Opening-game jitters now out of the way, the Prince George Kodiaks junior football team can take what they learned Saturday in a 31-5 loss to the Valley Huskers and use that experience to be that much better prepared when they get set to make more Prince George sports history on Aug. 6.
Playing in their inaugural B.C. Junior Football Conference game Saturday in Chilliwack, the Kodiaks stayed within striking range of the lead for the first half of the game and were trailing by only five, down 10-5 at the intermission.
But the older, more experienced Huskers took advantage of a few Kodiak mistakes and scored three unanswered touchdowns. The Huskers took advantage when starting Prince George quarterback Liam Oczkowski hurt his ankle when he got tangled up in a pile of bodies on a play midway through the third quarter and they put unrelenting pressure on the Kodiaks to stop them dead in their tracks.
The 18-year-old Oczkowski, a six-foot-five, 210-pound graduate of All Saints High School in Calgary, was replaced by fellow Calgary product Sam Sabine, 18, who played the rest of the game and was under constant siege.
“I think the team played well and we started strong,” said Kodiaks general manager Ryan Bellamy. “Some youthful mistakes shot us in the foot at times and prevented us from continuing drives or getting into the end zone.
“For his first game (Oczkowski) was under a lot of pressure and he did well, his passing statistics were good and he was able to continue some plays by using his feet throughput the game. He had a 20-yard run at one time and he did some effective things and played smart back there. He probably played a little above his ago category, and that helps.
“As soon as (Sabine) came in they brought even more pressure than they had been bringing earlier and for him it was a lot of trial by fire.”
Chavis Spencer of the Huskers intercepted one of Sabine’s passes and that eventually led to a touchdown in the third quarter.
The Kodiaks’ first-ever pass reception from Oczkowski to former D.P. Todd Trojan Amandeep Bansal on the team’s second drive of the game covered 10 yards and that led to a 20-yard field goal from Noah Schneider of Yorkton, Sask. Schneider took over the punting and placekicking duties after starting kicker Jack Cochrane of Scotland strained a quad (leg) muscle in practice.
A 79-yard strike from Oczkowski to wide receiver Andrew Brown, of Saltcoats, Sask., pinned the Huskers deep in their own territory. The Kodiaks’ drive stalled, resulting in a turnover on downs, and that led to the two-point safety in the second quarter.
The Huskers scored four touchdowns, all off pass receptions. Starting quarterback Josh Janssen went 17-for-28 and 224 yards in the game. Receivers Dylan Manocha, David Coronodo, Payton Lake and Luc Rodrigues all found the end zone. Reece Wycke put the Huskers on the scoreboard with a 22-yard field goal on the opening drive of the game.
Defensive back Marcellus Pope of Calgary, son of Kodiaks defensive co-ordinator Marvin Pope, led all tacklers with unassisted tackles.
Twenty-five players on the Kodiaks 90-player roster list Prince George as their hometown. They’ll resume their workouts at Masich on weekday evenings, starting at 7:30 p.m.
“There are some young guys playing some key roles and there were definitely some nerves,” said Bellamy. “Some of the were getting to see the game at that speed and intensity continually for the first time.. You can simulate that in practice but it’s not two hours of it, so it’s a learning curve, and they’ll get there.”
The Kodiaks will have the better part of two weeks to prepare for their next game when they open their home schedule on Saturday, Aug. 6 at Masich Place Stadium against the Kamloops Broncos (7 p.m. start).
“That’s very exciting for us all, it’s what we’ve been building for and a lot of effort and hard work all through the organization has gone on to get there and we’re really excited to get to showcase it for Prince George,” said Bellamy.
Bellamy said Oczkowski’s hyperextended ankle injury is not serious enough to put him on the extended injured list and expects he will be ready to return for the game against the Broncos.
All Kodiaks games will be played on Saturday evenings. Other home dates on their home schedule include Aug. 10 (Valley Huskers), Sept. 10 (Langley Rams), Sept. 24 (Kamloops Broncos) and Oct. 8 (Okanagan Sun).
Season tickets for those games are available the Tickets North website. The Kodiaks are also selling tickets for individual games priced at $25 (main grandstand) or $10 (end zone.
The team will get back to practicing weeknights at Masich, starting at 7:30 p.m.
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