Tom Hallick
CJFL.net
NANAIMO, B.C. — The BCFC champion Vancouver Island Raiders survived a tough first quarter and came on strong from that point on to roll to a 51-14 Canadian Bowl victory over the PFC champion Edmonton Wildcats Saturday afternoon in front of an enthusiastic home crowd at Nanaimo’s Caledonia Park for their second straight national title.
The Wildcats started out with a 6-play opening drive, but couldn’t put points on the board. The defense did a fine job of keeping the Raider offense at bay early on. On a drive near the end of the frame, Mitch Richter stretched out to make a great 33-yard catch at the 55-yard-line, then from the Raider 50, on a second down play, hit Jerit Lambert on the fly and the CJFL Rookie of the Year was brought down at the Raider 5, but on the next play, Andy Pilon’s toss was intercepted by Aaron Davis deep in the end zone. The Vancouver Island drive would stall and at 13:15, Mark Mueller’s punt would be blocked by Matt Lalande and Mac Olson would pick up the ball and give Edmonton a 7-0 lead after 15 minutes.
The Raiders would get on the board a little over a minute into the 2nd quarter as Ben Hnidan would concede a safety. The Raiders would go on a 7-play, 31-yard drive, with Mueller making good on a 34-yard field goal to get within 2 at 7-5.
After the Wildcats went two-and-out, the Raiders had a 2-play drive of their own as Jared Ralko would score his first of three majors on the day as Jordan Yantz fired a 35-yard strike on a second-and-two play to give the BC titleholders a lead they wouldn’t relinquish at 12-7 at the 8:49 mark, then the Raiders would pour it on with a pair of majors in a three minute span. Robin Medeiros with a 38-yard reception to make it 19-7 at 11:21 as Yantz played pitch and catch with his receivers throughout the quarter, then after a 2nd safety, Ralko, with 4 seconds left in the half, scored his 2nd major on a 14-yard catch to give Vancouver Island a 28-7 halftime lead. The 28 points tied for the 2nd most points in a quarter in the national final. The Ottawa Sooners scored 28 in the 4th quarter of the 1984 Canadian Bowl.
The Wildcats gained momentum right off the bat as Robin Medeiros bobbled the Hnidan kickoff to open the 2nd half. Corbin Sharun would take it 4 yards and the PFC champions set up shop at the Raider 8 where Pilon found Aaron Watkins to cut the deficit to 14. But whatever momentum the Wildcats picked up was promptly snuffed out on the next Vancouver Island drive as Andrew Harris raced 52 yards to restore the 3 touchdown lead 2:24 into the quarter. Exactly 8 minutes later, the lead was upped to 41-14 as Medeiros reeled in a 20-yard strike from Yantz. The Mueller convert attempt was blocked.
In the 4th, Mueller would tack on his 2nd field goal to make it a 30-point lead, then Ralko closed out the scoring, capping a 6-play, 47-yard drive with his 3rd major of the day. For Yantz, his 5th TD pass of the game.
Near the end of the game, a scary incident occurred as a fan fell from the pirate ship in one of the end zones, injuring another fan in the process. The game was delayed for a short time as paramedics treated the injured fans. Eventually, the game resumed and the final 5 minutes were played in straight time.
Greg Akinola was selected as the Defensive Player of the Game, while his Raider teammate Yantz picked up Offensive Player of the Game honors thanks to his 5 TD tosses. The 51 points were the 4th highest total in Canadian Bowl history. The Saskatoon Hilltops hold the record, compliments of their 59-0 triumph in 2003.
