Game 5 Recap: Raiders 32 @ Broncos 39

The Broncos continued to show their first half dominance in week five, playing a confident VI Raiders team who stormed back against the visiting squad from Kamloops just a week before. The Broncos took a healthy lead into the half as they have in every game of the season - the only team in the BCFC to carry a lead at the break in each game, and they continued to lose momentum as the game progressed, but did enough to hang on, beating the visitors from Nanaimo for the first time in Broncos team history.

The home team came out with a different approach in this match up, pounding it on the ground in contrast to the offensive assault from a week ago, that smashed BCFC records for passes completed. Jake Palmarin, limited to just 63 yards rushing a week before, ripped off an additional 197 yards on just 8 more carries, shattering a Broncos team record and finding the End Zone twice in the process. That's not to say the passing game was neglected, as Schuweiler still passed for 328 yards and 3 TDs, with majors going to league leading receivers Yachison (2) and Csincsa (1). Putting up such solid numbers against a very strong Raiders Defense would have been impossible if not for the excellent play of the Broncos offensive line, who have held their own against all comers at this half way point of the season.

The defense shouldn't be overlooked in this one, as Shaq Lawson, Mike Ochoa and Kurtis Mutschmann all had big defensive plays in the backfield, halting drives in their tracks and flipping field position by forcing punts from a technically sound VI offense. 

The Raiders finished the game strong, clawing their way back and kicking a FG as the remaining seconds ticked off the clock ensuring the tie breaker is in their favour, should the two teams have the same records at year end. This may have stripped some of the joy from the Kamloops locker room, but not enough to take away the excitement felt in the stands at Hillside Stadium after a very competitive and entertaining few hours of watching history unfold.