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Raiders confident heading into playoff date with first place Rebels

Oct 13, 2016 | 4:41 PM

NANAIMO — The VI Raiders are going into their playoff game against Westshore in an unfamiliar position. As the underdog.

Confidence is high around the Raiders thanks to a strong push towards the end of the season that included a tie against the Rebels and wins over Okanagan and Valley. Raiders coach Jerome Erdman says he has mixed feelings about the league taking a bye week before the playoffs.

“It’s kind of a two edged sword. It did give us time to recover a little bit but then when you’re on a roll you just want to keep playing. We’ve had some pretty intense practices during the bye week to keep not only in shape but to keep our mental edge, and then this week is business as usual,” said Erdman.

The Raiders have some recent success to draw on from their last head-to-head meeting with the 8-1-1 Rebels. That game in Week 8 finished in a 25-25 tie in Nanaimo.

“It was the start of our roll so to speak,” said Erdman. “I think that was the game that our younger players really started believing that ‘hey, yeah we can beat these guys’. We played a very good game against a good opponent and they competed well. And they’re now ready to take the next step and beat them.”

In the season series the Raiders went 0-1-1 against the Rebels, with the loss coming in a 45-22 defeat in Westshore in Week 2. That loss marked the first time since the Raiders moved to Nanaimo from Victoria in 2005 that the Rebels had beaten their island rivals.

Erdman knows his team is entering hostile territory on Saturday.

“It’s going to be wild down there. This is why you play the game, you’re playing your biggest rival, you’re playing in their house, there’s going to be emotions. The key is for us to keep those emotions in check. Don’t get overwhelmed by the moment, just take care of your job,win your individual battle and the rest will take care of itself. Usually in these types of situations you’ll have to weather some kind of a storm,” said Erdman.

Saturday’s game is a 7 p.m. kickoff at Westhills Stadium. The other BCFC semi-final game features Langley at Okanagan on Sunday afternoon.

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Other local teams in action this weekend:

BCHL

Nanaimo Clippers @ Trail – Friday 7:30 p.m. Cominco Arena

Nanaimo Clippers @ Penticton – Saturday 6 p.m. South Okanagan Events Centre

Nanaimo Clippers @ Merritt – Sunday 2 p.m. Nicola Valley Memorial Arena

VIJHL

Nanaimo Buccaneers @ Comox – Saturday 7:30 p.m. Comox Valley Sports Centre

BCMML

North Island Silvertips @ Greater Vancouver – Saturday 5 p.m. Richmond Oval

North Island Silvertips @ Greater Vancouver – Sunday 10 a.m. Richmond Oval

VIU Mariners

Soccer Women & Men @ Douglas College – Saturday 1 p.m. & 3:30 p.m. Town Centre Park

Soccer Women & Men @ Langara – Sunday 12 p.m. & 2:30 p.m. Musqueam Field

Volleyball Women & Men vs College of the Rockies – Saturday 6 p.m. & 8 p.m. VIU Gymnasium

Volleyball Women & Men vs College of the Rockies – Sunday 11 a.m. & 1 p.m. VIU Gymnasium

Basketball Men (Exhibition) @ Trinity Western – Friday 8 p.m. Langley Events Centre

Basketball Men (Exhibition) @ Trinity Western – Saturday 7 p.m. Langley Events Centre

BC Highschool Football

NDSS @ Frank Hurt – Saturday 1:30 p.m. Frank Hurt

John Barsby @ Seaquam – Saturday 2 p.m. Seaquam

Ballenas vs Windsor – Saturday 2 p.m. Ballenas

VISL

Nanaimo United FC @ Bays United FC – Friday 8 p.m. Oak Bay High School

Nanaimo United FC vs Cowichan FC – Saturday 7 p.m. Merle Logan Field