Vernon Panthers Punch Ticket to Third Straight B.C. Football Final
The Vernon Panthers are headed back to the big stage — again. The No. 1-ranked powerhouse rolled through the Mt. Douglas Rams 45–7 at BC Place on Sunday (Nov. 23), securing their third consecutive trip to the B.C. Senior Varsity AA Football championship.
This marks the Panthers’ sixth provincial final in nine years, cementing their status as one of the most consistent football programs in the province.
They’ll now take on the second-seeded Argyle Pipers in the championship showdown on Nov. 30 at 3 p.m., also at BC Place.
Vernon Set the Tone Early
From the first whistle, Vernon didn’t waste a second. After forcing a stop on the Rams’ opening drive, senior running back Owen West exploded through the defence for a 40-yard touchdown — his first of many highlights.
On the next series, West nearly repeated the run, only to have the score erased by a penalty. No problem — he finished that drive anyway with a short plunge into the end zone.
By day’s end, West delivered a monster performance:
- 20 carries
- 184 rushing yards (season high)
- 4 touchdowns
- 7 tackles on defence
Unsurprisingly, he was named Player of the Game.
“Owen was a horse on both sides of the ball,” said head coach Sean Smith.
Panthers Dominated All Phases
Vernon controlled the tempo, adding a late field goal to take a 17–0 lead into halftime. The third quarter was a full-on takeover:
- West scored twice more
- Grade 10 standout Bennett Friesen sprinted in a 21-yard touchdown
- Backup QB Nash Steele connected with Chris Curtis for an 18-yard passing TD
Mt. Douglas finally found the end zone in the fourth quarter, but the Panthers answered immediately.
“This game was won in the trenches,” Smith said. “Our O-line was outstanding. We ran the ball 35 times — that tells the whole story.”
Defence Brought the Heat
The Panthers defence was just as dominant. Provincial all-star Josh Vandenberg anchored the unit with 11 tackles, applying constant pressure and shutting down the Rams’ offence.
“Coach Rothwell had a great game plan, and the boys executed it perfectly,” Smith added.
With the win secured early, Vernon’s depth players stepped in and kept the energy high.
“I was proud of how our seconds stepped up,” said Smith. “There was no drop in intensity.”
The Panthers now set their sights on adding another championship banner to the legacy.
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