All season the Westshore Rebels have been known as a dominant second half team.
On Saturday night, with the Cullen Cup resting neatly on the sidelines, the Rebels reversed the script, pummelling the visiting Okanagan Sun into near-submission while jumping out to a 32-0 lead.
The end result B次元官网网址� a 32-21 win and the franchiseB次元官网网址檚 first B.C. Football Conference championship since 2003 B次元官网网址� left the RebelsB次元官网网址� quarterback and the gameB次元官网网址檚 top offensive player nearly speechless.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 pretty niceB次元官网网址hatB次元官网网址檚 all I got,B次元官网网址� a grinning Ashton MacKinnon told reporters immediately following the win.
For head coach JC Boice, who accepted the leagueB次元官网网址檚 coach of the year honour at halftime, the win over the Sun was the culmination of months of work put in by both the players and the coaching staff.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 very thankful to be here with these guys. (Everyone) worked this year. This is a fun win,B次元官网网址� Boice said.
Assistant coach Shane Beatty, who led the Sun to a BCFC title a year ago, was visibly emotional as he took part in post-game handshakes with Okanagan.
B次元官网网址淚 still love those kids and you see the love they have for me so itB次元官网网址檚 pretty tough,B次元官网网址� Beatty said, adding, B次元官网网址�(ItB次元官网网址檚) a great victory. IB次元官网网址檓 proud of the Rebel organization. IB次元官网网址檓 proud of JC and IB次元官网网址檓 so happy.B次元官网网址�
From the start, the Rebels gave the Sun a steady dose of running back Jamel Lyles, and the leagueB次元官网网址檚 rushing champion got Westshore in front with a 14-yard touchdown scamper to open the scoring in the first quarter.
The Rebels added a field goal before MacKinnon began to make his mark on the game, finding receiver Tyvon Blake for a 39-yard strike early in the second quarter.
MacKinnon threw a 10-yard score to Birhanu Yitna before the half was over and the Rebels cruised into the locker room with a 25-0 lead.
MacKinnon threw for his third score of the game on the RebelsB次元官网网址� opening drive of the second half to give Westshore a 32-0 lead.
Touchdowns from Keith Zyla, Shamar Donelson and Kyler Mosley gave the Rebels a scare, but that was as close as the Sun would come to defending the Cullen Cup.
B次元官网网址淭hey did exactly what we thought they were going to do. They finished the game strong and they fought. They didnB次元官网网址檛 let up,B次元官网网址� Lyles said.
Big plays from the defence were a key for the Rebels, as each time it appeared the Sun were building something, a game-changing turnover shifted the momentum back in their favour.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been telling everybody all year long that our defensive backs are coming onB次元官网网址ou saw it tonight. They played outstanding football,B次元官网网址� Boice said of a unit that hauled in multiple interceptions.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 just proud of these kids. They balled out. They never quit. It was amazing,B次元官网网址� Beatty said.
The turnover theme emerged early when Byron MacKinnon striped the football from a Sun rusher and 290-pound defensive lineman Kent Hicks rumbled for 57 yards on the return to set up a Rebels field goal.
B次元官网网址淵ou know, I got gas. Big man got gas. I had to (drag) someone for a bit but I tried my best and I just wanted to win it for my team,B次元官网网址� Hicks said.
The Rebels will take some time to savour their B.C. title, but itB次元官网网址檒l be business as usual when the team returns to the practice field this week in preparation for the Canadian Bowl.
That contest will take place Nov. 12 at Westhills Stadium at 1:00 p.m.
The Rebels will host the Saskatoon Hilltops, who won the Prairie Conference with a 43-31 win over the Calgary Colts on Sunday in Saskatoon.
joel.tansey@goldstreamgazette.com
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