After their previous head-to-head game went down to the wire and was decided by two points, the highly anticipated rematch between the Westshore Rebels and Vancouver Island Raiders was rather anti-climactic Saturday as the latter rolled to a 35-16 B.C. Football Conference win in Nanaimo.
Coming off their second win of the season, the Rebels (2-6) were looking to continue their momentum. But the fired-up Raiders (5-3) dominated the first half, built a 28-7 lead by halftime and held the visitors largely at bay the rest of the way.
B次元官网网址淥bviously weB次元官网网址檙e very disappointed in the loss, but IB次元官网网址檓 still finding a lot of positive things about the game and the season to this point,B次元官网网址� said Rebels head coach J.C. Boice. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been watching the game film and our kids competed the whole way. We were very beat up and were missing our starting quarterback, but our kids never panicked B次元官网网址� theyB次元官网网址檙e really starting to show signs of maturing as a football team.B次元官网网址�
Almost from the beginning, RaidersB次元官网网址� quarterback Liam OB次元官网网址橞rien picked apart the young Rebels defensive backfield with surgical accuracy. By gameB次元官网网址檚 end he had connected on 17 of 20 passes for 337 yards and found the end zone for five touchdown passes.
Three of those scoring plays went to receiver Arthur Fabbro, who caught six passes for 156 yards on the day, including a 58-yard strike. Teammate Dustin Rodriguez went 60 yards on another play and hauled in seven OB次元官网网址橞rien passes for 148 yards and one TD.
B次元官网网址淭he first quarter we had two three-and-outs (on offence) and we left the defence on the field too long,B次元官网网址� Boice said. B次元官网网址淥ur front seven played outstanding, but our D-backs are a pretty young group B次元官网网址� We tackled really well in open space, but we just gave up the big play a couple of times.B次元官网网址�
The RebelsB次元官网网址� passing game was stifled, managing just 53 yards with Hunter Lake starting in place of injured No. 1 QB Ashton Mackinnon. Lake connected on just nine of 20 attempts, but contributed with his legs as well, rushing for 50 yards and one touchdown.
The visitorsB次元官网网址� gained most of their yardage on the ground. Darcy Cherneff led the charge with 60 yards on nine carries, while James Danylchuk and Jordan Worth chipped in 28 and 23 yards, respectively.
Things donB次元官网网址檛 get any easier for the Rebels. This Saturday (Sept. 26) theyB次元官网网址檒l host the league-leading Okanagan Sun, who bring an 8-0 record and a No. 2 national ranking in the most recent poll.
B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e going to be tough,B次元官网网址� admitted Boice. B次元官网网址淏ut we play really tough at home. The kids are excited to play, theyB次元官网网址檙e hitting me up on Messenger and saying B次元官网网址榟ey, what if we try this or that.B次元官网网址� TheyB次元官网网址檙e really engaged B次元官网网址� ThatB次元官网网址檚 what I love about these kids, they love the direction weB次元官网网址檙e going in. TheyB次元官网网址檙e coming to work and doing the things that successful programs are doing.B次元官网网址�
Rebel chatter B次元官网网址� The club is inviting K-12 students to enjoy free admission to SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 game during minor football celebration day. Each adult ticket allows for two free kids/youth tickets. Find more information and a copy of the coupon at . Game time is 3 p.m. at Westhills Stadium.
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
