The Vernon Panthers did something no other junior football team in the province has accomplished this season.
They solved the puzzle posed by the Prince George Polars.
The Panthers scored three first-quarter touchdowns and shut the vaunted Polar offence down, walking off the field Wednesday in Vernon with a 21-6 B.C. High School Football Association junior varsity quarterfinal playoff victory.
Polars head coach Tommy Heinzelman said his team had success moving the ball after the first quarter but they were unable to overcome the Panthers' quick start.
"From the second quarter on, we outscored Vernon 6-0 after making some defensive adjustments and put them on their heels," said Heinzelman. "We just couldn't score in the red zone on their end."
Running back Braden Reed stoked the Polar offence, generating 75 yards rushing on 18 carries. He also contributed nine tackles in the defensive side of the field.
Terrance Vohar racked up 72 yards on 15 carries and scored the lone Polar touchdown. Vohar also played as a linebacker and contributed nine tackles. He returned two punts for 25 and 35 yards.
Linebacker Gage Ridland collected seven tackles.
The Polars came into the game with a perfect 7-0 record, having eliminated the G.W. Graham Grizzlies of Chilliwack 65-12 a week ago. The 12 points allowed in that game were the only points allowed by the Polars all season to that point. They'd outscored their opponents 360-12 heading into Wednesday's game.
Now 8-0 this season, the Panthers won the Interior Division and had a first-round bye in the playoffs.
