VANCOUVER ISLAND 21
WESTSHORE 7
It wasn鈥檛 just bragging rights the Westshore Rebels handed over to the Vancouver Island Raiders on a wet, dreary Saturday night at Westhills Stadium, it was also a shiny silver trophy known as the Cullen Cup.
The visiting Raiders recorded their second straight playoff upset with a 21-7 stunner over the defending sa国际传媒 Football Conference-champion Rebels, thus snatching the cherished trophy.
It was the first-ever meeting between the two Island teams in the league championship game. History was riding with the Raiders, who have now claimed eight BCFC titles, including six straight from 2006-11. The Rebels were looking for their second straight and third in history. The hosts had not lost to the V.I. team in five meetings the past two years and also had a 10-game win streak snapped with the setback.
This loss was a tough one to take.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a very disappointing finish,鈥� said Rebels head coach Charly Cardilicchia, whose offence suffered a number of injuries, but it was seven turnovers that did them in. 鈥淲e couldn鈥檛 get the ball to bounce our way, couldn鈥檛 get our run game untracked. The defence played great, well enough to win.鈥�
The win was no surprise for Raiders' quarterback Jake Laberge, who threw for two touchdowns, despite a very sloppy offensive game by both sides.
鈥淓veryone doubted us all week, all year,鈥� said Laberge, who was just 3-for-11 in passing in the first half for 41 yards, but two were for touchdowns. 鈥淲e knew if we could win the turnover battle, we would win the game, and we did. This is the best feeling in my life.鈥�
Offences struggled throughout the game as rain poured.
Rebels quarterback Scott Borden Jr. had a wide open Birhanu Yitna on the first play of the game. Almost 10 yards in behind coverage, the ball slipped through his wet fingers on what would have been a sure touchdown. It set a tone for the game. A punt return score from Westshore鈥檚 Brandon Gandire was also called back by penalty, two huge miscues.
Laberge鈥檚 first completed pass came on his fourth toss as he found Trevor Pelland for a 19-yard touchdown strike 12:25 into the first quarter.
A Rebels unnecessary roughness penalty set up the second score early in the second quarter as Laberge connected with Brycen Mayoh on an 18-yard TD toss for a 14-0 lead.
The Rebels struck right back on the first play of the next possession as Kaine Stevenson scampered 67 yards for the score. A late single and 8-yard field goal from James Parker gave the Raiders an 18-7 lead at the half. Parker added a field goal with1:29 to go in the game, the only scoring in the second half.
Borden Jr. was just 2-of-11 in passing at the half for 14 yards with two interceptions.
Shawn Arabsky had two interceptions for the Raiders while Nathan Mayers had the other. The Rebels also turned it over on downs three times and fumbled once.
