NANAIMO — The VI Raiders begin their season in a little over three months, however they’ll have plenty of time to prepare, as the BC Football Conference (BCFC) released the schedule for the 2018 regular season.
Here are some of the Raiders’ marquee match ups to circle on the calendar…
The Raiders kick off their season in Chilliwack against the Valley Huskers.
The Huskers were the bottom feeders of the BCFC last season with an imperfect 0 wins and 10 losses while only scoring 88 points.
Although it’s a new season, and every team starts out with the same record, the Raiders won’t expect an automatic win.
Raiders fans will get the first look at their team this season at Caledonia Park when the Broncos come to town.
It will also mark the first time the Raiders will play at home since the end of the 2017 regular season.
The Raiders would go into the 2017 playoffs as the 3rd seed, going on the road to defeat the Okanagan Sun and the Westshore Rebels to capture the Cullen Cup.
The winningest coach in BCFC history is back in Nanaimo.
Only this time, it’s with a different team.
Matthew “Snoop” Blokker led the VI Raiders during their most successful span in franchise history.
In eight seasons, the Raiders picked up seven Cullen Cups as BCFC champions, and three Canadian Bowls as national champions under Snoop’s watch.
Snoop left the Raiders to be the Prairie Football Conference’s Calgary Colts head coach in 2014, but resigned in September 2017.
The Rams finished 4th in the BCFC last season with a 4-6 record.
Speaking of the Cullen Cup, fans won’t have to wait long for the anticipated rematch between the Raiders and the Rebels.
The Rebels were at the top of the BCFC class with a 9-1 record, including a nine game winning streak to close the season.
They destroyed the Langley Rams 57-14 in the BCFC semi-final, and would host the championship game.
The Cullen Cup seemed ripe for the picking, until the Raiders pulled off a stunning upset 21-7 to win their first title since 2013.
And the rematch is just a Malahat drive away for Raiders fans.
The rematch of the rematch.
Instead of waiting one year, this will only take one week.
Will most certainly be a quicker commute for Raiders fans, and championship pride will be in full effect.
The season ends the same way it began, against the Huskers.
Not only is this the home and season finale for the Raiders, it’ll be the final tune up before what they hope will the defending of their Cullen Cup.
Here’s a look at the full schedule:
VI RAIDERS @ VALLEY HUSKERS – 2:00 p.m. SUNDAY AUGUST 5TH
KAMLOOPS BRONCOS @ VI RAIDERS – 2:30 p.m. SATURDAY AUGUST 11TH
LANGLEY RAMS @ VI RAIDERS – 2:30 p.m. SATURDAY AUGUST 18TH
VI RAIDERS @ WESTSHORE REBELS – 7:00 p.m. SATURDAY AUGUST 25TH
WESTSHORE REBELS @ VI RAIDERS – 2:30 p.m. SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 8TH
VI RAIDERS @ OKANAGAN SUN – 7:00 p.m. SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 15TH
VI RAIDERS @ KAMLOOPS BRONCOS – 6:00 p.m. SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 22ND
OKANAGAN SUN @ VI RAIDERS – 2:30 p.m. SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 29TH
VI RAIDERS @ LANGLEY RAMS – 4:30 p.m. SATURDAY OCTOBER 6TH
VALLEY HUSKERS @ VI RAIDERS – 1:00 p.m. SATURDAY OCTOBER 13TH
