The Westshore Rebels’ 35-28 win over the Langley Rams last Saturday cracked the stalemate within the B.C. Junior Football Conference’s power hierarchy.
The third-place Rebels (4-4) visit the fifth-place Kamloops Broncos (1-7) on Saturday.
With the powerhouse Vancouver Island Raiders (8-0) atop the standings and the Okanagan Sun (7-1) just behind them, the season standings have been set in cement since August. Until last week the Rams held third, the Rebels fourth and the Broncos and Chilliwack Huskers (0-8) the fifth and sixth spots, respectively.
Consider this: the Rebels beat the Rams despite the fact the Rebels couldn’t get close to the Sun earlier this season losing 49-7 on Aug. 20 and 69-0 on Sept. 17. The Rams, meanwhile, did much better against the Sun, losing 33-23 on Aug. 6, then nearly upsetting them in a 15-14 loss on Aug. 13.
Yet the Rams had little answer for the Rebels offence Saturday as quarterback Catlyn Todorvich spurred a massive effort with 533 yards gained, 357 of them along the ground. The Rams nearly tied the score late in the fourth quarter but a game-saving interception by Michael Hansen sealed the win for the Rebels.
The only remaining question now is whether the Rebels will enter the playoffs in third or fourth. The top four teams make the post-season. The Rebels face the Rams once more, Oct. 8 at Bear Mountain Stadium.
The Rams can steal third place back with a win by more than seven points – even if the Rebels follow through as heavy favourites and take down the Broncos, and the Rams drop their game to the Raiders this weekend.