The accolades continue to come in for Vernon Panthers quarterback Cole Budgen.
The B.C.Interior AA Senior Varsity Football Conference's Top Offensive Player was named provincial MVP this week as the No.1-ranked Panthers get ready to take on the College Heights Cougars in a B.C. AA semifinal Saturday, Nov. 23, at 1 p.m. at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver.
The 5-foot-11, 160-pound Budgen was one of five Panthers named provincial all-stars leading up to the final four contest.
"Cole continues to amaze me with his focus, drive and commitment to Panther football and his personal goals," said VSS head coach Sean Smith after his QB was named the winner of the Glenn McWhinney Scholarship ($5,000), presented by the Canadian Football League Hall of Fame Committee prior to the Grey Cup contest in Vancouver Nov. 17.
"He has a champion mindset and is so deserving of all of the accolades he’s receiving this year."
All Budgen did during the regular season was throw 22 TD passes, complete 71 of 96 attempts – 74 per cent completion rate – for 1,622 yards or an average of 270.33 yards per game. His longest was a 90-yard catch-and-run with running back Ayden McDonald.
In the Panthers provincial 56-0 quarterfinal romp over the South Kamloops Titans a week ago, Budgen was 13-15 with five TD passes.
Joining Budgen on the provincial all-star squad were offensive teammates Jonah Lee (running back), Owen Carpenter (lineman), and wide receiver Anderson Bicknell.
Linebacker Jeff Curtis of the Cats was a provincial defensive all-star.
The other provincial semifinal will be played before the VSS-College Heights game, with the second-seeded Wiindsor Wolves of North Vancouver playing the Robert Bateman Timberwolves of Abbotsford at 11:30 a.m.
The two winners meet next Saturday, Nov. 30, back under the B.C. Place roof for the provincial championship.
MINOR FOOTBALL
Victoria's Westshore Warriors were too much for the Vernon Blue Magnums.
The Vancouver Island squad defeated the Blue Magnums 44-0 in a B.C. Provincial Football Association semifinal Saturday, Nov. 16, at South Surrey Athletic Park.
Westshore will play the Cloverdale Bobcats for the B.C.9-man Junior Bantam crown.
