box that is.  Special teams may be the winning edge for either squad when all things are considered.  GI's Pick: Langley grinds the Timberwolves down over 4 quarters of play. Saints by 12

Nechako Valley Vikings @ College Heights Cougars: The Vikings struggled mightily against the Cougars earlier this year and the sons of Ragnar will likely meet a similar fate as they are just flat-out outmatched in terms of roster depth.  GI's Pick: Cougars by 24

Kelley Road Roadrunners @ Prince George Polars:  The Polar Dynasty up north will end after this season for a few years.  This year however, PGSS is hitting its stride with a running game that is a provincial level operation.  Look for a big game between the tackles and runs that get bigger and bigger as the game progresses for the Polars.  GI's Pick: PGSS by 26

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AA Varsity Week 8

AA Varsity Week Eight

Gridirons Top 5

1. Vernon Panthers
2. Windsor Dukes
3. Langley Saints
4. Ballenas Whalers

5. Holy Cross Crusaders

 

GI's Picks

Friday, October 26th

Sulivan Heights Stars (AAA) @ Holy Cross Crusaders: This is a great tune-up game for the surging Crusaders headed in to a week 9 clash with massive playoff implications vs the Windsor Dukes.  Games like this represent an opportunity to give opponents down the line lots and lots of eye candy to sort through in terms of game prep and the triage of what to practice against.  Sullivan Heights is completing their first year of varsity play and will benefit immensely from this game as well.  Look for the Crusaders to run the ball effectively in between the tackles throughout this contest.  GI's Pick: Crusaders by 28

John Barsby Bulldogs @ Windsor Dukes: Watching Windsor play football is truly a pleasure.  They are a) fundamentally sound b) high football IQ top to bottom and back up to the top c) very, very efficient.  I do not think a team in the province at any level can maneuver and adjust in real time as fast as the Dukes.  Coach Schuman's ability to observe, adjust and communicate with his offense between the whistles should be a study for any coach who wants to dramatically improve his team's lethality, particularly on offense. Wow!  The Dukes are always tough and they are particularly good at home.  Barsby, when it is on its game, is also tough to defend with a lot of offensive weapons of its own.  Both defenses are going to have to bring their A-Game to this one.  The ability to prevent quick strikes and extended yards after the catch/yards after contact will be huge for both teams.  Special teams will of course, factor in heavily. GI's Pick: Tough to go against the Dukes, especially at home. Windsor by 7

SRT Titans @ Robert Bateman Timberwolves:  Bateman is a very good football team with an outstanding array of athletes as is SRT.  Both teams are coming off of bye weeks and will be very well rested and prepared for one another when the action starts.   Some things to consider: Bateman is at home; Bateman has played a tougher schedule this year; Bateman didn't line-up in front of the Langley mincing machine of and offense a week ago; on balance, Bateman is faster; Bateman's offense is more diverse. GI's Pick: Add it all up and Batemen is a 14 pt. favorite.

Westsyde Blue Wave @ Vernon Panthers: Westsyde is playing its best ball in years.  Morale in the program is pretty much at an all time high in recent memory.  Vernon however is flat out dominant athletically and in terms of depth.  Vernon is also playing at home.  GI's Pick: Panthers by 30

South Kamloops Titans @ Valleyview Vikings: The Titans are a pretty good squad in the context of the Interior Conference landscape.  Look for them to pound away on the ground and get some good vertical production off of the play action pass.  The Titan roster is also deeper and more talented.  GI's Pick: Titans by 17

Salmon Arm Golds @ Clarence Fulton Maroons:  Another good game for the Interior.  Salmon Arm gets some more ball for their exhibition season and the Maroons get to work out all the kinks headed in to their week nine rivalry game vs Vernon.  Fulton will run and pass very well in this game en route to a big score.  GI's Pick: Maroons by 21

Nechako Valley Vikings @ Prince George Polars: PGSS is the class of the northern varsity squads and they will be hitting all cylinders when they host the outmatched Vikings.  GI's Pick: Polars by 30 plus.

