The future of Victoria football is bright.

Once again the Victoria Renegades are on the verge of a B.C. junior bantam final appearance. The team hosts the semifinal Saturday with a chance to go the provincial finals at B.C. Place next weekend.

Last year’s provincial junior bantam (12 and 13 years old) champions are on the verge of another visit to the B.C. finals.

The opposing team will be decided Wednesday night when the Westside Huskies (Kelowna) battle the Abbotsford Falcons. Whether it’s Westside or Abbotsford, both teams will be extremely tough, says Renegades head coach Mark Townsend.

As of Wednesday the Falcons looked like the team to beat having finished the season undefeated with a record of 10-0, the results of their quarterfinal was past the News’ deadline.

Victoria holds an impressive record of their own going 11-0 when combined with their Island semifinal and championship wins.

With the running game such an important part of the ’Gades attack, the club will have to rally around the loss of running back M.J. Gabas. Gabas is unlikely to play due to a leg injury sustained in practice last week, placing a greater burden on fellow rusher Mason Swift and quarterback Brett Johnston.

“(Swift and Gabas) are both great ball runners with great speed so we’ll miss Gabas but it’s up to Swift and the team to pick up the slack,” says Townsend.

It’s Johnston who leads the run-oriented offense. The dexterous QB is a threat both on the run and to pass while in motion. “He has a very accurate arm, and can pass on the run,” says Townsend.

The run is opened up by a strong offensive line, anchored by guard Ben Sloat, who’s equally effective on both sides of the ball. Sloat opens up running lanes as a guard and, with the help of the team’s leading tackler Cassidy Jones, help close those lanes defensively.

Success in the playoffs from last year gave the Renegades homefield advantage for the semifinal.

Kicks off for the game is 1 p.m. Saturday on the brand new artificial grass turf of Eagle Ridge Field in Langford.

sports@vicnews.com