The GW Graham football program has existed for seven years, and each and every season the Grizzlies have sent a squad to B.C. Place Stadium for a playoff game.
The junior varsity team continues the run this year after demolishing the John Barsby Bulldogs in a Wednesday night semi-final at Burnaby Lakes.
A 38-0 win sends GWG on to the Subway Bowl AA championship game, which takes place Dec. 1 and pits them against the Windsor Dukes.
The Grizzlies recorded their third straight defensive shut out. The defense, led by coordinator Jeff Samulak, allowed just five first downs.
“Our kids are really executing the defense at a high level now,” the coach said. “they are playing positionally sound and shedding blocks and making good secure tackles.
“Grade 9 cornerbacks Jaxon Visser and Nick Beck were outstanding in coverage. Barsby has an explosive offense but they shut things down for the most part, allowing only one 20-plus yard play.”
Caden Weiss led the D with eight tackles. Josh Baird had seven. Michael Hopwood and Daniel King have five apiece with linemen Darwin Douglas and Dhillon Myers both recording quarterback sacks.
A familiar cast of characters led the GWG offence.
Quarterback Grayson Frick completed 18 of 25 passes for 384 yards and three touchdowns. He ran for another 59 yards and a score.
Receiver Logan Buchwitz caught 10 balls for 234 yards and two majors.
Visser had three catches for 76 yards and a TD while lightning quick running back Kaleb Spanner carried eight times for 65 yards.
- The other semi-final saw North Van’s Windsor Dukes down the College Heights (Prince George) Blue Cougars.
The Dukes seem like a bit of a surprise entry in the final after finishing the regular season with a 2-2 record, with 96 points for and 104 against.
Fourth in the West division, Windsor knocked off Vernon’s Clarence Fulton Maroons 38-27 in a quarter-final before taking out College Heights.
They will be underdogs against the Grizzlies.
There is history between Windsor and GW Graham.
The senior AA Grizzlies saw their 2017 season end with a 47-7 loss to the Dukes in a semi-final at B.C. Place Stadium.