BRIAN DREWRY
ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½
This one’s for RW.
That’s the rallying for the Westshore Rebels as they get set to take the field at Starlight Stadium today for their ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Football Conference home opener against the Prince George Kodiaks coming off the worst few days the franchise has ever had after beloved general manager Roger Wade passed away this week.
“Just a tough, heart-breaking week for everyone because Roger was such an amazing, great guy who everybody loved and who had such a tremendous impact on this football club,” head coach Mark Townsend said Friday.
“And the players have decided to dedicate this game and the entire season to him and will play their hearts out because we all know that’s what Roger would have wanted.”
The team will hold a moment of silence before today’s kickoff to honour Wade, and starting today and for the rest of the season the players’ helmets will have a decal with the initials ‘RW’ on them.
“I know myself and the whole organization will always remember Roger’s kindness and dedication so we will also be holding a proper remembrance ceremony prior to our game on Aug. 10 that will include a video tribute to Roger because that’s what he deserves because he did so much not only for this club but also the community of Langford,” added Townsend.
Townsend admits practices were tough for the players this week, but the entire team is using this tough time as a rallying point.
“I think we had a good week of practice so I’m proud of the players because Roger was close to all of them. That’s just the kind of caring person he was. And he would want them to give 100 per cent this weekend and they’re are determined to do that.”
The Rebels, defending BCFC champions, are coming off a season-opening win over the Broncos in Kamloops last weekend that saw quarterback Ethan Pichard throw five touchdown passes and earn BCFC Offensive Player of the Week honours.
“We’re young on offence but our offensive line had a tremendous game in Kamloops and that allowed Ethan to have a great game and the entire offence just fed off the O-line,” Townsend said.
The Rebels’s defence is a little more veteran-savvy, and key returnees like linebacker Bryce Reuther and defensive lineman Cody McMahon paved the way to four turnovers in Kamloops.
Now the Rebels gear up to face a team that also won their season opener, as the Kodiaks got by the Vancouver Island Raiders last weekend in Prince George.
“Prince George is a well coached, very physical team, so we’ll need to really be on our toes right from the start on Saturday,” Townsend said. “Really, this conference is very tough this year, so you have to be really prepared every week.”
The Raiders are also in action this week as they host the Okanagan Sun today at 5:30 p.m. at Nanaimo District Secondary.
