A home win over the Valley Huskers will put the VI Raiders in third place in the BCFC. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Dan Marshall

Playoff Positioning

Raiders control playoff destiny in game versus Valley

Oct 29, 2021 | 4:47 PM

NANAIMO — The VI Raiders have their playoff fate in their own hands heading into the regular season finale against the Valley Huskers.

VI clinched a playoff spot with a 37-14 win over Westshore on Oct. 23 and head coach Curtis Vizza knows the formula for finishing in third place is a simple one.

“A win. All we need to do is win.”

Valley occupies third place at 4-3 heading into the matchup but the 3-4 Raiders will jump over the Huskers in the standings with a victory.

Vizza said the Raiders have already taken on a post season attitude.

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“Last week is when we adopted a playoff mindset. It’s playoff time, everyone knows how serious it is and that’s where we’re at.”

The Raiders won their only other head to head game with Valley on the road this season 21-19.

VI will play either Langley or Okanagan in the Cullen Cup semi final but Vizza isn’t favouring one matchup over the other.

“We’re always a week to week team. We don’t look further into the schedule that what’s in front of us and in the playoffs whoever we play is who we play.”

With an 0-2 record against the Sun and an 0-1 record versus the Rams, the Raiders will go into the playoffs as underdogs.

The third place showdown versus the Huskers is at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 30 at NDSS Field.

In advance of the game the Raiders got some good news when three players received BCFC All-Star selections.

Quarterback Jake Laberge, receiver Alex Bonnetplume, and defensive back Gevhahn McNally-Hardisty were recognized by the BCFC for their outstanding seasons.

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