College Heights @ Kelley Road:  This game will determine second and third place in the Northern Conference.  Kelley Road has been playing better defense than the visitors this year and with the weather turning sour, this will weigh in heavily.  Look for a fairly tight game that comes down to a couple big plays offensively/turnovers to determine the outcome.  GI's Pick: Roadrunners by 7

Saturday, October 27th

Howe Sound Sounders @ Ballenas Whalers: Ballenas is smarting after a big loss vs divisional rival Windsor.  Howe Sound is limping in to the final weeks of the season with a small roster.  If this game gets played, Ballenas will build some much needed confidence headed in to their final week of play.  GI's Pick: Whalers by 25

AA Varsity Week 7

AA Varsity Week Seven

Gridirons Top 5

1. Vernon Panthers
2. Ballenas Whalers
3. Windsor Dukes
4. Langley Saints
5. Holy Cross Crusaders

GI's Picks

Thursday, October 18th

Kelly Road Roadrunners @ Prince George Polars: The Polars are on a roll and are physically the most dominant varsity team the North has produced since 2014 (that team being the 2014 Polars).  Look for the Mean Green to establish the run early and pound away all day long.  GI's Pick: Polars by 30

Friday, October 19th

Frank Hurt Hornets @ Robert Bateman Timberwolves:  Bateman is hitting their stride at just the right time in the season.  Coming off a big, emotional win over G.W. Graham has them in a great mental place as a team and the balanced offence/speedy defense will be too overwhelming for the plucky Hornet squad to handle.  GI's Pick: Timberwolves by 30

Argyle Pipers @ John Barsby Bulldogs: Argyle is healthy and has had a bye week to prepare for Barsby.   The tilts between these two programs are usually pretty evenly contested if one looks at the historical context of the series.  The Piper's throw the ball very well and play very aggressive, opportunistic defense.  Barsby was a slow motion, passionless, poorly led, vomit inducing, inconsistent train-wreck vs Holy Cross this past Saturday.  GI's Pick: Pipers by 8

Valleyview Vikings @ Clarence Fulton Maroons: Fulton is coming off of a tough loss to Westsyde last weekend.  The game was close and I am sure the locker-room is looking to up it's game and get back on track.  Valleyview has struggled against the Marroons in past years and this will likely be the case again this year.  Fulton's offense is more balanced and as a team, they have been playing tougher competition all year.  GI's Pick: Maroons by 12

Westsyde Blue Wave @ Salmon Arm Golds:  A big win vs Fulton has Westsyde chomping at the bit for more headed into a road trip vs Salmon Arm.  The Blue Wave are on a bit of a mid-season high right now and finding all kinds of confidence in themselves with playoff seeding on the line. GI's Pick: Westsyde by 14

G.W. Graham Grizzlies @ Langley Saints: Kudos to GW Graham for their salty, tough performance on Friday vs a fine Robert Bateman squad.  That kind of grit and resilience will factor in heavily in this key divisional tilt vs the Eastern Steam Roller known as the Langley Saints.  Langley is rested coming off a bye week and will be well prepared by their coaches for all eventualities.  This game will be close for a quarter, but I think Langley has more in the tank and is better up front which will break the Grizzlies in the mid-to late rounds.  GI's Pick: Langley by 16

Vernon Panthers @ South Kamloops Titans: Vernon will do what Vernon does with its deep, fast and talented roster.  SKS just doesn't match-up well anywhere with the visitors.  Look for a big day in the air for Vernon and stifling defense that benefits from a great kicking game.  GI's Pick: Vernon by 35 plus


Saturday, October 20th

College Heights Cougars @ Nechako Valley Vikings: I like Nechako Valley in this one based on their offensive execution and esprit de corps as an overall squad.  GI's Pick: Vikings by 7

Windsor Dukes @ Ballenas Whalers: Game of the Week in AA Varsity ball here folks.  Wow is it going to be a good one!  Windsor is going to find out everything about itself when it takes on the Whaler Juggernaut on Whaler home turf.  Ballenas has had a bye week to prepare for this game and they will have needed it.  The line of scrimmage is going to be pivotal for both teams as this is where they are strongest offensively.  I think the Whalers have more depth up front, but Windsor executes better and comes off the ball harder.  If either team can get their backs into the second level, there are going to be some big rushing stats on game day.   Ballenas may need to load-up the box defensively and be creative with their pressures/alignments.  If they send heat, it will be feast or famine.  Windsor has to be aware of the Ballenas-Barsby game as the Whalers have proven they can throw the ball well to some very talented receives when required to do so.  Special teams....Ballenas can flip a game with their short kicking game alone.  Seen that many times.  Windsor will be aware of this and the chess game is on! Coaching: This is a Football Mensa club on both benches.  If you can get out to see this game, you won't be let down.  Gonna be a classic! GI's Pick: Ballenas by 7

