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Rebels run over Rams

Westshore downs Langley 35-28 in home finale at McLeod Park
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Langley Rams' running back Malcom Freeman tries to break away from the Westhshore Rebels defence during a B.C. Junior Football Conference game on Saturday at McLeod Park. The visiting Rebels won 35-28.

The Westshore Rebels ran over the Langley Rams, racking up 533 yards of offence, including 357 along the ground.

The end result was a 35-28 victory for the visiting Rebels on Saturday at McLeod Park in the final home game of the B.C. Junior Football Conference schedule for the Rams.

The Rams were driving for the tying score and were on the Rebels' seven-yard line, only to have quarterback Brandon Leyh's pass picked off in the end zone with 90 seconds remaining.

The offence did get one more possession, but came up short as Langley saw their four-game winning streak end.

Langley actually led the game 9-7 after one quarter — the difference being the Rebels conceding a safety — but Victoria took control in the second quarter with a rushing touchdown from Greg Morris and then a touchdown reception by Chris McCormick from quarterback Cat Todorvich to lead 21-9 at the break.

The Rams got back into the game late in the third when Leyh connected with receiver Steven Martinez on an 85-yard touchdown pass.

The Langley defence then came through with another big stop deep in Victoria territory,resulting in the Rebels electing to concede the two points rather than punt to Nick Downey, the two-time reigning Canadian junior football special teams player of the year.

Trailing by just three points in the fourth, the Rams offence put together a drive all the way to Victoria's 14-yard line — including a fake field goal pass from Nick Naylor that extended the drive — before Naylor nailed a 17-yard field goal to tie the game at 21.

The Rebels struck back three plays later when Todorvich found Vinnie Cannata wide open down the sidelines for a 57-yard touchdown pass for the 28-21 lead.

But the Rams showed their own big-play ability, using a double reverse to finally get the ball in the hands of Downey, who raced down the field 85 yards for the touchdown.

Todorvich engineered one more touchdown drive, moving the ball through the air, capping it off with his first touchdown toss of the game, this time from five yards out to Kyle Pich.

Leyh, struggled for the Rams, completing just five of his 21 pass attempts, although two went for touchdowns, and 140 yards.

Spensor Farbatuk came up with a fumble recovery in the first quarter, which led to a 30-yard touchdown catch by Kyle Albertini.

Arie Nakagawa also had an interception and Chris Bordignon and Scott Puffer each had a quarterback sack.

The Rams dropped to 4-4 with the loss and sit in fourth place in the conference.

They close the season with road games at the Vancouver Island Raiders (8-0) this weekend and the Rebels (4-4)in Victoria on Oct. 8.

While both they and the Rebels have qualified for the playoffs, Langley needs to win at Victoria by seven points or more to finish third.