Sports posted Nov 10, 2016 @ 05:45pm by By KelownaNow Staff

Kelowna minor football teams vie for berths at provincial championships

<who>Photo Credit/Cover Design: Lorne White/KelownaNow </who>

Kelowna will be represented in all three Southern Interior Football Conference finals this weekend . . . with hopes of advancing to provincial championship play.

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<who>Photo Credit: Lorne White/KelownaNow </who>Riley Fitzsimmons of the Kelowna Riders leaps to grab the Kelowna Lions' Risto Zimmer in the two teams' final SIFC regular-season game. The undefeated Kelowna Lions (9-0) earned a berth in the SIFC junior bantam title match against the Salmon Arm Chargers on Sunday (2 p.m.) at the CNC’s Mission Stadium by defeating the West Kelowna Tiger Cats by a lopsided score in semifinal play a week earlier.

The other semi saw Salmon Arm take down the Kelowna Riders 33-1 for the right to play the Lions in the championship game.

<who>Photo Credit: Lorne White/KelownaNow </who>Dawsen Powley of the Kelowna Riders is in full stride en route to a large gain against the Lions. After a relatively slow start, the junior bantam Lions found their stride to dominate West Kelowna in semifinal play in Vernon. Kelowna went into the game having finished first in regular-season play while the Ti-Cats had placed fourth with a 2-6 mark.

Inspired by the play of rookie Jacob Wojciechowski, who recovered two fumbles in the game, the Lions’ defence allowed just 76 total yards to the Tiger Cats. Aidan Vint led the D with eight solo tackles, while Noah Gross chipped in with three solos.

<who>Photo Credit: Lorne White/KelownaNow </who>The Lions' Noah Gross is brought down by Zac Warren (9) and Kaenan Nemr (81) of the Kelowna Riders. On offence, Gross accumulated over 100 yards and contributed four touchdowns while Risto Zimmer was also a workhorse, gaining 81 all-purpose yards and scoring one touchdown. Other majors came from Joey Howorko and Vint in the game that saw Kelowna post 396 total yards.

“As has been the case all season, it was an impressive team effort,” said Lions head coach, Kendall Gross. “We’re looking forward to Sunday. It will be our most competitive game of the year against a well-coached and disciplined Salmon Arm team.”

<who>Photo Credit: Lorne White/KelownaNow </who>Aidan Vint of the Kelowna Lions holds on tight to a Nate Beauchemin pass. Meanwhile the SIFC peewee championship will be decided between the Kamloops Blue Broncos and the Kelowna Lions in Kamloops on Sunday. The Lions downed the Kelowna Riders 16-0 in their semifinal while the Broncos shut out Salmon Arm 32-0.

The atom-division final goes Sunday beginning at noon at Mission Stadium, with the Kelowna Lions and Kelowna Riders vying for the SIFC crown. The Lions defeated Kamloops 40-8 while the Riders breezed to a 32-0 victory over West Kelowna.

All three winners on Sunday will represent the SIFC at nine-man provincial championship playoffs in Kamloops Nov. 19.

Photo Gallery (73 photos) on KelownaNow's Facebook page

<who>Photo Credit: Lorne White/KelownaNow </who>Kelowna Riders, from left, Kade Hedstrom, Riley Fiszimmons, Brad Koebel and Dryden Divert go into action on offence against the Lions.

<who>Photo Credit: Lorne White/KelownaNow </who>Quarterback Nate Beauchemin of the Lions runs into trouble — in the form of the Riders' Dylan Moreau (80) and Zac Leinweber (24).

<who>Photo Credit: Lorne White/KelownaNow </who>Brad Koebel of the Riders takes down the Kelowna Lions' quarterback Nate Beauchemin.

<who>Photo Credit: Lorne White/KelownaNow </who>

Photo Gallery (73 photos) on KelownaNow's Facebook page

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