In a normal week, the pre-game storyline would be about the Island-rivalry grudge match tonight in the sa国际传媒 Football Conference at Westhills Stadium.
This is the first meeting between the Westshore Rebels (1-0-1) and Vancouver Island Raiders (2-1) since the latter upset the regular-season champion Rebels last fall in the Cullen Cup league final played at Westhills.
But it鈥檚 not always a normal week when it comes to the Rebels, least of all this one, as head coach Charly Cardilicchia begins a three-game suspension imposed by the league for comments he made in the media.
鈥淲e stand behind Charly. Our group has handled it well,鈥� said defensive co-ordinator Shane Beatty, who will be acting head coach for the next three games, beginning tonight.
鈥淣ormalcy and staying the course has been the key for us this week. This is my third year with the club and I am close to the players. These kids are resilient.鈥�
Nothing changes in terms of preparation and game plan, said Cardilicchia: 鈥淚 have confidence in our great coaching staff and our team will always be ready and prepared, with me or without me, on the sideline.鈥�
The Rebels players were loose Friday and seem unperturbed by the off-field storm surrounding the team.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a unique situation, but this team just rolls with the punches,鈥� said Rebels defensive lineman Leo Ingram.
For the returning Westshore veterans, such as Ingram and linebacker Raishaun Provo, the plotline is still very much the revenge angle from last year鈥檚 Cullen Cup upset loss to the Raiders.
鈥淚t鈥檚 motivation. None of us has really let it go,鈥� said Provo.
Neither has Beatty: 鈥淚鈥檝e not let it go. It鈥檚 been in the back of my mind. It still bothers me. We were 9-1 in the regular season and playing so well [until the loss to the Raiders in the league final].鈥�
Ingram and Provo are part of Beatty鈥檚 aggressive defence that held the high-powered offences of Okanagan and Langley mostly in check in the first two games of the season.
鈥淥ur defence has been lights out,鈥� said Beatty.
鈥淚t will be a very physical game against a Raiders team that [head coach] Doug Hocking has done a great job with this season.鈥�
Not that these offences are lacking, either.
Third-year Raiders quarterback Jake Laberge was named BCFC offensive player of the week for orchestrating four consecutive scoring drives in that remarkable 35-34 comeback victory last Saturday after trailing the Langley Rams 34-7 with 13 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
鈥淲e have to pressure their quick receivers,鈥� said Ingram.
Meanwhile, the BCFC announced the scheduled game today in Kamloops between the Broncos and Fraser Valley Huskers has been moved to Chilliwack because of poor air quality in Kamloops.
The scheduled game in Chilliwack on Sept. 8 between the Huskers and Broncos will now be played in Kamloops, air-quality allowing.
The Rebels game in Kamloops last Saturday was cancelled due to the smoky haze and particulates in the air in the Interior because of the provincial wildfires. The Rebels were already on the mainland when the game was called off, leading to Cardilicchia鈥檚 verbal tirade in the media, for which the league nicked him with the three-game suspension
That game will not be replayed. Instead, the Broncos versus Rebels game Sept. 15 at Westhills Stadium will be a four-pointer.
