South Kam in quarterfinals

The South Kamloops secondary football Titans won their first round playoff game in dramatic double overtime fashion and are looking to keep momentum going as they seek revenge in a rematch this Friday against Vernon.

The senior AA high school football squad took down the Argyle secondary Pipers from North Vancouver in their wild card matchup by just a single point, winning 35-34 to advance to the quarterfinals.

Titans head coach JP Lancaster described the road win as “absolutely unbelievable.”

“Probably the wildest in my 15 years of coaching. I could not be prouder of our kids. We battled through adversity and momentum swings all night. We never lost our belief and found a way to get the job done,” Lancaster told Castanet Kamloops.

Lancaster said backup quarterback Kelton Blower, who is filling for injured starter Cole Rigler, put together “a performance for the ages” throwing for 139 yards and four touchdowns, as well as running for 88 yards.

He said after Argyle scored on the opening possession, much of the first half was a defensive battle.

“Blower found a wide open Cruz Parsons for a 14 yard receiving touchdown, before a second Argyle score gave the hosts a 14-7 lead into the intermission,” Lancaster said in a press release.

The Titans broke through in the third quarter, however, as Blower found receiver Mason Lougheed for a 47 touchdown pass to tie the game before getting their first lead of the night on a two-yard punch in from running back Lloyd Heggen late in the quarter.

With just a minute left in the fourth quarter Argyle would rally with a rushing touchdown to force overtime.

The Titans then marched the ball in the final 60 seconds before fumbling at mid-field, allowing Argyle to advance the ball to the Titans 20 yard line to bring out their field goal team to win on the last play.

But linesman Jayden de Boer saved the season, blocking the field goal attempt, and Hudson Jones returned the ball 80 yards for what seemed like a walkoff touchdown, but that play was called back for an illegal block and the game headed to overtime.

Following the Texas Shootout rules of college where each team gets four downs to score from the 10 yard line, the Pipers scored first. Blower would find receiver Gavin Smith for a 10 yard score to extend overtime to a 2nd period.

In double OT Argyle chose to go on offence first and scored, but the Titans would block the extra point before going on offence.

“On third down, Blower ducked under what looked to be a sure QB sack, rolled out and found Parsons for his second TD of the night,” Lancaster said.

Hudson Jones kicked the point after attempt for there Titans and sent SKSS Titans through to the next round.

The win sets up a date in Vernon agains the Panthers — the team that just weeks ago dashed South Kam's hopes of clinching the conference title.

The Titans would end the year 4-2 while Vernon went on to have a perfect 6-0 season, lan ding them there nimbler one seed in the playoffs.

SKSS is ranked ninth and Argyle was the eighth seed overall.

The Titans take on the Vernon Panthers this Friday (Nov. 15) on the road at the Greater Vernon Athletic Park.

Elsewhere around the league playoffs, the number 10 Westsyde Whundas lost 30-12 to the number seven Mt. Doug Rams of Victoria in the other wildcard game last weekend.