October 18, 2021 Victoria, BC (ISN) – A depleted Westshore Rebels football team fell 34-7 to the BCFC league-leading Langley Rams at Starlight Stadium in Langford, BC Saturday night, setting up what will be an all-important 2 game regular season finale for the Rebels as they look to steal away the fourth and final playoff berth in the shortened 2021 football season.
It was an impressive defensive first half for the Rebels against the Rams, holding the high-flying visitors close going into halftime only trailing 11-7. Neither team was able to find the endzone through the first quarter due to some great defensive work on both sides of the ball. The Rebels would find their lead in the second quarter scoring on a rushing TD when backup quarterback Simon Hales, replacing the absent starting QB Colby Henkel, would engineer his team downfield on the legs of running back Zach Lubin.
Rebel’s Demar Hohnstein would carry the rock from one yard out to punch the ball across the line for the Rebels’ only major of the game. The Rams would counter with their own major in the same quarter, taking the 4-point lead into the halftime locker room.
Despite the amiable effort of Rebels QB Hales, thrust into his first CJFL game of his young career, the Rebels would not be able to find the endzone in the second half as the Ram’s defensive core would appear to make second half adjustments on the ball to shut down any possible Rebel success, with the exception of the power rushing prowess of Zach Lubin to carry his team down the field with some regularity. Lubin would carry the ball a game-high 28 times for 119 yards, making up most of the Rebels 133 yards net offensive game total.
Despite glimmers of defensive resilience in the Rebels, including a 2-interception performance by defensive back Isaiah Cardilicchia, the Rebels would not have an answer to the Rams offense, giving up 22 points in the second half including a kickoff return for a touchdown to start the second half and a pair of long-ball receptions resulting in scoring drives. Ram’s receiver Daniel Kubongo would shine with 222 yards receiving on four pass receptions, and 2 touchdowns to help lift his team to the victory.
With two games remaining, the Rebel’s, sitting an equal number of games out of the fourth and final playoff berth, will now be a must-win, do or die scenario starting this Saturday versus the VI Raiders (2-4) in a home game at Starlight Stadium, and then travel to Kamloops to take on the last place Kamloops Broncos (0-6).
The Rebels defeated the Broncos in their first season match up by a 50-14 margin, potentially making their match up against their island rival VI Raiders the game to watch.
Game time versus the Raiders is Saturday, October 23rd at 7pm at Starlight Stadium in Langford, BC. Bring your noise maker and cheer the Rebels to a victory.
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