Langley Rams seek redemption in national championship game
As if the Langley Rams needed any more motivation when they play for the Canadian junior football championship on Saturday afternoon, all they need to do is look across the McLeod Stadium turf at who they re playing.
They ll once again see the Saskatoon Hilltops, who in 2012 erased a 15 point second half deficit to stun the Rams in the Canadian Bowl at McLeod.
In the BCFC semifinal, the Rams hung on for a thrilling 48 46 victory over the Kamloops Broncos, then went on the road to beat the Okanagan Sun 23 19 in the Cullen Cup championshipatagonia better sweater coat natural xsp, claiming their seventh BCFC titpatagonia outlet store xxi3le.
It was Langley s first road win this season versus the Sun, who led the BCFC during the regular campaign with a 9 1 recorpatagonia barely baggies reviewd (their lone loss coming to the Rams in Week 2), before blowing away the defending champion VI Raiders by a 47 16 count in the other provincial semifinal.
The Hilltops, meanwhile, finished 6 2 and claimed home field advantage throughout the Prairie Football Conference (PFC) playoffs.
In the PFC semifinal they flexed their muscles by clobbering the Winnipeg Rifles 43 13, setting the table to host the patagonia mountain guide pantsCalgary Colts in the final for the first time since 2011.
The Hilltops scored 24 points in the first half and beat the Colts 27 7 to punch their tpatagonia pro shopicket to the Canadian Bowl.
The Rams are led by, among others, a pair of newcomers.
Quarterback Jordan McCarty took over the starting role at halftime in Week 7 after an injury.
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In four and a half games, he completed 62 of 118 passes for 1,021 yards, to go along with 10 touchdown tosses and an efficiency rating of 89 per cent.
While this is his first taste of a game of this magnitude, McCarty sapatagonia m's better sweater jacketid he isn t nervous in the least.
I ve got a good supporting cast and it ll work out for the best, he said.
Regarding the Hilltops, McCarty said, They re a really good football team, they play great, fundamental football, and I expect them to bring their A game, and we wilpatagonia outlet store xxil, too.
Beating the Sun in the BCFC championship game should give the Rams confidence heading into Saturday s contest. Okanagan won two of three meetings against Langley during the regular season.
That one felt good just because we lost twice in a row up there [at the Sun s home park, the Apple Bowl in Kelowna], McCarty said. We really needed that win,patagonia discount code lowes obviously, and we ended up getting it, and it was definitely exciting but we re not done yet.
Rams rookie linebacker Ethan Schulz will be playing in his first Canadian Bowl and wilpatagonia environmental grants quickl be counted on to help lead a very tough Langley defence. The BCFC s Rookie of the Year was simply awesome this season patagonia outlet store xxi0with a team high 23 tackles, 14 assists, and four sacks.
He also had a conference high four fumble recoveries, including one for a touchdown.
Schulz missed the BCFC title game with an injury and is champing at the bit to get back on the field.
I m excited, he said. This is what you strive for.
Limiting mistakes, or eliminating them altogether, will be the key to victory, said Schulz: The Hilltops are a very disciplined team andpatagonia guide jacket jackson they are going to capitalize on mistakes that s how they win games. They are very well coached. If we don t shoot ourselves in the foot and just win our one on one battles, I think that s how we re going to win. We ve got to play our gapatagonia guide pants girlme and play smart.
Centre Anthony Daly was a member of the 20patagonia outlet store xxi112 national runner up Rams and is looking forward to having another crack at the Canadian title on Saturday.
It was a stinger, and it was one of those things that you never forget, Daly said. The fact that we get a chance to do it again now is really awesome and we want to take advantage of it.
