Weather and turnovers promise to be factors at Westhills Stadium

With a stormy, cool night expected, protecting the football becomes that much more imperative in tonight’s B.C. Football Conference championship game.

Interestingly, in two regularseason wins over the the Vancouver Island Raiders (by a combined seven points), the Westshore Rebels forced 10 turnovers compared to surrendering just three.

“In championship games it’s usually the team with the best turnover ratio that comes out on top,” said Rebels head coach Charly Cardilicchia. “Also running the football, we run the football really well and they did the last time they came in here, but at the end of the day I think we out-power them in the trenches.

“We’ve had a great turnover ratio this year. We go after the football and we protect the football well. I think [Raiders quarterback Jake] Laberge has thrown nine interceptions and Scott [Borden Jr. of the Rebels] has only thrown four. Scott is also from Nova Scotia and he’s got big hands so he throws the ball well in the wet with no problem at all.”

Borden Jr. was named the BCFC all-star quarterback last week. He threw for 1,889 yards, completing half his passes and recorded 12 touchdowns and just four interceptions. He also added 321 yards and two major scores on the ground.

Laberge finished with a higher completion ratio at 56 per cent, totalling 1,753 yards with a league-leading 17 touchdowns, but adding the nine picks.