After battling through late changes in coaching and on the board of directors, it’s understandable that the Westshore Rebels would come out a little in disarray in their home and league opener on Saturday night.
Interim head coach Tim Kearse’s troops showed plenty of grit, though, coming back from an early 16-0 deficit in an eventual 35-10 setback against the perennial powerhouse from Nanaimo, the Vancouver Island Raiders.
The B.C. Football Conference matchup was played before roughly 600 fans at Westhills Stadium.
Runningback Terry Huongbo-Gody ran in from one yard out late in the second quarter and his partner in the Rebels’ backfield, Emanuel Juma, connected on a 34-yard field goal shortly after.
With kicking issues expected, thanks to the loss of Quinn Van Gylswyk, Juma’s effort hit the crossbar and deflected just over to cut it to 16-10 at the half.
Taylor Flavel opened the scoring for the Raiders with a one-yard TD run and quarterback Jahmari Bennett connected with Dustin Rodriguez for a 22-yard TD reception to make it 14-0 just 5:56 in. Westshore also gave up a safety to trail 16-0.
Once the early miscues were erased, the Rebels looked smoother than expected. Tanner Rodinsky had a pair of sacks on Bennett and Chris Pastro also got to him once in the opening half.
Joe Barkhouse and Curtis Parker also had first-half interceptions as the tide turned.
Offensively, receiver Eric Eggleston had three catches for 60 yards for the Rebels at the midway point as he and QB Mark Black showed chemistry. Eggleston had a sure touchdown knocked away on a strike from Black late in the game.
The Rebs gave up a second safety touch in the third quarter, but hung in thanks to stingy defence.
Pastro — who was easily the best player on the turf — had an interception deep into Raiders’ territory late in the third, but Black was picked off shortly after by Raiders’ defender Dylan Chapdelaine.
Bennett added a 15-yard TD run, backup QB ran 53 yards for a score in th elast two minutes and Ryan Jones kicked a 23-yard field goal for the victors.
The 0-1 Rebels now travel to face the defending champion Langley Rams on Saturday at 4 p.m.
Twitter/tc_vicsports
