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Chilliwack’s GW Graham Grizzlies bounce back with shutout win over Abbotsford Panthers

The AAA East football powerhouse hammered their rivals on Senior Night at Exhibition Stadium
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The G.W. Graham defence was relentless in a 47-0 shutout win over the Abbotsford Panthers on Senior Night, Oct. 29, 2021 at Chilliwack’s Exhibition Stadium. (Greg Wood photo)

The Abbotsford Panthers didn’t have the opportunity to set their own schedule, but if they had, they probably would have bypassed the G.W. Graham Grizzlies last week.

Coming off a 34-0 loss to the Terry Fox Ravens, the Grizz were a grumpy bunch as they hosted the Panthers Friday night (Oct. 29) at Chilliwack’s Exhibition Stadium. They took it out on their overmatched foes, who didn’t stand a chance in a 47-0 loss.

“It was a feel-good bounce back win on many levels,” said G.W. Graham head coach Luke Acheson. “It was important to get back in the win column after the loss last week, and a 47-0 victory is a boost for confidence and morale. It is always nice to get a convincing win where we execute well in all three phases of the game.”

After getting chewed up by the AAA East Conference leading Ravens, the Grizzly D was particularly snarly. Defensive coordinator Ian Parks said his unit “fought hard every play and played a great team game,” showing off the depth that makes them so formidable.

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On the year, we now have 14 players who are in double-digits for tackles,” Parks noted. “Our 15 interceptions have come from six different players. Eight different players have combined for 11 fumble recoveries, and eight different players have recorded a quarterback sack.”

Vincent Branauer, by the way, has a league-leading 26 QB sacks, an absurd total through six games.

The win came on Senior Night, with GWG honouring its soon-to-be graduates and their loved ones.

“These players and their families have been with our program for multiple years and contributed countless hours on and off the field,” Acheson said. “I was extremely pleased with the way our entire team put it all on the line to make sure their brothers in Grade 12 had a night to remember.”

The Grizzlies wrap up their regular season slate with a Friday road game in Surrey, taking on the Lord Tweedsmuir Panthers.

GWG is second in the AAA East at 5-1, but Tweedsmuir is just one win behind at 4-1, bringing playoff implications into the finale.


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eric.welsh@theprogress.com

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Eric Welsh

About the Author: Eric Welsh

I joined the Chilliwack Progress in 2007, originally hired as a sports reporter.
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