With a full season guiding the Westshore Rebels under his belt and the teamB次元官网网址檚 annual awards handed out, head coach J.C. Boice is optimistic about the future of his football team.

Only five players out of more than 70 on the 2015 roster have graduated from the program and the learning curve will likely be less steep next year, Boice says.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 very excited about all the players weB次元官网网址檝e got coming back B次元官网网址� they learned a lot this season,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淪ome teams are losing more than others, but everybody is losing more than we are.B次元官网网址�

While the individuals who have aged out of the program will be missed, he says B次元官网网址� pointing to the versatility of receiver/quarterback and team most valuable player Hunter Lake as being particularly hard to replace B次元官网网址� he expects the young core of the team to make an impact in the B.C. Football Conference in 2016.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 most excited about the offensive line; weB次元官网网址檝e got the entire group coming back,B次元官网网址� says Boice, who ran the teamB次元官网网址檚 offence this past season. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 the foundation of our team.B次元官网网址�

A couple of the o-linemen have been offered scholarships to CIS schools in Canada for 2016 yet have chosen to stick around for another year to participate in the development of the team, he adds. Among them is Aarmin Purewal, a decorated former Mount Douglas Rams player who previously committed to the University of Manitoba Bisons.

Other linemen coming back are Connor Bryan, Kolton Henderson and Kyle Harrington, who have played two years of junior; Jake Hall, a third-year man, and rookie Sandy Walker.

B次元官网网址淭o have all six of those guys back is going to be huge for us. They played very well down the stretch, opening up lanes,B次元官网网址� Boice says, and gave the quarterbacks more time to set up in passing situations.

While LakeB次元官网网址檚 poise filling in at quarterback will be missed, getting a full season under centre from two-time BCFC offensive player of the week Ashton MacKinnon will be key to the team success on offence, the coach adds. B次元官网网址淲e were really starting to connect before he went down with an injury (halfway through the season), so having him back will be big for us.B次元官网网址�

Boice also sees running back Jordan Worth playing an even bigger role next year. B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 going to be very dynamic for us next year. He had some inconsistencies this year B次元官网网址� but there were some times of brilliance.B次元官网网址�

On defence, cornerbacks Cody Wist and Jordan Bosse B次元官网网址済ot picked on a lotB次元官网网址� by experienced quarterbacks and had to toughen up through the season, he said, B次元官网网址渂ut they showed tremendous resilience. TheyB次元官网网址檙e good football players and very competitive guys.B次元官网网址�

On the d-line, Jorge Yarwood, a six-four, 270-pounder out of Vancouver; and James Bradley, a 6-1, 300-pound lineman groomed on local football fields, are expected to raise their game in their second season next year.

With the development of younger players, Boice says, and a recruiting plan that is seeing more talented athletes choose to pursue a spot with the Rebels, the outlook is positive after back-to-back 2-8 seasons.

B次元官网网址淲hen youB次元官网网址檙e doing a program turnaround, the first year youB次元官网网址檙e in games youB次元官网网址檙e not supposed to be in, and we did that this year. The second year, thatB次元官网网址檚 when you win games youB次元官网网址檙e not supposed to win.B次元官网网址�

Based on the interest level this year and having a full off-season to work with, he predicts the team may have enough players to host a veteranB次元官网网址檚 and a rookie training camp.

The Rebels will host their annual general meeting on Nov. 17, where theyB次元官网网址檒l introduce some high-profile additions to the coaching staff and new partnerships that are expected to further boost the clubB次元官网网址檚 presence within the community, Boice says.

editor@goldstreamgazette.com

The best in red

Westshore Rebels handed out their 2015 team awards recently. HereB次元官网网址檚 the rundown:

B次元官网网址� Community citizen of the year - Erikson Deseron, Ryan Allard

B次元官网网址� Leadership excellence - Alex Wright

B次元官网网址� Outstanding teammate - Darcy Cherneff, Talyn Davies

B次元官网网址� Toughness Crew - Joe Barkhouse, James Danylchuk, Matt Pastro, Kent Cross

B次元官网网址� Most improved - Jeremy Nagai (defence), Kyle Harrington (offence)

B次元官网网址� Top rookie - Cody Wist (defence), Ashton MacKinnon (offence)

B次元官网网址� Top def. lineman - James Bradley

B次元官网网址� Top linebacker - Jordan Goertzen

B次元官网网址� Top def. back - Brody Uddenberg

B次元官网网址� Top off. lineman - Aarmin Purewal

B次元官网网址� Top receiver - Hunter Lake

B次元官网网址� Top off. back - Jordan Worth

B次元官网网址� Special teams player -- Kent Cross

B次元官网网址� Def. player of the year - James Bradley

B次元官网网址� Off. player of the year - Hunter Lake

B次元官网网址� Most inspirational - Jordan Bosse

B次元官网网址� Most valuable player - Hunter Lake

B次元官网网址� Rein Eberle Volunteer of the Year - Jason Sperling