South Delta Bantam Rams likely won't have to wait long to get another crack at the unbeaten North Surrey Panthers.
If last Sunday's regular season clash was any indication, then the rematch should be dandy when the teams meet again in the upcoming Vancouver Mainland Football League playoffs. The Panthers kept their perfect season intact by rallying for a 1410 victory against a shorthanded South Delta team that saw its six game win streak snapped.
The Rams (6-3) are currently tied with Langley for third place in the league standings, however, technically sit fourth having lost the lone head-to-head battle earlier this season. Both teams are expected to win their final regular season games this weekend, meaning South Delta would face the Panthers in the VMFL semi-finals.
It's a potential rematch Rams head coach Jeff Von Ende is looking forward to. He watched his team go toe-to-toe with the North Surrey juggernaut despite missing three key players, including starting quarterback Lucas Kirk. The roster should be at full strength for the post-season.
"We will definitely see these guys again in the playoffs, said Von Ende. "We will have three of our starters back and it will be a very different game. These guys are going to be very surprised when they see us in two or three weeks."
The Panthers scored on their opening possession and were then held in check for the remainder of the opening half thanks to some terrific defensive play by the hosts.
Despite starting several drives in North Surrey territory, the Rams could only manage a Jack McDonald field goal.
A boisterous group of South Delta supporters came to life in the third quarter when Blake Gau scored on a 50-yard pass and run play to give the Rams a 10-6 lead. North Surrey answered on its ensuing drive with a long run and added a valuable point in the final quarter on a punt single.
The hosts ran out of time with the ball on their own 40-yard-line.
"North Surrey is a solid team with a lot of good athletes," continued Von Ende.
"They run a lot of plays and are a threat to pass and run."
With players trickling back from summer vacation, the Rams got off to a very slow start, dropping their first two games. However, they have been rolling since, including a 28-0 road win on Oct. 21 against another North Surrey team they had lost to back in September.
"Went through same thing last year," added Von Ende who guided many of these players to a VMFL junior bantam title in 2011. "We knew going into our first game we weren't prepared at all. But we have been building (momentum) week after week since."
