The firm of Falconer and Falconer laid down a bit of the law early for the Valley Huskers on Saturday afternoon, but in the end, the Westshore Rebels’ offence policed control of the B.C. Football Conference matchup in Chilliwack.
Rebels quarterback Ashton Mackinnon threw two touchdown passes to Kain Melchior and another to Nathaniel Pinto as the visitors sped off with a 47-23 victory at Exhibition Field.
Huskers quarterback Noah Falconer and his brother, Elijah, caused the Rebels’ defence some fits through the air early. They connected on one touchdown and Noah — the league-leader in passing coming into the game — found receiver Blake Draper for two other scores.
Mackinnon, who shared the QB duties with Scott Borden, didn’t back down, however, moving the offence well in the second half.
“We made some adjustments offensively and the defence made some adjustments,” said Rebels’ head coach J.C. Boice, whose team had a 15-14 lead at the half. “We made critical adjustments and really went after it.
“The kids really responded. It’s another needed road win and 4-1 [in the standings] is 4-1 and Chilliwack is vastly improved. They’ve upgraded their talent considerably.”
Mackinnon had a 60-plus yard TD strike to Melchior called back on a holding call, but the two did connect on 57- and 20-yard majors early in the third and fourth quarters.
Jamel Lyles had a five-yard touchdown run and Trey Campbell had a big afternoon, including two touchdowns, one on a 50-yard scamper in the fourth quarter. Nate Skeete added a 20-yard field goal and the defence forced a safety touch for another Westshore score.
“Ashton had that late first-half touchdown and it seemed like he was in rhythm. Ashton had the hot hand and we went with him [in the second half],” said Boice. “He played real well and Trey was awesome the entire second half.”
Liam Zurfluh had a 24-yard field goal for the Huskers, who fall to 0-5 and will travel to Westhills Stadium on Saturday for a rematch.
Westshore improves to 4-1 and sits in a second-place tie in the BCFC with the Langley Rams who downed the Vancouver Island Raiders 29-14 on Saturday. The Raiders are 3-2. The 4-0 Okanagan Sun played late Saturday night against the 0-4 Broncos.
