Football

Congratulations to the Fighting Irish Varsity Football Team for winning the Provincial Championship on December 4, 2010, defeating the previously unbeaten and #1 ranked, Terry Fox Ravens 28-15 before over 5,000 fans at Empire Field. The Irish were led by game MVP, Adam Konar, who scored three running touchdowns and intercepted the Fox quarterback twice. The other College score came from Charlie Thorpe who also led the team on defence with 15 tackles. Jeff Tichelman passed for 191 yards with his favourite targets being Justin Sanvido (four catches for 76 yards) and Reiner Theil (four catches for 53 yards). Patrick Cotterall was named the games Most Outstanding Lineman and Jeff Tichelman, the Most Outstanding Back. The win for VC marked its 4th provincial crown but its first since 1994. The win for the Varsity team improved their season record to 12-2. Over the course of the season, they averaged 32.0 points per game and had only 9.8 points per game scored against them.

This year marked the first time since 1994 that the Irish had teams in all three championship games. The Grade 8s lost a heartbreaker to Lord Tweedsmuir 28- 22. They were up 22-8 at the half but could not contain Tweedsmuir's offense in the second half. The Irish's Ovie Odjegba was named the game's Outstanding Back.

The Junior Varsity Team were unfortunately defeated by a larger, more physical Mt. Douglas Rams squad (43-28). The Irish were led by Liam Mahara who scored all four Irish majors (giving him 14 touchdowns in his last 3 games) and was also named the Most Outstanding Back.

All in all it was an outstanding year for Irish football and all the players and coaches are to be congratulated.

On December 4, 2010, the AAA Provincial banner was raised in the Alumni Gymnasium with the entire student body and many VC alumni football players who once donned the purple and gold. (More including photos of the momentous occasion).

VC FOOTBALL PROGRAM

Vancouver College's football program, which dates back to 1929, continues to flourish with over 190 boys participating in the program from Grades 8-12. This make us the largest football program in the province. The football season begins in August and runs until early December each year.

Under current head coach, Todd Bernett, the Irish have been to the provincial championship game on four occasions and were victorious in 2010, the first Irish championship since 1994. The Varsity team had a record of 12-2 in the 2010 season, giving Coach Bernett a lifetime 88-28 record as the program’s head coach.

Many players have gone on to compete at both the university and professional level and we are proud of the fact that the 2010 CFL season saw 7 former Irish football players competing (Kevin Eiben (VC’97), Jamie Boreham (VC’96) & Joe Eppele (VC’05) with the Toronto Argonauts; Aaron Hargreaves (VC’04) with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers; Angus Reid (VC’94) with the BC Lions; Peter Dyakowski (VC’02) with the Hamilton Tiger Cats and Shea Emry (VC’04) with the 2010 Grey Cup Champions, Montreal Alouettes). Over the years over 45 Vancouver College graduates have gone on the play in the Canadian Football League.

2010 was an excellent season for the program which, in addition to the Varsity championship, saw both the Junior Varsity and Grade 8 teams reach the provincial finals.

Read a brief History of Football at Vancouver College.

Todd Bernett
Head Coach