If you want to prove yourself extremely worthy, you have to knock off the champs.

The Westshore Rebels came close, but no one was smoking a cigar after a 27-21 setback in Kelowna to the defending B.C. Football Conference champion Okanagan Sun on Saturday night.

Westshore slips to 2-1 while the Sun remains at 3-0 after going undefeated in league play last year.

The Sun opened up a 17-0 lead, including a 120-yard touchdown on a return by Raquille Cespedes off a missed field goal.

Jamel Lyles cut it to 17-7 on a 23-yard touchdown run for Westshore before a late field goal gave the Sun a 20-7 lead at the half.

Rebels’ quarterback Ashton Mackinnon then connected with Kain Melchior on a 45-yard TD catch to close within six points early in the third quarter and later Mackinnon added a one-yard TD run in the dying seconds.

Kealey Heintz had four field goals for the winners.

Westshore will attempt to get back on track on Saturday in Kamloops.

Meanwhile, the V.I. Raiders bounced back from a 17-point deficit to defeat the Valley Huskers 54-24 on Saturday afternoon to improve to 2-1.