Island bragging rights will be on the line Saturday at 7 p.m. when the Westshore Rebels and Vancouver Island Raiders meet in the ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Football Conference derby at Starlight Stadium.
The defending BCFC-champion and 2023 Canadian Bowl national finalist Rebels (5-3) will be looking to stop a two-game losing skid. The fifth-place VI Raiders (2-6), meanwhile, are stalking a playoff position and looking to climb into the league top four, which currently includes the Okanagan Sun (9-0), Langley Rams (6-3), Westshore and Fraser Valley Huskers (5-3). The Kamloops Broncos and Prince George Kodiaks are in arrears at 1-7.
Westshore quarterback Ethan Pickard leads the league with 1,946 passing yards and 15 touchdown passes. VI Raiders quarterback Sadler Smith is fourth in league passing with 1,564 yards and is tied for second with Tyran Duval of Fraser Valley with 14 touchdown passes. Six of Sadler’s touchdown tosses have gone to Raiders receiver and league co-leader Ruben Bonsu.
On the defensive side of the ball, Westshore linebacker Ted Windom Jr. leads the BCFC with five sacks, with Rebels teammate Ty Ochitwa tied for second with four sacks.
Westshore won the first two games of the Island derby this season.
