Quarterbacks, attendance, whittled down play-off races and other random thoughts for Musings this week.
The biggest news in the NFL this week has been the new hands off the quarterback rule, as protecting the most valuable commodity has reached new levels. While our quarterbacks aren’t valuable in the monetary “bums in the seats” the way they are in the NFL, they are critical to the on-field success of our teams. Our rules to protect them are more geared around the obvious player safety issues in general.
But what about when a quarterback isn’t a quarterback? Late in the Sun/Huskers tilt Saturday night, Huskers quarterback Julian Wytinck was levelled by a block courtesy of Sun safety Nick Cross. Cross was subsequently ejected from the game after being assessed a targeting penalty by the officials. Looking at the replays, Wytinck was squared up about 3 yards away from making a tackle before a pretty devastating but seemingly legal shoulder to shoulder block. I know the officials had been requesting an automatic suspension for players receiving targeting penalties, but calls made in the heat of the action don’t always tell the story as video seems to show in this case. Wytinck’s accomplishments this season have been fun to watch and incredibly valuable to the success of the Huskers, so I’m hoping as much as anyone that he doesn’t miss any game action. I also hope though that a player doesn’t get suspended for what looked like nothing more than a football play to me.
Duncan Little was injured just before halftime of the Rams win over the Rebels and did not return after the break. I’m hearing that the fact he didn’t return was due to the Rams confidence in their 13-0 lead holding up, and not any lingering injury effects. The way Max Joseph was running the ball I could have been under centre and the Rams lead was probably safe.
Sticking to the quarterback theme…A Jake Laberge-less Raiders last weekend resulted in 5 first half points. I presume the Raiders were resting a slightly banged up QB, but thought better as the offense sputtered. Insert Laberge and 26 more points appeared. Laberge=Raiders MVP, not a-typical when it comes to quarterbacks I know but worth pointing out.
More quarterbacks…Have the Kamloops Broncos decided on their quarterback of the future? It might appear so, as rookie Reid Vankoughnett went the distance for a second straight week. While he hasn’t been spectacular the last two games, I’m not sure Tom Brady would be either as the club struggles through the year. Still, he hasn’t hurt them and seems pretty confident running the offense during a sharp, probably frustrating learning curve of a season. The Broncos look in good shape at the position with the Winnipegger under centre.
Both Westshore and Okanagan were disappointed in their crowds on the weekend. In the case of the Rebels a 4PM start to assist the visiting Rams with travel is thought to have kept the local football crowd away as that is when minor football plays. In the Okanagan, the club has this year moved from its tradition of Sunday afternoon post Labour Day in favour of Saturday nights. This weekend they ran straight into the WHL Kelowna Rockets home opener against rival Kamloops Blazers…that is a battle the local football team will never win.
Were a couple teams looking to taunt their opponents a bit on the weekend? The Huskers apparently drew the ire of the Sun by planting their flag on the Sun field when they came out Saturday night, something the Sun do at the Apple Bowl. In talking to Huskers head coach Bob Reist, he made it clear his goal is never to incite an opponent, I’m not even sure he knew his players intended to decorate the Apple Bowl as they did. Personally, I’m on the fence when it comes to bulletin board material, and love reading a team or player make a provocative statement in the paper, but props such as flags do tend to lead to teams trying to “one up” each other.
In Westshore The Rams lined up to stretch at the 55-yard line rather than the 50 or 45 that teams usually do, squeezing the Rebels a bit to the smaller side. I know that irked the Rebels, and definitely had the potential to ignite a flame if the Rebels had decided they would park themselves at the 55 as well.
The Rebels PA announcer responded with a hilarious move of playing the Benny Hill theme when they Rams came out just before kick-off. The Rams responded back with a 27-3 win so they won the battle of “oh yeah, well we are going to do this then.”
The Valley Huskers meat grinder of a second half has been dialed up a notch. The club has now lost two straight, their hopes of hosting one of two semi-final games has dissipated, and this weekend they may or may not be without quarterback Julian Wytinck. Now comes news out of their upcoming opponent that former CJFL Coach of the Year JC Boice has returned to assist friend Shane Beatty (who he brought into the fold when he was head coach two years ago) and will be running the offense. A new OC isn’t going to be able to work miracles overnight, and unless Boice can suit up to assist a porous offensive line, his impact will be limited. Still, this allows Beatty to concentrate on the defensive side of the ball where he is needed most, and an emotional lift is something the Rebels sorely need.
The Huskers and Rebels meet back to back the next two weeks. The Rebels simply must sweep both games to grab the final play-off spot and relegate the Huskers to 5th. If they lose one they are done, and the Huskers are in. The schedule makers this year were genius or just plain lucky drawing this up.
This weekend predictions.
Okanagan Sun @ VI Raiders
The Okanagan Sun don’t do well at Caledonia, no teams do, as their lifetime 5-10 regular season record will attest. And while that place isn’t beautiful as the Raiders love to call it, the old gal will be the difference maker this weekend as the home side all but wraps up first place.
Raiders 27 Sun 16
Kamloops Broncos @ Langley Rams
I am willing to bet someone $10 that Kamloops will beat the Langley Rams this weekend, but if and only if you give me 50-1 odds.
Langley 47 Kamloops 7
Westshore Rebels @ Valley Huskers
This one has the potential to be something special, as two teams claw for the play-offs. Or it could be the beginning of the end of a special season for the Huskers if they don’t get Wytinck back. I’m hedging my bet a bit.
Valley 25 Rebels 15 (with Wytinck)
Rebels 24 Huskers 7 (without Wytinck)
Musings are for opinion purposes only and do not represent the views of the BCFC or its teams
