Four teams from the Meadow Ridge Knights community football association advanced to the second round of the Valley Community Football League playoffs last weekend with do-or-die wins.
The Meadow Ridge junior bantam Knights, as well as both atom teams and the peewee Gold Knights each posted wins in the first round of the playoffs on Saturday.
The junior bantam Knights beat the Chilliwack Red Giants 38-8 in frigid conditions at Samuel Robertson Technical Secondary School.
Defensively, Will Chartrand, Thomas Janke and Adam Chislett made third down stops to shut down the Giant’s offence. Offensively, Chico David, Jeremy Kankalongo ran the ball well while Jaden Shanley made a key reception from Jake Laberge. The Knight’s special teams also recovered two onside kicks and returned a punt for a touchdown.
The Knights face the Chilliwack Blue Giants this Saturday at home for the junior bantam championship. Game time is 4 p.m.
The peewee Gold Knights are also headed to the VCFL championship final after eliminated the defending provincial champion Chilliwack Blue Giants with a 28-14 win at home.
The Knights built a 22-0 lead midway through the third quarter before Chilliwack responded with two quick touchdowns to make it a one-score game. However, the Gold Knights would not be denied as Cade Cote scored his fourth touchdown of the game to seal the victory.
The Knights’ offensive line, led by Lucas Kolobara, Sean Roy, Jacob Gordon, and Cody Stewart, opened many holes for the Knights’ running attack.
The defence put in another great effort to put the Gold Knights through to the peewee division finals. The Knights have the No. 2-ranked defence in the league and they frustrated the Chilliwack offence all game.
Leading the defence were Tim Janke, Angus MacDonald, Mason Reeves and Blake Alford.
The peewee Gold Knights host the Abbotsford Black Falcons for the peewee championship this Saturday at Samuel Robertson Technical at 2 p.m.
The atom Blue Knights and Gold Knights both advanced to the atom division semi-finals with wins on Saturday.
The atom Blue Knights shut out the Chilliwack Blue Giants 40-0 to advance to the second round. Leading the shut-out were defencemen Lucas Deane and Jaxon Smart with cornerback Nico Zolliker and line-backer Riley Celino. The Knights’ offence was virtually unstoppable with fullback Evan Vasarhely grinding out the yards. Ethan Holland and William Ferguson paved the way for tight-end Riley Rooney and half-back Ciaran Davies to score. Quarterback Cody Hogarth also scored on a 99-yard run.
The Blue Knights face Mission this Saturday at Samuel Robertson Technical at 10:30 a.m.
The atom Gold Knights beat the Langley Bears 38-6 to advance to the atom semi finals. The Knights put in a strong defensive effort, allowing Langley only one scoring play. Despite the poor weather, the offence ran the ball for 340 total yards and five touchdowns. The Gold Knights are up against the Abbotsford Falcons this Saturday in the atom semi-finals at Samuel Robertson Technical at 12:15 p.m.
The midget Knights weren’t as fortunate as their association counterparts as they lost their opening round playoff game to Victoria by a score of 28-14. The game was the final appearance in Knights’ colours for the team’s senior players, who have now aged out of community football.
Nick Stoyeff, Cole Warren, Doug McNally, Ross Allam, Daniel Childress, Richard Janke and TC Cameron each said goodbye to the program after many years as players.
“I hope to come back next year and help coach,” said Stoyeff, defensive captain for the Knights. “It would be a great way to help others out.”