In a sea of purple at Westshills Stadium is an oasis of red.
The proper football-size 64-locker Westshore Rebels dressing room, located beneath the newly-risen end-zone grandstand, is swanky and red and an inside feature of the new stadium design. There are big-screen TVs and a large 鈥淲鈥� is woven into the carpeting on the floor.
(The stadium鈥檚 otherwise overwhelmingly purple theme is in support of Pacific FC, which operates on a professional level in soccer, while the Rebels are a junior team in football).
鈥淲e love the stadium. It鈥檚 magnificent,鈥� said Rebels president Rob Lervold.
鈥淲e鈥檒l just pretend the seats are red [and not purple],鈥� he quipped.
The Rebels break in the new-look Westhills with their inaugural home game of the 2019 sa国际传媒 Football Conference season tonight at 7. Such an occasion could only have one opponent for the Rebels 鈥� the arch-rival Vancouver Island Raiders from Nanaimo.
鈥淭his is a highly-contested rivalry,鈥� said Rebels head coach Shane Beatty.
Beatty said it with a deadpan delivery, knowing he was being purposely understated.
The feelings in this Island derby run deep.
The player who probably knows that best is standout Rebels receiver Brycen Mayoh, who joined Westshore following two seasons with the Raiders. Interspersed was last season in U Sports and sa国际传媒 West with the University of Calgary Dinos.
鈥淚t鈥檒l be nostalgic, but I鈥檓 happy I鈥檓 here now,鈥� said Mayoh.
Especially in the new digs.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a new-look stadium from when I remember it coming down with the Raiders, and it looks fantastic,鈥� said Mayoh.
鈥淚 remember the atmosphere was always crazy here, even when there was only the original grandstand.鈥�
Mayoh said he will be happy to have that support in red tonight and against his former Raiders in black.
鈥淚 still know a few guys on the Raiders, but there are no friends on the field,鈥� he said.
Chief among the frenemies is Raiders quarterback Jake Laberge, who used to throw bombs that Mayoh would run under in Nanaimo. Both came across to the Island from the Terry Fox Secondary Ravens in Port Coquitlam.
鈥淚 have the mentality, when I鈥檓 going for the ball, that I鈥檓 getting mine [receptions] before you鈥檙e getting yours [interceptions or ball knockdowns],鈥� said Mayoh.
Mayoh had 44 catches for 805 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2017 for the Raiders in being named the Canadian junior football offensive player of the year. Whether in Rebels red or Raiders black, Mayoh has the talent to legitimately dream about the pros.
鈥淢y goal is to be drafted by the CFL,鈥� he said.
Westshore quarterback Colby Henkel found Mayoh deep in the end zone for a converted touchdown with 2:20 remaining as the Rebels rallied for a 21-20 victory in their season opening game last weekend in Chilliwack against the Valley Huskers.
Zach Lubin ran in for two touchdowns in the opener.
鈥淲e have good running backs, and that gives us balanced execution on offence,鈥� said Mayoh.
On defence, the Rebels get after the ball.
鈥淲e鈥檙e fast on defence and our eight sacks and five turnovers last week against the Huskers showed it,鈥� said Westshore bench boss Beatty.
The Raiders opened the season last week in Langley with a 42-30 loss to the defending BCFC-champion Rams.
The Raiders showed they can score, despite the opening setback, as Laberge hit Mike West for two touchdown strikes and Jared Braun for another.
