Neither the No.1 ranked Vernon Panthers or second-seeded Windsor Wolves of North Vancouver suffered a loss in the regular season.
Neither were playoff upset victims leading to Saturday's B.C. Senior Varsity AA High School Football championship game at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver.
One vs two, playing for the provincial title. It's the way it should be in sports.
And boy, could it turn out to be a dandy of a final.
There's not a lot separating the two squads.
Both went 6-0 in the regular season. Both are undefeated at 2-0 in the post-season.
The Panthers scored 395 points in those eight wins, and gave up only 56 points against. The Wolves scored 315 points, allowed just 115.
Windsor's only loss all season was in Week 1 to, of all teams, the Panthers, 21-0, in an exhibition game in North Van. VSS suffered its only defeat a week later, a 24-21 exhibition setback to the AAA Rutland Thunder in Kelowna.
Vernon is the defending B.C.champion, defeating Nanaimo's John Barsby Bulldogs 23-22 in last year's final.The Cats are seeking their fourth provincial championship banner in six years, having also claimed victory in 2018 and 2019.
"For us, we always go back to the fundamentals as being the basis of our success," said Panthers head coach Sean Smith in the BC Secondary School Newsletter, championship edition, compiled weekly throughout the season by Bernie Crump.
"Tackle, block and trust the technique and system we have put in place. If we want to win, we are going to have to win the turnover battle like we did last year against Barsby, and try to limit their offence from making big plays.
"I'm super proud of my staff and players for reaching the championship game again this season. Getting here requires a ton of work and commitment from a lot of different people both on and off the field, and I'm hoping we can get one more win against a very strong Windsor team."
The Wolves return to the B.C. final for the first time since 2017.
"This is something we have been working towards as a program for the last several years," Wolves head coach Malcolm Allen said in the BCSS Newsletter. "We will find out how we match up against the best in the province.
"Vernon is excellent top to bottom; athletes everywhere, big, physical, well-coached linemen and the provincial MVP (Cole Budgen) at quarterback. They will be a challenge to slow down and contain."
The Panthers scored 50 points or more in a game four times during the season, Windsor did it twice.
The most points VSS' defence has given up in a game is 14, twice, including last week's 36-14 semifinal win over the College Heights Cougars of Prince George.
Windsor's defence allowed its most points against just a week ago in a 44-28 victory over Abbotsford's Robert Bateman Timberwolves.
The Wolves defeated Vernon 13-12 in the 2022 Junior Varsity provincial final, with many players from that contest suiting up for their final high school games Saturday. Windsor stopped the Panthers three times from the one-yard-line in the dying seconds for the title.
Vernon and Windsor will compete for the B.C. AA title Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
