The Westshore Rebels passed a huge test late Saturday night in collecting their fourth straight victory of the sa国际传媒 Football Conference season in a 27-24 win over the Okanagan Sun in Kelowna.
With mechanical issues bringing their bus to a halt for a few hours on the Coquihalla Highway, the Rebels faced some added adversity as they prepared to play the Sun at the Apple Bowl - already a tough facility to win in.
With kickoff delayed more than 90 minutes from the original 7 p.m. start, the Rebels rolled into town and stunned the Sun to improve to 4-1, easily their biggest victory of the season.
"Huge win and we knew that they would be desperate. A massive win," said Rebels' head coach John Cardilicchia, whose team was forced to await mechanical help in the hot sun at the side of the road, adding more distress to the travel day.
The team didn't pull in until just before 8 p.m., but the Rebels remained focused and took the Sun down a further peg to 1-4 in the standings.
"Huge performance," said the head coach. "They stepped up and played big. I am so impressed. We talked about responding and not reacting and the boys responded, stayed focused and got it done.
"It was well done. Our special teams played out of their minds, the defence did a great job and so did the offence. It was such a great team win with everybody stepping up," added Cardilicchia.
Especially since the Sun scored first, blocking a punt at the Westshore two yard line, then having Bobby Davis run the ball in for a 7-0 Okanagan lead.
"Nobody flinched, we just stayed cool," said Cardilicchia. "And then we had to punt again. I struggled with the decision kicking that deep the first time because a lot of time you just take a knee [allowing a safety], but our punt team has been very good.
"Quinn [Van Gylswyk] has that ability to launch kicks. I didn't feel like giving up those first two points. It got blocked and I felt crappy after. I had the same decision to make three minutes later and turned around and did it again. He launched one, we created a fumble and went down and scored."
The Rebels tied t at 7-7 when quarterback Mark Black threw a hitch pass to Cat Todorovich, who then threw it to Eric Eggleston for a 41-yard score off the flea-flicker play.
"When we scored, boy, the energy from the bench was unbelievable," said Cardilicchia.
Todorovich then added a spectacular 76-yard catch-and-run score for the Rebels, runningback Greg Morris took one in from 13 yards out and Van Gylswyk had 42-and 37-yard field goals, the latter earning the win in the last five minutes.
The Rebels now return home to face the 1-4 Kamloops Broncos on Sunday at 4 p.m. at Bear Mountain Stadium before heading to Chilliwack the week after.