Howe Sound Sounders @ Holy Cross Crusaders:  Howe Sound has been a pleasant surprise and welcome addition to AA Varsity football this year.  Holy Cross has something really special going on as it fields its best Varsity squad since 2015.  I was so very impressed with the Crusaders play this past Saturday vs Barsby.  That was one unified, prepared and disciplined football team that quickly responded to breakdowns and momentum changes throughout the game.  HC has a super offensive line and is executing offensively to the fullest.  They are very efficient with what they do with the players they have getting the ball in the right hands at the right time.  The Sounders will be in tough for this one.  They are very quick athletically and bring a lot of heat.  They will make a few big defensive plays in the HC backfield, but not enough to win.  GI's Pick: Crusaders by 24

AA Varsity Week 6

AA Varsity Week Six

Week 5 In Review

Gridirons Top 5

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

5. Windsor Dukes

Robert Bateman Varsity Football from Kirt Purdy on Vimeo.

GI's Picks

Friday, October 12th

Salmon Arm Golds @ South Kamloops Titans: The Titans seem to be putting a better product on the field this year than their opponents and they have played a more extensive schedule.  The roster is deeper across the board for the hosts.  GI's Pick: SKS by 9

Howe Sound Sounders @ Windsor Dukes:  Howe Sound has really improved since three and are going to challenge Windsor on the edge offensively and defensively.  Windsor's offensive line is amongst the top three in AA ball right now and it will likely carry the day for the Dukes along with the precise execution of the entire offensive scheme.  GI's Pick: Windsor by 16

Kelly Road Roadrunners @ Nechako Valley Vikings: This is going to be a tough tangle between two very evenly matched teams. Kelly Road has been playing Interior squads leading up to this date and that experience will have elevated their game a bit compared to the visitors.  GI's Pick: Roadrunners by 8

Clarence Fulton Maroons @ Westsyde Blue Wave: Fulton traditionally plays its best ball in October and November.  They play a tough September, find the chinks in their armor and clean things up.  I think the Maroons have more balance in their offense and have defensively faced a team like Langley.  This will be a good game.  GI's Pick: Maroons by 11

Robert Bateman Timberwolves @ G.W. Graham Grizzlies:  Massive playoff implications for both teams here with the winner owning the inside track to at least third spot in the division.  Bateman has more depth and a far more diverse offensive attack.  The line of scrimmage will be contested equally, but the backfield/receiver-db contest is heavily in Bateman's favor.  Special Teams to the Timberwolves as well.  GI's Pick: Bateman by 14

Valleyview Vikings @ Vernon Panthers:  Vernon is peerless in the Interior and possibly the province.  Look for the Panthers to air it out early and often vs the visitors.  Defensively, the Panther roster is too big, strong, fast and experienced for the Viking offense to have much of an impact.  Special teams, Vernon.  GI's Pick: Panthers by 30 plus

College Heights Cougars @ D.P. Todd Trojans: The Cougars ought to grind this one out on the ground this Friday.  I think the game will be close til mid-to late 3rd quarter before the wheels fall off for the Trojans.  GI's Pick: Cougars by 11

Saturday, October 13th

SRT Titans @ Frank Hurt Hornets: This is a good bounce game for SRT after getting crushed by divisional rival Langley.  Frank Hurt has struggled this year, but you have to admire them going back to practice and reloading for another tilt week-after-week.  GI's Pick: SRT by 24 plus

John Barsby Bulldogs @ Holy Cross Crusaders: Both teams are coming off of wins from this past weekend.  Look for a very inspired Crusader effort on the field this Saturday.  The HC defense does a great job vs the pass as opposed to standing up in front of a power running game such as Ballenas.  Barsby is a whole different experience offensively and quite similar in scheme to the HC offense.  Special teams and big plays on offense will likely carry the day for either squad.  GI's Pick: Barsby by 14