At the halfway point of the season, Westshore Rebels runningback Trey Campbell leads the sa国际传媒 Football Conference in rushing.
Considering he鈥檚 only really played 2 1/2 of the five games, due to a dislocated finger, that means the second-year Rebels鈥� best is likely yet to come.
鈥淢issing that many games in a season is kind of depressing, because I had a big goal in the end. But I鈥檓 looking forward to staying healthy these last five games,鈥� said Campbell, who has 286 yards rushing on just 36 carries for a 7.9-yard average and three touchdowns.
He鈥檚 averaging 95.3 yards a game, but that includes just the half game in Week 1 in which he managed just eight yards before damaging his digit, without even knowing.
鈥淚 came off of the field and looked at my hand. I thought it was dislocated and took off my glove and saw how messed up it was. The bone was almost sticking out. It was a running play and I got back up and saw that,鈥� he said of the injury, which was repaired at Kelowna hospital.
Now he heads to the second half, beginning today at 3 p.m. at Westhills Stadium where the 4-1 Rebels entertain the 1-4 Kamloops Broncos.
鈥淚 think I can be a lot better, so it was unfortunate missing those games,鈥� said Campbell. 鈥淚 want to help the team win and I want to get back to what we did last year, hosting a Cullen Cup [league final], watching the fans come out and get into a national championship.鈥�
Campbell has also added nine catches for 143 yards and a touchdown as he shows his versatility. That鈥檚 15.9 yards gained per catch and 71 yards a game, which added to his rushing totals, equals about 165 yards of offence an outing.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a completely different football team with him, both on the field and off the field. The truth is that he does so many great things out of the back field as a receiver, that鈥檚 something that I鈥檝e worked hard with him, getting him to the point where we can use him in a very dynamic role,鈥� said head coach Charly Cardilicchia, who obviously will go to the run more often with Campbell on the field.
鈥淚鈥檓 a football coach and when you have a back like that and an offensive line like we do, it would be dumb for me not to run the football,鈥� added Cardilicchia, who plans on a ball control offence for the second half with a key on time of possession and wearing teams out.
The schedule is much more friendly in the second half in which Kamloops, the V.I. Raiders and Okanagan Sun venture to Westhills. The Rebels would like to catch the 5-0 Sun 鈥� which edged Westshore 19-15 in Week 1 鈥� but they aren鈥檛 overlooking anyone, especially Kamloops. The Rebels edged the Broncos 25-21 on the road.
鈥淚鈥檝e been very clear to my team, to media and anyone I鈥檝e talked to that it鈥檚 week-in, week-out,鈥� added Cardilicchia.
