Coming off the worst loss of their three-year franchise history, the Prince George Kodiaks will be back in the friendly confines of Masich Place Stadium Saturday, hoping to end a four-game losing streak when they face the Kamloops Broncos.
The Kodiaks dropped to 1-4 last weekend in Kelowna, where they were steamrolled 70-0 by the B.C. Football Conference-leading Okanagan Sun.
The Sun (5-0) scored on each of their first three possessions to take a 20-0 lead and never looked back, racking up 776 yards of offence and 445 yards rushing to set new franchise records.
The Kodiaks were unable to contain running back Elelyon Noa, who rushed for 216 yards and three touchdowns and scored a fourth TD hauling in a pass.
The Kodiaks have had a week to heal their wounds, recover their strength and practice drills before they take on the Broncos (0-4).
“We didn’t play, we were late to the party and last to punch,” said Kodiaks head coach Jamie Boreham. “We did not play like a football team indicative of the team we need to be and want to be.”
Sickness and injuries did factor in the loss to Okanagan but Kodiaks head coach Jamie Boreham won’t use that as an excuse for his team’s poor performance. He’s looking for much better in what he says is a must-win situation playing at home Saturday.
“We had some sickness run through the locker room and it got a bunch of them, and we’re on the better side of that now,” said Boreham. “We need to go do our jobs and get this thing back on track.
The Kodiaks will welcome back from the injury shelf defensive backs Taemon Piddocke and Peyton Briere, receiver Carson Briere, offensive lineman Connor Sherlock, and defensive linemen Glenn Falkowski and Westan Shiels.
They’ve added Langley product Dayton Boutilier, who brings junior football experience as a former Langley Ram, and he will slot in as offensive tackle to face the Broncos.
“We’ve got some guys trying to tough through some (injuries) and getting a couple guys back this week is going to help us and benefit the team,” said Boreham. “It should boost some confidence and morale on the field.
“The guys have responded well this week, they understand what’s on the table for them. We’ve got to take care of the stuff right in front of us and stop letting peripheral things outside of us blur our focus.”
Fans are being asked to bring donations of non-perishable food items to support the Tackle Hunger food drive and fill the bus for the Salvation Army Food Bank.
Game time Saturday is 6 p.m.
Tickets are available through the Tickets North website or at the gate on game day.
