High expectations will come under tighter scrutiny on Friday when the Rutland Voodoos and Kelowna Owls meet in a B.C. Secondary School Football Association exhibition game at the CNC (6 p.m.).
While both AAA varsity teams opened the pre-season on the past weekend, neither got what they considered a true clear-cut assessment of where they stand as the 2019 regular schedule approaches.
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The Voodoos, playing host to the lower-rung AA Clarence Fulton Maroons of Vernon at the Apple Bowl on Friday, waltzed to a 52-14 win while the Owls dropped a 34-7 decision to the province’s No. 1-ranked Vancouver College Fighting Irish at O’Hagan Field in Vancouver.
One thing for certain, Jhavoun Blake will be a dominating force for the Voodoos again this season. But even how commanding his performances is still to be assessed fully after carrying the ball just three times from scrimmage — for 101 yards.
The BCSSFA Grade 11 player-of-the-year, on the sidelines more than expected due to some tightening in his back (“nothing serious”), did get on the field enough to touch the ball six times and score four touchdowns in four different ways.
He escaped several would-be Maroon tacklers to scamper 83 yards on a set play for a touchdown and picked off a Fulton pass for a 62-yard TD in the second quarter. He caught at Liam Attwood pass for a 35-yard play to the endzone and ran back a punt 60 yards for a major in the third quarter.
Even Pete McCall, the Voodoos’ veteran head coach, was somewhat surprised with Blake’s efforts which no doubt confirmed to universities in Canada and the United States they’re on the right track by recruiting heavily the 6’1”, 205-pound running back.
“We were planning to run 10 plays for Jhavoun, but he did so much in other phases of the game, we figured we would get him out of the game because of his (slightly) tweaked back,” he said. “But obviously we will see him carrying much more of the load once the regular season begins.”
McCall, beginning his 18th season at the helm of the Voodoos, also received a stellar all-around effort from Attwood, a Grade 11 quarterback. The QB for the junior Voodoos in the past two years and the punter/kicker for both RSS teams, Attwood is expected to have the full-time job at the pivot position, taking over from Blake.
Attwood completed nine of 10 passes for 155 yards and four touchdowns against Fulton while running twice for 48 yards in a game that saw the Voodoos trailing 8-6 after the first quarter, but leading 27-8 by the half and 39-14 going into the final frame.
“Considering it's only Week 1, Liam was outstanding,” said McCall. “He’s a smooth operator back there — very poised and confident. He will need to speed up his reads as we will be facing faster and stronger opponents (Owls?). I think he showed he can run the ball himself, too.”
As well as finding Blake for a TD pass, Attwood hooked up with Kyron Konkin with a pair of tosses (32 and 50 yards) for six points each while finding Brad Koebel for another touchdown pass.
Defensively, Rutland was led by inside linebacker Dan Tran, who fought through for seven tackles against the Maroons, one interception and a fumble recovery. Prince Monongdo (LB) contributed five tackles and a sack while Blake chipped in with three tackles to go along with his interception.
Coach McCall was pleased with his team’s opening game but conceded the Voodoos need extra work on special-team play and tackling. And seeing some exhausted players gasping in the fourth quarter, he’ll be encouraging better conditioning from his troop.
Overall he sees the Voodoos as a more dynamic group than last year. And by moving Blake to running back and putting Attwood at QB, it gives the team a more versatile look.
He says — matter-of-factly:
“I think we can win our division (Pacific South) provided we can stay focused and healthy.”
While his counterpart at Kelowna Secondary School isn’t quite as optimistic about the Owls taking top spot in the more competitive Eastern Division, head coach Chris Cartwright hasn’t strayed from his vision of the Black and Gold being in the hunt for despite the loss to highly touted Vancouver College on the weekend.
Playing without No. 1 and No. 2 injured quarterbacks Isaac Athans and Nate Beauchemin, the much relied-upon running back Noah Gross and linemen Jack Marsland and Dylan McBratney, the Owls’ offence couldn’t get untracked against the top-run Fighting Irish.
“We struggled against a big Van College defensive line, and while Elijas (QB Fedoriuk) did his best and provided some positive things out there, we obviously missed our veteran leadership,” said Cartwright, whose team is dominated by graduates of the 2018 provincial junior varsity championship squad.
“It was a valiant effort against a very strong and disciplined team. The guys we had out there did what we asked and poured their hearts out on the field. We are very proud of their effort.”
Fedoriuk managed to throw for 88 yards and rushed for 22 while being intercepted three times. The Owls’ only score was on his TD throw was to Grade 12 receiver Colby Miletto.
On defence, senior linebacker Nathan Gilbert led KSS with 13 tackles and two sacks, but Cartwright said the Owls have to do a better job tackling as a team.
“While College did make a lot of good plays, there were many times it was because we missed tackles. Against a team like that, you can’t let that happen.”
Cartwright added that coaches’ expectations and those of the players haven’t changed despite a opening exhibition loss.
“This is a special group of kids, and with some key guys coming back from injury, we’re looking forward to finishing our non-conference schedule on a positive against Rutland and starting conference play with momentum against Abbotsford the following week.”
Extra points: The Mt. Boucherie Bears, playing in the Pacific Division South this season, fell 27-6 to the South Kamloops Titans on Friday in West Kelowna . . . With the convincing win over the Owls this week, the Vancouver College Fighting Irish remain the No. 1-ranked team in the AAA division. The Lord Tweedsmuir Panthers of Surrey moved up a spot to No. 2 after a 15-6 over No. 4 New Westminster. Mt. Douglas Rams of Victoria sits at No. 3 . . . Nolan Ulm has received a third offer from a NCAA Division 1 school. The University of Eastern Washington Eagles have joined the University of Toledo and North Dakota as teams reaching out to the Team BC all-star.
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Extremely proud of all my guys. first game and everyone balled out 54 to 15 victory. 4 total tds only 6 touches on offence 1 pick 6 and a punt return td 247total yrds so thankful @Coach_KMcDonald @SSmith_II @Coach_Macky @Coach_Gattis @JABS_A @CoachNezQU @CoachPeteUW @CoachDenecke pic.twitter.com/ZidkJBS7yW
— Jhavoun Blake (@BlakeJhavoun) September 7, 2019
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