Eric Hamber's Luke Lee (left) and Mathis Henderson are the first Griffins recruited to join university football programs since Vancouver's Griffins started their own high school program from scratch back in 2010. (Photos courtesy UBC Football and Eric Hamber Athletics copyright 2020. All Rights Reserved)
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Eric Hamber’s gridiron pioneers! UBC-bound Luke Lee, Bishop’s-bound Mathis Henderson are Griffins’ first-ever university football recruits

VANCOUVER — They have spent the past decade as Vancouver’s only public high school football program, and now, the Eric Hamber Griffins are taking the next step in their gridiron evolution.For the first time since planting roots as a start-up junior varsity program in 2010, followed by a debut senior varsity season in 2011, the […]

After a thrilling 2019 season in which Vancouver College and its running back Daesaun Johnson (2, front) won the Subway Bowl AAA title, the 2020 campaign's particulars are up in the air due to the COVID-19 pandemic. BCSSFA president Travis Bell talks about the big issues with Howard Tsumura. (Photo by Howard Tsumura property of VarsityLetters.ca 2019. All Rights Reserved)
Kelowna head coach Chris Cartwright exchanges a sideline high-five this past season with Owls' player Noah Gross during AAA action against St. Thomas More at the Burnaby Lake Sports Complex. (Photo by Howard Tsumura property of VarsityLetters.ca 2020. All Rights Reserved)
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How to establish a high school football culture! Owls’ HC Chris Cartwright helps kick off BCHSF Zoom Coaching series by telling a T.O.U.G.H. story

When Chris Cartwright gets his chance next month to speak to the brotherhood of B.C. high school football coaches he is so proud to be a part of, his words will be coming straight from the heart.“Humbled and honoured…” to be part of the BCSSFA’s virtual Zoom Coaching Series set to debut June 1, the […]

The graphic following his selection during the ESPN/NFL Network-produced coverage of the 2020 NFL draft, broadcast in Canada by TSN, told the story of Chase Claypool's rise from the Abbotsford Panthers to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
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Chase Claypool drafted by Pittsburgh Steelers! Abby/Notre Dame star receiver ready to become a Big Catch for Big Ben!

Chase Claypool’s gridiron journey will move from one fabled football locale to another.Four seasons after Abbotsford’s Big Catch announced himself to the college football world in South Bend, Ind., with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, the 6-foot-4, 238-pound receiver is on his way to Steel City for the start of his NFL career with the […]

At the age of 42, former BYU Cougars' receiver Mike Rigell was last month named the new interim head coach of Simon Fraser Clan football. (Photo by Jacob Hall property of Simon Fraser athletics 2020. All Rights Reserved)
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A SUNDAY READ: Hailing from a decorated football family tree, new Simon Fraser head coach Mike Rigell hopes to plant deep Burnaby Mountain roots

BURNABY — There is an old saying about how storms can test our ability to stand tall, and in the process help our roots grow deeper.For new Simon Fraser head football coach Mike Rigell, who hails from a football coaching tree which traces its lineage back to some of game’s true greats, such deep-seeded roots […]

Over a senior season in which he led the brought all of his substantial skills to the fore, Simon Fraser Clan senior receiver opened eyes all over the college football world. On Sunday he plays in the 2020 Hula Bowl at Honolulu's venerable Aloha Stadium. (Photo by Paul Yates property of Simon Fraser Clan athletics 2020. All Rights Reserved)
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The rise of Rysen John: NFL scouts reaching out as Simon Fraser Clan receiver heads to Hawaii and suits up in Sunday’s Hula Bowl

BURNABY — As Rysen John prepares for his biggest audition yet, it’s impossible to ignore the fact that NFL eyes have begun to focus on Simon Fraser’s captivating senior receiver.

Putting the final brushstroke on one of the greatest individual performances in Subway Bowl history, Vancouver College's Jason Soriano prepares to cross the goal line to score his fifth touchdown of the game off a second-half pick-six. (Photo by Howard Tsumura property of VarsityLetters.ca 2019. All Rights Reserved)
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A Sunday Read: An all-time team? An all-time player? Vancouver College and star Jason Soriano make strong case with B.C. AAA title win over Lord Tweedsmuir

VANCOUVER — On a night when they turned in the most dominant championship game performance in recorded B.C. high school football history with a 45-0 Subway Bowl Triple A finals win over Surrey’s Lord Tweedsmuir Panthers, Vancouver College head coach Todd Bernett was asked a simple question:Did he consider the 2019 Irish, who went 12-1 […]

Vernon quarterback Zack Smith goes airborne in front of Langley's Ciaran Davies to score one of his three rushing TDs Saturday in the B.C. AA final at B.C. Place Stadium. (Photo by Howard Tsumura property of VarsityLetters.ca 2019. All Rights Reserved)
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Subway Bowl AA Final: Behind the magic of MVP quarterback Zack Smith, Vernon’s Panthers repeat in royal fashion

VANCOUVER — The No. 1-ranked, defending champion Vernon Panthers made their hold over the B.C. senior varsity Double-A football world dynastic-like on Saturday.Yet even behind a victory as comprehensive as its 43-14 Subway Bowl triumph over the No. 4 Langley Saints at B.C. Place Stadium, Panthers’ head coach Sean Smith admitted he was sweating the […]

The B.C. high school all-stars wait to take to the field for the first BCSSFA all-star game at B.C. Place Stadium. (Photo by Howard Tsumura property of VarsityLetters.ca 2019. All Rights Reserved)
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B.C. High School Football All-Star Game 2019: East wins low-scoring affair over West with TDs from Chomolok, Martens, Blake

It wasn’t a game filled with offensive fireworks, but the first B.C. Secondary Schools Football Association all-star game proved a fine farewell for many of the province’s top seniors Saturday at B.C. Place Stadium.In a low-scoring affair, the East scored the first three touchdowns of the game en route to a 20-6 win over the […]

While Mt. Douglas interception artist Marino Dujela (left) takes a well-deserved second-half breather, teammate Sahej Sidhu flashes four fingers and wonders if his teammate has one more pick left in his quiver during Saturday's Subway Bowl junior AAA championship game at BC Place Stadium. (Photo by Howard Tsumura property of VarsityLetters.ca 2019. All Rights Reserved)
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Subway Bowl Junior AAA Final: Three interceptions later, Mt. Doug’s Marino Dujela the hero as Rams top Lord Tweedsmuir Panthers

VANCOUVER — Early in the first half of Saturday’s Subway Bowl B.C. junior varsity AAA championship final, Mt. Douglas Rams’ rangy linebacker Marino Dujela cursed his hands and wondered what he would have to do to make the first interception of his entire football career.A pass from Lord Tweedsmuir quarterback McCord Leeson was right there […]