Raiders set and reach team goals in 69-0 rout of Chilliwack to complete perfect regular season

Michael Rhode, The Daily News

With each game, the Vancouver Island Raiders set new goals to achieve, regardless of the opponent.

On Sunday, the Raiders were looking to continue their perfect season, as well as establish a couple of team objectives against the host Chilliwack Huskers. Mission accomplished.

They racked up a 69-0 romp over Chilliwack to finish 10-0 in the regular season and set team and league record for points for and a new team mark for points against in the regular season.

They also made sure that tailback Andrew Harris reached the 100-carry mark for the season with 23 attempts for 271 yards and five touchdowns.

"We had the opportunity to do some things that hadn't been done before," said Raiders head coach Matt Blokker. "We went out and accomplished that. Our defence went out and gave up just 100 points this year. That's 10 points a game and that's not just as a defence, that's our whole team because you can give up points on special teams and offence.

"And our offence scored more that 500 points and that's never been done, ever. It was important for Andrew to get 21 carries to reach the 100 mark which is kind of funny because I think he had 100 carries in the playoffs last year.

"Mentally, I think there were a lot of important things for us to play for and they executed it."

Harris's five majors gave him 23 on the season (20 rushing, two receiving and one on a blocked punt) and a league-best 1,476 yards on the ground.

Brett Wilsie also had a rushing major while Tyson Buchannon and Dustin Peterson both caught touchdown passes.

Starting quarterback Jordan Yantz (10-for-16, 152 yards) hooked up with Buchannon for a score while Derek Cooper connected with Peterson on a nine-yard scoring play.

The Raiders had 529 yards in offence.

Defensively, the Raiders allowed just seven Chilliwack first downs in the game and a mere 107 yards in net offence.

Defensive back Walker Morrison scored on a 28-yard interception. Teammate Graham Norrish also picked off a pass.

On Saturday, the Raiders host the Okanagan Sun in a 1 p.m. kickoff at Caledonia Park to open the BCFC playoffs.

It will be the first time the Raiders and Sun have met in semifinal play. In all three BCFC champion finals the Raiders have played in, Okanagan was the opponent.

Blokker's boys beat the Sun twice -- 16-11 at Caledonia on Sept. 5 and Oct. 11 in Kelowna, 43-3, the worst home loss in the 29-year history of the Sun franchise.

A victory in the semifinal and the Raiders would host the BCFC Cullen Cup final either Oct. 31 or Nov. 1.

MRhode@nanaimodailynews.com

© The Daily News (Nanaimo) 2009