staff reporter
The Meadow Ridge Knights junior bantam football team is off to the provincial finals this weekend after defeating the Victoria Renegades 30-10 on Saturday at home.
The Knights took an early 6-0 lead at home at Samuel Robertson Technical Secondary School, but Victoria came back with a 50-yard running play of its own to take a two-point lead.
A safety by Victoria put the Renegades up 10-6 before the Knights rallied with 24 unanswered points.
Thomas Janke, Adam Chislett, Will Chartrand, Jake Laberge and Jason Donaglen were key contributors on defence. Jeremy Kankalongo and Mackenzie Baust led the offence.
With the win, the junior bantam Knights advance to the provincial championships where they will face the Kelowna Lions this Sunday, Dec. 4, at McLeod Park in Langley at 11:30 a.m.
The Lions are undefeated this season, going 8-0 in league play, and winning two straight play-off games.
The Knights, meanwhile, went 9-1 in the regular season, with their only blemish being a one-point loss to the Chilliwack Blue Giants.
The atom Gold Knights ended their season with a 38-0 loss to Mission in the Valley Community Football League championship game.
The atom Gold Knights had a 9-1 record in the regular season, their only loss a forfeit early in the season due a lack of players.
sports@mapleridgenews.com