This time, momentum appears to be on the Westshore Rebels’ side as they prepare to entertain the Vancouver Island Raiders in B.C. Football Conference semifinal playoff action tonight.
After snapping an 11-year futility streak, courtesy of a 45-22 victory in Week 2 of the regular season, the Rebels added a recent 25-25 tie against the Raiders in Nanaimo to go undefeated in 2016 against their nemesis.
The most important of three meetings is set for tonight at 7 at Westhills Stadium in the first of two league semifinals, the first time the Rebels have hosted a playoff game since 2004. The Langley Rams venture to the Okanagan Sun on Sunday to determine the other BCFC finalist.
Westshore enters its game with an impressive 8-1-1 record and the No. 1 ranking in the Canadian Junior Football Conference, courtesy of a seven-game undefeated run. The Raiders (5-4-1) have managed three straight games without a loss, including that tie with the Rebels on Sept. 17.
“We know they’re going to come in tough. They tied us that last game, so they will have that bit of confidence,” said defensive lineman Kent Hicks, the Rebels’ lone BCFC all-star on defence. “With the weather like this, it’s going to be a real good ground-and-pound defensive-offensive battle.”
That weather — driving rain and wind — will likely dictate the result, factoring into offensive schemes and, more importantly, the kicking game, which Hicks also plays a part in as punter.
Turnovers will come into play as the Raiders lead the league with a plus-11 mark in the giveaway-takeaway statistic, with Westshore second at plus-4.
“You’re going to take to the ground more when it’s raining,” offered Hicks. “You don’t want to worry about your receivers dropping balls in the rain, so ball security is one of the biggest things our running backs will have to focus on.”
And the Rebels have a big advantage in the run department
Behind a bruising offensive line, Jamel Lyles established a BCFC record for the most rushing yards in a season with 1,604. As a team, the Rebels set a league yardage rushing record with 2,836 yards as running back Trey Campbell and quarterback Ashton Mackinnon also hurt opponents via the ground.
Campbell, who had just 61 carries for 576 yards and an impressive 9.4-yard average, finished third in rushing while the six-foot-seven, 245-pound Mackinnon was sixth with 458 yards on 58 carries and a healthy 7.9-yard average.
Lyles, Mackinnon, offensive linemen Aarmin Purewal and Christian Krause and receiver Nathaniel Pinto were all all-stars on offence for the Rebels. But the Raiders have had their success, too, as running back Nathan Berg (also an all-star) was second with 930 yards rushing and a 5.5-yard average.
“It’s a playoff game and a rivalry game, so I don’t know if we’ll take anything for granted. I think if we show up mentally prepared and hungry for physical football, the odds are strongly in our favour. I think we have to show up though,” said Rebels head coach J.C. Boice. “I think they are very well coached and they’re playing good football right now.”
Both teams will be throwing new wrinkles into their offences, especially after a week off.
“You pull out all the stops in the playoffs,” said Boice, whose offence will lean on that running game, but also unleash Mackinnon’s arm down field in certain instances.
“We’ve had the least amount of turnovers the last three weeks. We’ve been very efficient offensively, so we’re going to keep doing what we do,” said Boice, whose team is favoured, especially at home.
“I don't know if there is a favourite come playoffs. We’re a very young team,” he said. “Yeah, we’re the No. 1 seed and the CJFL just came out with that No. 1 ranking — I don’t know who makes that decision. I’m not prepared to say we’re the No. 1 team in Canada, but I think our kids have worked hard.
“They will be playing in front of an amped crowd and if we can play disciplined, physical, football, then I like our chances.”
That discipline will be key as the Rebels also set a new BCFC record for most penalties in a season with 182.
