During B.C. Football Conference bye week, J.C. Boice had the opportunity to share some quality time with wife Janine and his family.
Of course, he also pored through hours and hours of game film so that his Westshore Rebels (5-1) will have an opportunity to try and even the score with the visiting Okanagan Sun (6-0) tonight at 7 at Westhills Stadium.
Home-field advantage in the playoffs could be riding on the result as the Rebels attempt to avenge a 27-21 loss in Kelowna to the defending league champions. A seven-point (or better) win would give Westshore the advantage, depending on the remaining three regular-season games.
“I’m excited. We were close when we played them last time,” said Boice. “Talking to the kids and the staff, we don’t feel that we lost that game, we just were behind and the clock ran out. We won the third and fourth quarters, we just dug ourselves a hole that first half.
“That's part of the travel on those long road trips and now they get to come to our hornet’s nest. Westhills Stadium is becoming a tough place to play. We’re starting to get big crowds, it’s a great venue and it’s very loud. It’s not like most stadiums with a big track around it. The stands are right on top of you.”
In the first meeting, the Rebels fell behind 17-0, including a 120-yard touchdown return by Raquille Cespedes off a missed field goal. Westshore then began to chip away with touchdowns from league-leading rusher Jamal Lyles, a 45-yard pass from Ashton Mackinnon to Kain Melchior and a one-yard run by Mackinnon late in the game.
Kealey Heintz had four field goals for the victors.
The matchup features easily the best running game in the league in the Rebels with Lyles and Trey Campbell against the No. 1 run defence. Westshore averages 308 yards rushing per game, an unbelievable statistic, but the Sun allows just 86 yards per outing, so something has to give.
Neither team is really known for its passing prowess, but Mackinnon has proven he is more than capable.
Two keys to this game are the Rebels are the most penalized team in the league and that needs to be curtailed for them to have a chance at victory. Okanagan also leads the BCFC in turnovers with a +10 ratio in giveaway-takeaway. The Rebels are even, so protecting the ball and controlling emotions will be critical.
“We’ve matured a lot and I think we have a good shot at taking this one,” said Boice. “Our special teams were a big determiner in that first game and we’ve improved that quite a bit. We’ve locked that down.”
POINT AFTER: Boice and his wife ventured to Edmonton on Friday to watch son Court, formerly of the Belmont Bulldogs, suit up at home for the Alberta Golden Bears in CIS play against Saskatchewan. The coach was due back this morning.
