The first major milestone has been reached by the Westshore Rebels.
On a B.C. Football Conference weekend holding numerous playoff implications, the Langford-based club clinched top spot and home field advantage for the post-season with a 38-29 victory Saturday over the Rams in Langley.
The win was the second for the Rebels over Langley this season and left Westshore (7-1-1) with a three-point lead over the Rams and the Okanagan Sun (both 6-3) with only this SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 (Oct. 1) game against Kamloops remaining.
B次元官网网址淭his was a great weekend where the kids really came together,B次元官网网址� said Westshore head coach J.C. Boice, noting that his team played extremely well on both sides of the ball.
The highlights came in a number of places.
On offence there was receiver Nathaniel Pinto, who turned a last-minute play call deep in the Rebels end into a touchdown pass reception that went 109 yards, a new Canadian Junior Football League record.
Jamel Lyles was his usual slippery self in the backfield, piling up 184 yards rushing and running for four touchdowns. With 1,446 yards for the year and a game against also-ran Kamloops set for this Saturday at Westhills Stadium, he has a chance to beat Matt MedwickB次元官网网址檚 all-time BCFC rushing record of 1,592.
And quarterback Ashton MacKinnon, protected by a mostly unyielding offensive line that gave him all kinds of time to throw, had his B次元官网网址渕ost efficientB次元官网网址� game yet according to the coach, completing nine of 16 passes for 199 yards with no interceptions, while rushing for 113 yards.
But it was on defence that the Rebels really made an impact, forcing Rams quarterback Stephen Legare to hurry his throws often, intercepting four of those passes and limiting Langley to just two touchdowns. Rebel defenders Leon Metchie, Bryce Mosley, Brody Uddenberg and Jailen Goodson picked off Legare passes.
The home team got into the red zone a number of times, but often had to settle for kicked points B次元官网网址� the RamsB次元官网网址� Tiernan Docherty finished with five field goals on the night.
B次元官网网址淥ur defensive backs had their best game of the season and they were going against a very, very hot Langley team that throws very well,B次元官网网址� Boice said. B次元官网网址淧lus our defensive front four got to LangleyB次元官网网址檚 quarterback early and got inside his head.B次元官网网址�
Westshore led 21-19 at halftime and increased that lead to 31-19 after three quarters. Kyle Clarke kicked five converts and had one 22-yard field goal for the Rebels.
The win also confirmed that the Rebels will play the Vancouver Island Raiders in the opening playoff game. The meeting promises to be an emotional one, with the memory of the teamsB次元官网网址� 25-25 tie in Nanaimo still fresh in the playersB次元官网网址� minds. Boice pointed out that his team had two touchdowns called back in that game and were frustrated to come away with a tie.
B次元官网网址淲hile there is respect there (for the Raiders club) B次元官网网址� we want to establish ourselves as the elite program of the Island,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a chance to pin our ears back, flex our muscles and go out there and show what we can do B次元官网网址� Our kids are pretty excited that we get to open up the playoffs against them.B次元官网网址�
The Raiders, who play the winless Valley Huskers next weekend but can rise no higher than fourth place, posted a huge 14-8 home win over the once-mighty but now mortal Okanagan Sun on Saturday in Nanaimo, a win Boice said he predicted before the game.
B次元官网网址淲e broke the Sun,B次元官网网址� he said of the Rebels home win over Okanagan earlier this month.
The Sun went on to be absolutely humbled 58-2 by the defending Canadian Bowl champion Saskatoon Hilltops in a inter-conference game before losing for a third straight time, to the Raiders.
In the meantime, Kamloops is coming to town. The plan is to rest some key starters and give other players opportunities to step in and gain some experience, Boice said, but training will be no less intense than usual.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e going to continue to put the hammer down and make sure the practices are intense and that we continue to come out sharp.B次元官网网址�
Game time Saturday is 4 p.m. at Westhills Stadium, when the Rebels will salute veterans and local heroes. Visit westshorerebels.com for ticket information and other details.
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
