Still ecstatic about their historic first-ever win in 26 tries over the Vancouver Island Raiders, the Westshore Rebels will turn their attention to the defending league-champion Okanagan Sun tonight.
Focus will not be a problem as Rebels associate coach and defensive co-ordinator Shane Beatty prepares his troops to face his former team.
The Rebels’ defence, which allowed just six points against on a pair of field goals in last Saturday’s 45-22 win over the Raiders (the remainder were off special teams), will be challenged by the Sun. Beatty, an emotional and boisterous coach, who joined the Rebels this off-season after leading Okanagan to a league title and runner-up finish nationally in 2015, says bring it on.
“Obviously, beating V.I. was big, but this one has a little meaning to it. I’m pretty excited and the kids will be prepared and we’re ready to meet the challenge,” said Beatty.
“We’re both 2-0; we’ve created eight turnovers on defence and I think they have six.
“They’ve only given up 80 yards rushing, whereas we have rushed the ball extremely well the first two games and it’s only getting better. Our offensive line and backs are very good. They have the addition of Jonas Gering back into the lineup, but we’re ready for the challenge.”
The Rebels will be without Shaun Robinson, last week’s defensive player of the week who established himself as a leader early in this season. Robinson has left the club to return home to Halifax.
“He was a great kid, a great leader, but it’s next man up, right. It’s a big loss, but at the same time the kids are rallying and we’ll just have to put up 48 on offence,” Beatty said with a chuckle. “We know where our bread is buttered and that is up front with that O-line. They are all monstrous.”
The Rebels are coming off an impressive performance against the Raiders, establishing a new team record for most total yards in a game with 669, snapping the old mark of 656 from 2009.
Runningback Jamel Lyles, the offensive player of the week in the BCFC, had 32 carries for 270 yards and a touchdown and added one catch for 22 yards.
Quarterback Scott Borden, who took over as starter from Ashton Mackinnon, had five carries for 54 yards and two TDs, but really stung the Raiders through the air, completing 10 of 16 passes for 343 yards and three TDs.
Defensively, Robinson had seven total tackles, half a quarterback sack and one forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Devon Bell and Cody Wist each had interceptions as the defence kept Raiders’ QB Jacon Laberge to 13 of 25 in passing for 186 yards.
The Rebels, as a team, ran for 346 yards and added 343 yards passing and racked up 28 first downs compared to 14 for V.I. The yardage was massive — the 689 yards to 277 as Westshore shut down the Raiders, especially in the second half.
A total of 21 penalties for 153 yards did hurt the Rebels.
“We have to fix special teams this week and be disciplined and we’ll get that done,” said Beatty. “Defensively, we’ll be well prepared and ready to go, and offensively we’ll just do our thing. We’ve got speed guys on this team and we’re excited about that.”
