Chilliwack/Langley (From Chris Swartz, Langley Rams) – The Langley Rams jumped on the Trans Canada Highway and headed east to Chilliwack’s Exhibition Stadium for a game versus the upstart Valley Huskers on Saturday.
The Rams went into the game not quite knowing what to expect from the Huskers, who defeated the defending champion VI Raiders in week one(a major come from behind win 33-31), that win earned the Huskers some respect from around the BCFC and with that respect came a prepared Rams team that were not taking the Huskers as lightly as teams may have in past years.
The games opening points came as a result of a big punt by Rams Matias Bueno and great downfield coverage by the Rams special team unit. Bueno’s punt from near mid field pinned the Huskers inside their own 10-yard line, from where they were forced to conceded a two-point safety touchback to make the score 2-0 midway through the opening frame.
The Rams first touchdown of the game was set up by Max Joseph’s 40-yard return of the ensuing kickoff, which gave quarterback Duncan Little the ball at the Huskers 50-yard line. Six plays later Little hit Calgary native Jevon Cottoy with a 15-yard touchdown pass and Bueno’s convert made the score 9-0 Rams with 5:41 remaining in the first, which ended with the same score.
The Rams next scoring drive started on their own 35 and ended 11 plays later when Bueno kicked a 16-yard field goal that made the score 12-0 one minute into the second quarter.
The Huskers got on the scoreboard when Bueno conceded a safety touchback to make the score 12-2 but the Rams responded by pushing the ball deep into Huskers territory and Little hitting Cottoy with a six-yard touchdown pass, Jevon’s second touchdown of the game made the score 19-2 three minutes before halftime.
The Huskers looked to respond before halftime and quarterback Julien Wytinck completed three 20-yard passes that moved the ball to the Rams five-yard line, however Kyle Clarot picked off Wytinck’s next pass in the Rams endzone and the teams went into the break with the Rams leading 19-2.
The Rams came out of the split fired up and Little hit Cottoy with a touchdown pass for the third time, a 38-yard toss that put the Rams ahead 26-2 three minutes into the second half.
Langley’s defensive unit was responsible for the next nine points, adding a couple to the scoreboard when the Huskers conceded their second safety of the game and then Rahim Richards scored on a 15-yard interception return to make the score 35-2 with three minutes remaining in the third.
The Huskers found the endzone late in the game when Wytinck hit Anthony Dyck with a touchdown pass and Rams veteran running back Joseph Carter capped off the games scoring on a five-yard touchdown romp with just over a minute remaining, making the final score 42-9 Rams.
Jevon Cottoy led all receivers with 7 catches for 113 yards and 3 touchdowns, all thrown by Duncan Little, who finished the day completing 25 of 39 pass attempts for 310 yards, 3 touchdowns and an interception. Little used seven different receivers, including Max Joseph, who had 6 catches for 81 yards.
Joseph was also a threat on special teams with a combined 94 return yards on kickoff and punt returns.
Kyle Clarot led the way defensively for the Rams with four tackles and an interception, Rahim Richards had a pass knock down and a tackle to go with his interception return touchdown and Cameron Cross recorded four tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
The 1-1 Rams now prepare for next Saturday’s game versus the 1-1 VI Raiders, kickoff is 2:30PM at Caledonia Park in Nanaimo.
