Three proved to be a charm for the Salmon Arm Charger Bantam football team, as they upset the undefeated Kelowna Blazers in a hard-fought game, played on Saturday, Nov. 15, at Mission stadium in Kelowna.

Having lost the two regular season matches to the Blazers by narrow margins, the Chargers capitalized on their opportunities to pound out a 21 -15 victory, behind the solid play of their defence, which frequently frustrated a Blazer team that had averaged 40 points a game during the regular season.

It was an exciting game, says Charger's coach Rob Ellis, who thinks the Blazers underestimated the Salmon Arm team.

"It was 21-nothing going into the last three minutes of the fourth quarter.

Our quarterback ran for a 20-yard draw up the middle and fumbled the ball into the end zone and they recovered. They marched the ball down and scored on two long passes.

"It was too little, too late, however.

Ellis notes that a couple of Salmon Arm players were particularly outstanding.

"Quarterback Cody Wouters ran for over 70 yards and scored one touchdown. Scyler Dumas scored on a two-yard quarterback sneak, and he was strong on offence and defence."

Ellis says the entire defensive squad was stellar. "Everybody – every single person stepped up to the plate."

In fact, Ellis enthuses about the whole team.

"This is the best team I've ever coached. They work hard together and support each other on and off the field. They're just a great bunch of kids."

The Chargers now travel to Chilliwack to play the Abbotsford Falcons in a provincial semi-final game on Saturday at 3 p.m. at Townsend Stadium. The winner of this game will travel to BC Place stadium the following week for the Provincial Championship Game.

Ellis notes the Chargers' record is particularly outstanding, given that Salmon Arm boasts a population of about 15,000, while Kelowna has a pool of about 175,000 to draw on.