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Raiders have plenty to play for against Rebels

NANAIMO – The V.I. Raiders take on the Westshore Rebels on Saturday (Oct. 13) at 2 p.m. at Caledonia Park.
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The V.I. Raiders and Westshore Rebels dogpile during a game earlier this season in Victoria.

The V.I. Raiders will finish first no matter what, but they sure feel like they still have something to play for in their regular-season finale.

The Raiders take on the Westshore Rebels on Saturday (Oct. 13) at 2 p.m. at Caledonia Park.

Nanaimo (8-0-1) wants to win and complete an undefeated regular season – it's a team goal, said coach Matthew (Snoop) Blokker. A win might also help to maintain momentum heading into the post-season.

"We want to go in on a winning note and keep our confidence high and keep riding this wave," Blokker said. "So I expect us to be full bore."

The coach said he will stick with starting quarterback Jordan Yantz as long as it takes to secure the win, not simply long enough for the QB to break a single-season passing-yards record (see below).

On the defensive side of the ball, the Raiders are looking forward to the challenge of trying to slow down Rebels tailback Greg Morris, who set a regular-season record for rushing yards in one game last week as he gained 405 versus the Kamloops Broncos.

"We've got to get excited about that and it's going to be a huge challenge to stop them," Blokker said.

Morris needs 122 yards to set a new B.C. Football Conference single-season rushing record, so the Raiders will be trying to play spoiler.

Other storylines to watch for:

◆ Yantz needs 14 passing yards to reach 3,031 this season, which would be a new Canadian Junior Football League record.

◆ Yantz already holds the BFC record for completions in a season with 182, but he could break his own record if he completes 22 passes on Saturday.

◆ The 2012 BCFC scoring title will be decided on Saturday. Morris has 102 points this season while Raiders kicker Mark Mueller is at 92.

◆ If Mueller kicks four field goals on Saturday he will tie the BCFC record for field goals in a season.

◆ Raiders receiver Whitman Tomusiak needs 120 yards to reach the 1,000 for the season.

GAME ON … The Raiders and Rebels kick off Saturday (Oct. 13) at 2 p.m. at Caledonia Park. The following week the playoffs start, with the Okanagan Sun visiting Caledonia Park in semifinal action … Mueller was named the BCFC's Special Teams Player of the Week and linebacker Dylan Chapdelaine is Defensive Player of the Week.

sports@nanaimobulletin.com