The last time the 91原创 Rams and Westshore Rebels met, it was a 24-13 victory for the Rams before a home field crowd at at McLeod Athletic Park on Saturday, Oct.5
One week later, on Saturday, Oct.12, with a shot at the Cullen Cup at stake, it was a different story, with third-seeded Westshore beating the second-seeded Rams in 91原创 25-21 to advance to their third straight Cullen Cup appearance.
Rebels would take the lead in the first quarter, scoring a pair of touchdowns. Ram replied with two touchdowns of their own in the second quarter, but the Rebels added a 38-yard field goal and held a three-point lead at the half.
In the third, the Rams scored the only points of the quarter and took a 21-17 lead into the final frame, but the Rebels鈥� defence didn鈥檛 allow another point, while their offence scored eight for a comeback win.
Rebels forced five interceptions off Rams back-up quarterback Hunter Norman, subbing for an apparently injured Palaina Hooper.
Norman still completed 21 of 30 passes for 347 yards and threw two touchdowns to Isaiah Edwards and another to Gob Deng.
Rebels collected four sacks and held the Rams to under 100 yards on the ground.
Rebels quarterback Ethan Pickard completed 14 of 24 for 278 yards and found Kwame Franklin for a touchdown.
Pickard also rushed for a score as did Gio Linuzzi. Linuzzie rushed 19 times for 124 yards and a touchdown, kicked the only field goal, added a convert, eight punts and played a shutdown defensive back position intercepting a pass and assisted on a tackle.
With their victory the Rebels advance to the Cullen Cup and will head to the Okanagan to meet the Sun in the title game for the third straight season next weekend.
The winner will go to the Prairie Conference for the CJFL National Semi-Final game on October 27th.
Rams posted an online thank you to fans.
"Thank you 'ram fam' for all of your support this season," the message said.
"We couldn鈥檛 have done what we did this season, without you and your support."
Several Rams players made the lineup when the Canadian Junior Football League in conjunction with the BC Conference announced the 2024 Conference All-Stars on Friday, Oct. 11.
For a second consecutive season, Rams' Jordan Sye was named an offensive line all-star, while running back Bruce Jones, receiver Terrel Jones, defensive lineman Isaiah Cooper and linebacker Sean Cullen were also listed in their respective categories.
