Jordan Yantz reached yet another mark that solidifies his status as an all-time great.
The Vancouver Island Raiders’ quarterback threw for 268 yards in Saturday’s 44-28 win over the Okanagan Sun, lifting his career passing yards total to 9,405. That surpasses the former Canadian Junior Football League record of 9,370 set by John Makie of the Regina Thunder and Victoria Rebels between 2001-04.
The QB had noticed before the season started that he might have a shot at the record, but it had slipped his mind until his mother mentioned it to him on Monday.
“I never knew that I was in reach,” said Yantz. “If I try not to worry about those things as much, it seems like they keep on falling into place for me.”
Yantz now holds a handful of CJFL and B.C. Football Conference records, most notably his 108 career passing touchdowns, and 35 passing TDs in a season, a record he shares.
He said he still thinks about taking a shot at the passing yards in a season record (3,030) that was set by Ryan Marsch of the Winnipeg Rifles last year. It could be in reach, as Yantz is on pace for 3,200.
Matthew (Snoop) Blokker, V.I. coach, expressed pride when asked about Yantz's latest achievement.
"He's believed in the program and believed in the coaches and the organization," said Blokker. "Not only is he a great quarterback, he's become a great leader and he's going to be one of these Raiders that go down in the history books as one of the best to ever play."
GAME ON … The Raiders face the Langley Rams on Saturday (Sept. 22) in the Fraser Valley in a 4 p.m. kickoff. The game will be webcast live at www.viraiders.ca … For a preview of the game, please check back at www.nanaimobulletin.com/sports tomorrow (Sept. 20) or pick up Thursday's print issue of the News Bulletin.
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