Former sa国际传媒 Lions running back Cory Philpot has got it done in many ways, earning championships on the field and sideline. He won the Grey Cup as a player in 1994 over the Baltimore Stallions. The NCAA graduate of the Ole Miss Rebels captured the Canadian Bowl as head coach of the Langley Rams last year, dispatching the London Beefeaters of Ontario in the Canadian junior football championship game.
The Westshore Rebels have drawn a daunting task in their 2022 sa国际传媒 Football Conference season opener Saturday when they meet the defending league- and national-champion Rams at 4 p.m. at McLeod Athletic Park in Langley.
As befitting a Philpot-coached team, the ground game is the thing for the Rams.
“They line up two backs and like to run it down your throat,” said Rebels president Rob Lervold.
“We have to handle their running game.”
That job will fall to the likes of Westshore linebackers Austin Morgan and Cordell Willmott, both sa国际传媒 Lions development camp invitees, and six-foot-seven, 310-pound defensive tackle Tarick Polius.
Under centre this year for the Rebels will be six-foot-two, 250-pound quarterback Te Jessie out of the Carleton University Ravens of U Sports. He is the son of former Washington Super Bowl-champion and Winnipeg Blue Bombers two-time Grey Cup-champion running-back Tim Jessie, who was out of the Auburn Tigers and played with Bo Jackson.
“Te has a big arm,” said Lervold.
Belmont Secondary Bulldogs graduate Gerrin Hardisty will carry in the running load for Westshore. The targets down the field will be wide receivers Kieran Poissant, a BCFC all-star last season, and fellow-returnee Mike Oliva.
The Rebels, coached by Shane Beatty and usually in the hunt, uncharacteristically missed the playoffs last season.
“It was a struggle last year. But we are expecting a big bounce-back season,” said Lervold.
The Vancouver Island Raiders, meanwhile, will host the Okanagan Sun at 5:30 p.m. in their opener Saturday on the Nanaimo District Secondary School field.
The expansion Prince George Kodiaks play the first game in franchise history Saturday in Chilliwack against the Valley Huskers.
The Rebels’ home opener is next Saturday at 4 p.m. at Starlight Stadium against the Huskers. Telus is broadcasting a BCFC Game of the Week this season with the Rebels-Huskers tilt to be the telecast of that week.
That will be followed by the always-lively Island derby Aug. 6 at Starlight Stadium between the Rebels and Raiders.
The BCFC regular season runs through Oct. 8, followed by the playoffs.
