Their opponent for Saturday night鈥檚 Cullen Cup championship game, the rival Vancouver Island Raiders, secured seven, which leaves a burr in the Rebels鈥� backside considering they finished the year at 9-1, well ahead of the Raiders鈥� 6-3-1 record.
鈥淚 was caught off guard,鈥� said Rebels head man Charly Cardilicchia, who was named coach of the year in his rookie season. 鈥淚 think we were definitely slighted, to say the least, to put it nicley. I think what it did was light a fire under my team and I think you鈥檒l see them out there, trying to prove a point.鈥�
The defence, in particular, was shafted, especially since it led the league in a number of categories.
鈥淣ot happy,鈥� said defensive lineman Kent Hicks. 鈥淲e feel we have the best defence in the country and we didn鈥檛 get anything. Not one player and we鈥檙e definitely disappointed. I personally feel ripped off. It is what it is, so I鈥檓 just going to go out and prove it to them.鈥�
The Rebels defeated the Raiders twice this season and earned a win and a tie last year against their rivals, carrying a four-game undefeated run against the opponent they had never defeated before the 2016 season.
Rebels running back Trey Campbell 鈥� who missed the first meeting against the Raiders 鈥� and offensive lineman Christian Krause (who is now out with aknee injury) were the other Westshore award winners in their respective positions.
Brycen Mayoh of the Raiders walked off with four honours 鈥� named top receiver, top return specialist, top special teams player and outstanding offensive player. Quinton Bowles took home the top defensive lineman and outstanding defensive player nods while VI teammate James Parker was the scoring leader.
Rounding out the awards were the Okanagan Sun鈥檚 Tye Kitzman (top defensive back) and Conor Richards (top linebacker) and Kyle Charot of the Langley Rams was rookie of the year.
The Rebels will attempt to win their second straight BCFC title on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Westhills Stadium against the Raiders.
