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The VI Raiders Win The BC Conference

By Ryan Watters (@ryan2tswatters), 10/22/17, 11:00PM PDT

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The Cullen Cup heads back to Nanaimo

Photo courtesy of Brenda Pelland Photography

For the first time since 2013 the VI Raiders are BC Conference Cullen Cup champions after an upset 21-7 road victory over the Westshore Rebels on Saturday night.

As the saying goes, “defence wins championships” and that was on display in a rain filled Saturday night on the Island.  The Raiders defence bent but they didn’t really break despite a sparkling game from Rebels running back Trey Campbell who gained 137 yards on 25 carries to drive the offence.

The rain for the most part slowed down the passing game for both team and the Raiders seemed to take advantage.   They forced six turnovers including three interceptions; two by Shawn Arabsky and one by Nathan Mayers.  Incredibly Arabsky now has four interceptions in two playoff games, he had three during the regular season.

Both Dexter Shea and the Conference Defensive Player of the Year Quinton Bowles each had nine tackles and Bowles had the lone sack.

Offensively the Raiders predominately used the ground game led by Zander Bailey who rushed 25 times for 113 yards.  Quarterback Jake Laberge completed five passes for 54 yards but threw touchdown passes to Brycen Mayoh and Trevor Pelland.

Other than Campbell the Rebels offence struggled.  Quarterback Scott Borden completed five passes for 50 yards and two interceptions.  Their lone touchdown came off a 77 yard sprint to the endzone by Kaine Stevenson in the second quarter.

The Rebels did tally three sacks defensively, two of which were from Jeremie Drouin.  However they didn’t force a turnover after leading the CJFL in the regular season with 47 takeaways.

The Raiders will now travel to Saskatoon to face the Hilltops in the CJFL National Semi-Final game on Sunday at 1:00pm.  The last time these two teams met was in the 2011 National semi in Nanaimo that the Hilltops won.  The Raiders are actually the last BC team to beat the Hilltops in Saskatoon which happened in 2008’s semi-final behind Andrew Harris.