What will be a busy season of high school football in the North Okanagan in 2025 kicked off Wednesday, Sept. 3, with junior varsity pre-season play.
For the first time in recent memory, the junior varsity and senior varsity AA Okanagan leagues will each feature four schools from the North Okanagan.
The Vernon Panthers, Fulton Maroons, and Seaton/Kalamalka Sonics of Vernon-Coldstream, and Armstrong's Pleasant Valley Secondary Hawks are fielding teams in both division.
The Panthers – B.C. Junior Varsity AA champions in 2023, and provincial semifinalists in 2024 – began their new campaign in Rutland with something they haven't accomplished in five years, beating the host Thunder 27-8 at Rutland Secondary School.
Panthers touchdown came from twins Hunter and Liam Shalaby, Bennett Friesen, and Cortland Dawdiuk. Kicker Jeff Hamilton booted four converts.
In Kamloops, the Maroons fell 36-6 to the host Westsyde Blue Wave.
In Coldstream, the expansion Hawks lined up for a scrimmage at Kalamalka Secondary against the Seaton/Kal Sonics.
The first-year Hawks are guided by former CFL player Devin Rodger. Quarterback Damien McCormack and defensive end Ryder Rodger were named the Hawks' players of the game.
A pre-season twinbill is slated for Wednesday, Sept. 10, at Greater Vernon Athletic Park.
The Panthers are scheduled to host the G.W. Graham Grizzlies of Chilliwack at 5 p.m., and that will be followed by the Hawks entertaining the Salmon Arm Golds at 7 p.m.
The regular season begins the following Wednesday, Sept. 17, with the Maroons taking on crosstown rivals Seaton/Kal at 5 p.m. at GVAP.
That will be followed by the Panthers taking on Pleasant Valley in an exhibition tilt at 7 p.m.
SENIOR VARSITY
The Nanaimo Islanders will travel to the North Okanagan, the Sardis Falcons from the Fraser Valley are in limbo.
Both teams are slated to play exhibition games Friday, Sept. 5, at GVAP, starting with Sardis facing the defending Interior champion and provincial finalist Vernon Panthers at 4:30 p.m. VSS was waiting to hear as of Wednesday morning if Sardis would make the trip with the Coquihalla closed between Merritt and Hope.
Vernon lost the 2024 B.C. AA final by one point to North Vancouver's Windsor Dukes.
The Islanders have assured coach Mike Scheller they are making the trip north, and will face the Fulton Maroons in the nightcap at 7 p.m.
The following day, Seaton/Kalamalka will take on Pleasant Valley at 12 p.m. at GVAP.
All North Okanagan teams in both divisions will play their home games at GVAP.
Fulton's home opener will be against the College Heights Cougars of Prince George on Friday, Sept. 19.