By Dominic Abassi

Rebels beat Raiders with late score in emotionally charged playoff game

Oct 16, 2016 | 4:08 PM

NANAIMO — Saturday night’s Raiders versus Rebels semi-final game was an instant classic on the field, but much of the post-game conversation was about an incident off it.

Westshore beat V.I. 34-29 thanks to a touchdown from all-star running back Jamel Lyles with just 23 seconds remaining on the clock at Westhills Stadium in Langford. That game-winning drive came not long after Raiders’ rookie quarterback Jake Laberge was pelted in the face with a cold cup of coffee while he stood on the sidelines.

Early in the fourth quarter, while the defense was on the field, Laberge was standing near the short fence separating the Raiders’ bench area from the walkway for spectators in front of the bleachers. A young man walked up and had an exchange with Laberge then suddenly threw what was reportedly a cold cup of coffee into his face as he dashed under the bleachers. As the game continued at the far end of the field, many fans ran after the young man and there was visible distraction on the Raiders’ sideline as players and coaches became aware of what happened.

“When somebody throws coffee on one of our players and there’s no security, it’s friggin’ an embarrassment and our player could have been seriously hurt,” said Raiders head coach Jerome Erdman on the field after the game. “That really bothers me.”

“The directors of our league, I thought could have handled it better. It’s their job to ensure the safety of our team and they didn’t do that. I’m very upset about that, very upset,” said Erdman. “It had nothing to do with the outcome of the game but the number one priority for all of us has got to be player safety.”

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Erdman was right — the coffee incident ultimately had nothing to do with the outcome of what was a brilliant game. The atmosphere at Westhills was electric all night. Nanaimo and Westshore faithful going back and forth, taking turns pounding on the metal bleachers. The expected impact of an ex-typhoon never really appeared. There was light rain and gusty winds all game.

Westshore’s Lyles, the former university standout with the Manitoba Bisons, wasted no time impacting the game. He took the opening kick-off 103 yards for a touchdown, streaking down the right sideline nearly untouched. The visitors earned a safety and a field goal to trail 7-5 after 15 minutes. After some sloppy play, including turnovers by both teams, Laberge led a drive from his own 35-yard line that ended with a 35 yard strike to 5th year Ballenas grad Dustin Rodriguez. The teams went to the half tied 12-12.

What ensued in the second half is what makes this game one of the most memorable of the 28 in this storied island rivalry. Over the final 30 minutes of play there were six lead changes. V.I. kicker James Parker hit three field goals, including one from 44 yards. 5th year Barsby product Nate Berg capped a heroic night with a three yard touchdown rumble.

It was that Berg touchdown with just over two minutes left to play that had Nanaimo fans sensing an upset over the Canadian Junior Football League’s number one ranked team. The score was followed immediately by a recovered kick-off by the Raiders. However the Rebels’ defense held that drive to a quick two-and-out, followed by a missed field goal. The single point made it 29-26 V.I.

The celebration was short lived. Rebels’ quarterback Ashton Mackinnon completed two passes and had the home team in Raiders’ territory quickly. From there, Lyles, who broke the B.C. conference single season record for rushing yards, pounded the ball over the goal line for the winning score.

“I think it rekindles it (the rivalry),” said Raiders defensive assistant coach Karim Maher. “For a while there we were obviously dominating for a number of years…now it makes us understand, ‘hey, we got a fight.’”

The Rebels will now host Okanagan in the Cullen Cup B.C. championship game on Oct. 29. BCFC president Gord Johnson says what happened at the Raiders’ bench is unacceptable and the situation will be addressed. He says opposing teams will no longer have their bench on the bleacher side of the field.

*Official stats are not yet available.