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Magnums drop thriller to Broncos

The Vernon Magnums lost a 37-34 Junior Bantam football league thriller to the Kamloops Broncos
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Bennett Nicholson of the Vernon Magnums pushes past Thomas Stevens of the Kamloops Broncos in Southern Interior Atom Football League action Sunday at the Greater Vernon Athletics Park. (Lisa Mazurek/Morning Star)

The Vernon Magnums lost a 37-34 Southern Interior Junior Bantam Football League thriller to the Kamloops Broncos Sunday at the Greater Vernon Athletics Park.

Kian Zabihi was a standout for the Magnums with 190 yards rushing, 108 yards in pass receptions and four touchdowns.

Damon Froste chipped in with 75 rushing yards and a TD, while Josh DeGelder was successful on 2-of-5 convert attempts.

New running back Tyson McKay, who rang up 26 yards rushing and 28 yards in receptions, made several crucial blocks for his teammates, as did Dillon Rinkel and Terry Johnson.

On defence, it was a team effort with both Skyler Broughton and Daniel Drysdale recording QB sacks and touchdown-saving tackles supplied by Dylan Morris, Darious Cardinal and Dominick Kitzman.

The Magnums are home again Sunday, 2 p.m. for a tilt against the Salmon Arm Chargers. It’s Vernon Football Family Fun Day so all three local teams are playing.

Veteran Ron Kirschner is head coach of the Magnums.

After a hard-fought second half, the Pee Wees Magnums fell 32-6 to the Kamloops Broncos Sunday at the college turf.

Nathan Rinkel recorded some awesome last-second tackles to stop the outside runs in the opening half before ending his game short with an injury.

On the defensive line, Torval (Tank) Marchand and Arel Ciccone kept many of the inside runs at bay several times.

First-timer Jonah Koshman dug deep and made some key stops in the backfield, while Jake Rinn pushed hard with a few solo tackles. Defensive honorable mention props went to Issaih Grant, Loch Kilford and Simon Drysdale for some clutch tackles.

Quarterback/running back Elijah Warner made positive movement of the ball, while Thomas Pielecki, who was cut short on an 85-yard touchdown by a flag at the start of the play, followed up with a run to the end zone for his first TD of the season.

QB Seth Holte, centre Ryden Furmanek and offensive lineman Connor Day also enjoyed strong outings.

In Atom action, the Magnums lost to the Kamloops Broncos.

Bennett Nicholson led the Magnums with two touchdowns but was held to 65 rushing yards on 13 attempts, while Dominic Zaino rang up 111 yards on five touches and one score.

The Magnums received bold defence from tireless Brock Warner and Mason Insull each with four tackles, while Shaymus Waterstreet and Lincoln Day held the Broncos for parts of the game by blowing through their gaps.

The Magnums were exhausted and couldn’t keep up the whole game but Kingston Jarvis went from dee lineman to slotback on offence and picked it up very well, according to coach Tyler Swanson.

Tickets for minor football’s big raffle will be sold Sunday. There is a $3,900 WestJet travel voucher as first prize.