Raiders Show Well In Jamboree Exhibition Games

July 27, 2009

By Dominic Abassi

The BCFC pre season came to a close for 3 teams on Saturday afternoon in Langford at the brand new Bear Mountain Stadium. The Victoria Rebels hosted the Vancouver Island Raiders and the Big Kahuna Rams in a series of mini games in preparation for next weeks opening weekend. The format was three, 12 minute quarters for each team.

The first match up of the day saw the Vancouver Island Raiders take on the Rams in the well over 30 degree heat at field level around game time. Andrew Harris, BC Lions property and reigning BCFC MVP, officially announced his return to the league by returning the opening kick off 60 yards up the left sidelines and then taking the first play of the drive, an option pitch from quarterback Jordan Yantz, 40 yards up the same sideline. From there however the drive stalled and was ended by a failed third down gamble. The Rams showed some 5 man front along the line and were able to do some things in the secondary that gave Yantz problems. Another Raider drive was ended abruptly by a Nick Felicella interception on his own goaline. On the ensuing series Kahuna running back Errol Brooks was met by Lucas Desmet in the hole and after a dog pile the referees awarded the ball to the Raiders. With Mark Migneault now at the pivot position for the Raiders, Robin Medeioros, former Burlington Brave, made his first catch as a Raider on a 15 yard crossing pattern. Three plays later at 3:34 Joe Holder scampered in from 4 yards out, then plunged in a two point conversion for an 8-0 score.

The Rams got into a groove at the start of the 2nd and Cam Clark showed why he was once BCFC rookie of the year completing passes of 38, 12, and 8 yards before two penalties ended the surge. The first whacky play of the season went off at 9:24 of the 2nd when a heads up play by VI punter Clarke Petrick took advantage of a not so heads up play by Rams DB Jordan Linnen. Linnen was unable to field a shanked punt in time and Petrick flew down field and made good on his mistake by recovering the punt. The play went to waste after a 7 yard Harris run was called back for holding and Shane Poberznick made an athletic play in the end zone to break up a pass. Mark Mueller then missed a field goal and the Raiders scored a single, 9-0. Marc Paquette came in to replace Cam Clark for the Rams and went three and out on his first drive. Raiders back up running back Brett Willsie made short work of a drive, with runs of 35, 17 and a final 3 yard TD run at 2:34 to push the score to 16-0.

The teams traded field position until 5:32 of the 3rd stanza when Taylor Potkins went up top to Thomas Rafuse, a bright spot for the Rams all day, for a 35 yard TD pass to make the score 16-7 Raiders. The momentum swung quickly on the next play when Robin Medeioros took the kickoff 85 yards for the first of his three touchdowns on the day. Final score Raiders 23 Rams 7

Next up in the heat for the Rams was the host Victoria Rebels. The Rebels should be excited about hosting all season long because the new Bear Mountain Stadium is first class on all accounts. The first quarter of football was slightly less exciting than the stadium however as neither team could push the ball inside the red zone. The crowd was picked up in a hurry at the end of the quarter when the Rebels synched up on offense. Sam Adu rolled out back to back first downs on the ground and newly acquired Rickli Yannick completed 15 yard bullet passes to Mike Mizerski and Tyson Takasaki. Sam Adu went back to work and powered for 25 yards before capping the drive with a 10 yard touchdown run, 7-0 nothing for the home side. The Rebels quickly regained possession and Yannick showed everyone why Victoria brought him to town scampering out of the pocket for 35 yards untouched. It would be the last time he would have to break the pocket on the drive as the Rebels oline, anchored by Brandon Howey, dominated the Ram front. Yannick made a 12 yard completion to Takasaki and then Zack Brandham broke the plain with a 12 yard run. The extra point was blocked, 13-0 Rebels.

After an R.J. Cornish pass interference penalty the Rams were cooking inside Rebel territory but a Jake Farley sack and an Imran Begg objectionable conduct penalty ended the drive. At 5:03 the Rebels took a safety and then Marc Paquette went to work for the Rams completing a 23 yard pass play to Zack Denton and a 12 yard, third down completion to Thomas Rafuse. Paquette capped off the drive with a 6 yard TD throw to Brendan Carrigan on the last play of the second. A two point conversion made the score 13-8.

Brett Seryenko took over at QB for the Rebels and looked great hitting Takasaki for gains of 15 and 22, as well as scrambling for 15 yards of his own. The drive ended in no points after a field goal attempt was blocked. Kirk Tonowski ploughed in from one yard out to give the Rebels a 20-8 lead. Taylor Potkins got the Rams closer going deep to Jamie Puffer for a 55 yard touchdown late, but a failed two point conversion and another Seryenko-Takasaki connection, this one for a touchdown from 10 yards, made the final 27-14 Rebels.

In the rivalry match up of the day the Rebels stayed on the field and the Raiders came out of the stands and tried to loosen up all over again. The Rebels went for a surprise onside kick which was well placed but didn't pay off. Andrew Harris busted out a 25 yard run, Jordan Yantz hit Simon Fraser University standout Tyson Buchannon for 15 yards, and then 3 was a charm as Harris jaunted 20 yards untouched to make the score 7-0. Kyle Carson took the helm for the Rebels, who opted to rest Rickli Yannick after he turned out a near flawless half of football in game one. Carson promptly fumbled a hand off that was recovered by the Raiders defense. A 35 yard Yantz to Buchannon connection led to a 12 yard Jared Ralko touchdown grab over the middle for a quick 14 point Raider lead. Carson completed a 15 yard pass to Josh Gilesby for the Rebels but a Nick Woznesenski sack ended the drive near midfield. Jordan Yantz finished an Andrew Harris heavy drive with a 4 yard toss to Robin Medeiros and when Lucas Desmet recovered the ensuing kickoff via a fumble, Jordan Botel made the score 28-0 on a 1 yard plunge.

The Rebels took two safeties as opposed to punting out of their end zone and Mark Migneault kept it himself on the one yard line to make the score 39-0. RB Mike McMasters also scored from one yard out after 3rd string quarterback Derek Cooper scrambled for 43 yards out of the pocket. The final was 46-0.

The BCFC season opens up next Saturday, August 1st.