South Kamloops Titans Shock Province, Upset No. 2 Seed John Barsby in Playoff Thriller

Photo Credit: Melisa Dyck

The South Kamloops Titans delivered one of the biggest surprises of the BC High School Football postseason, knocking off the second-seeded John Barsby Bulldogs 49–41 on the road Saturday to advance to the Provincial Semi-Finals for the first time since 2011.

In a standing room only, hostile atmosphere at Harewood East Field in Nanaimo, the seventh-seeded Titans came out swinging and never looked back. South Kam stunned the heavily favoured Bulldogs by seizing momentum early and refusing to surrender the lead at any point in the contest.

Quarterback Cole Rigler turned in a career performance, completing 29 of 33 passes for 380 yards and five touchdowns in a near-flawless outing. His favourite target, Derian Dyck, torched the Barsby secondary with six catches for 123 yards and four touchdowns, piling up points while also playing a massive role on defense.

Dyck added 10 solo tackles on the other side of the ball, while linebacker Devin Price anchored the defensive unit with a staggering 17 solo tackles. South Kam’s biggest defensive highlight came from safety Mason Gozda, who jumped a route and returned an interception for a pivotal touchdown.

Holding a commanding 49–27 lead with nine minutes remaining, the Titans were forced to hang on as Barsby mounted a furious late push. The Bulldogs struck quickly for a touchdown and added a two-point conversion, trimming the lead to eight and sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

But when the pressure peaked, South Kam’s composure shone through. The Titans’ offense methodically marched down the field, bleeding the final 2:58 off the clock and sealing a statement victory that shakes up the provincial bracket.

Up next, South Kam faces North Vancouver’s Argyle Pipers in the Provincial Semi-Finals, a rematch of last year’s unforgettable Wild Card clash, where the Titans emerged with a dramatic double-overtime road win. This year’s meeting will take place under the lights at BC Place on November 23, with kickoff time still to be determined.

For a program chasing its first championship appearance in over a decade, Saturday’s stunning upset suggests the Titans are peaking at exactly the right moment.