August 12, 2023 Prince George, BC (ISN) – The Westshore Rebels of the British Columbia Football Conference recorded a little bit of history as they travelled to Prince George to defeat the second-year cubs 49-10 at Masich Place Stadium, in another dominating win. With the win the Rebels improve to 3-0 on the season.
The Rebels, not only took away the win, but also became the first team in BCFC history to travel the distance, completing the 1742 km, round trip trek in 56 hours. The Kodiaks entered the league in 2022, but their travel schedule was limited as infrastructure was set in place. The Kodiaks will make a similar, grueling, 1584 km trip when they visit Vancouver Island and the VI Raiders of Nanaimo for the first time on Saturday, August 26th.
According to the BCFC league office, the Rebels, with their third lopsided victory in as many games, are on pace to set a BCFC scoring record with an amazing 63-point average per game so far this season.
The Rebels, with no shortage of offense choices, would need to shake off the travel rust early, but would show scoring consistency most of the game, rocking the Kodiaks with 7 touchdowns on a warm afternoon in Prince George. Scoring 14 points in each of the first 3 quarters of play, the Rebels would command a 42-0 lead into the final 15 minutes of play before any Kodiak reply.
With starting QB Te Jessie leading the helm, the Rebels would use an effective, multi-faceted attack. Jessie would throw 5 touchdowns on 271 yards passing, and rush 35 yards with the rock himself in the tilt, tallying his own major on a 12-yard scamper.
Rebels’ receiver Kieran Poissant, always dangerous, would be Jessie’s favourite target for the game. Poissant, the game’s high-scorer, would climb a ladder in the back of the end zone to open the scoring in the match with an incredible TD reception. Poissant would add another 2 touchdown snags to finish the game with three majors on 9 catches for 118 yards receiving. Poissant, last year’s top receiver in the BCFC, is on pace for another stellar year, receiving for 4 touchdowns over the course of 15 pass receptions in the first three games of the young 2023 season.
Kwame Franklin and CJ Vincent would also offer a TD reception each to add to their Rebels team cause.
On the ground, it was running back Gerren Hardisty that did yeoman’s work for the Rebels. Looking determined with every one of his 13 possessions, the BC Lions E-Camp invitee rushed for 128 yards on 13 carries, scoring once. Hardisty would even take a stab into the receiving core with a 12-yard pass reception.
Some undisciplined Rebel defensive and special teams play resulting penalties would provide a spark for the Kodiaks in the late in the third quarter as Prince George would take advantage and move the ball downfield, however the Rebels’ defense would bend but not break, turning the home team’s efforts aside all for not whenever the threat arose.
Penalty trouble, a seemingly perennial occurrence for the team, would continue for the Rebels in the fourth quarter as perhaps the travel schedule started to get the best of the team. The Rebels would accumulate a total of 12 penalties, and 125 yards lost territory in the game to give the black and gold some fuel to the spark.
For all the Rebels penalty infractions, the defense side played an aggressive and dominating style of play the first three quarters. Line backer Demar Hohnstein, last weekend’s special teams POW in the BCFC, is sure to be named again this weekend as he was a menacing force against the Prince George offense. Hohnstein would record an incredible 8 solo tackles, 2 special teams tackles, and sack the Kodiak’s quarter back boot.
Praise Odogun would also be a thorn in the side of the Kodiak quarterbacks, getting into the back field twice to sack the quarterback, and also contributed 2 solo tackles. Seven other Rebels defenders would mark at least a pair of tackles on the game sheet.
Gio Linuzzi, Bronson Pheiffer, Byrce Ruether, and Cody McMahon would all record interceptions for the Rebels.
The Kodiaks’ QB Quinn Nuekomm would find receiver Kayle Crowley for the Kodiaks’ first touchdown of the season to lift their fans out of their seats in the final quarter. An earlier, second half field goal and a conversion by kicker Brady Harper would round out Kodiak’s scoring giving Prince George their first ten points of their young season. Nuekomm, for all his efforts, would throw for 116 yards, 8/15 pass attempts, and throw 2 interceptions. That would be the last points the Kodiak’s would see as Head Coach Dexter Janke would refocus his defensive squad.
Despite the Prince George spark, the Rebels would continue to grind away, Jessie scoring the game’s final TD on a catch and run to CJ Vincent to close out the 49-10 victory.
The Westshore Rebels will enjoy a bye-week before hosting the equally 3-0 Okanagan Sun in their only meeting of the regular season August 26th at Starlight Stadium. Many are talking about this game as being a prelude to a Cullen Cup rematch after both teams went head-to-head last season with the Sun coming out on top.
It will definitely be a must-see game for local football fans. Game time is 4pm.
