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Fourth quarter fade costly to Valley Huskers

The BC Football Conference team was with the Westshore Rebels for three quarters before letting the game slip away.
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Valley Husker Keenan Godden evades a Westshore defender during Saturday afternoon BC Football Conference action at Exhibition Stadium.

The Valley Huskers did what no one has been able to do this year, holding superstar Westshore Rebels running back Jamel Lyles under 100 yards rushing.

But Trey Campbell picked up the slack, rumbling for 173 yards on just eight carries as his Rebels toppled the Huskers 47-23.

The teams met Saturday afternoon at Exhibition Stadium and the Huskers continued to show signs of improvement.

The score was 26-23 favouring the Rebels through three quarters.

Westshore put three touchdowns on the board in the fourth quarter to account for the lopsided final.

The Husker passing game was impressive for the third straight week — moreso because Chilliwack had zero ground game.

Husker runners Ryan Beaubien and Gary Lumeka combined for 10 yards on nine carries, leaving quarterback Noah Falconer and his receivers to carry the load.

Falconer threw 43 passes, completing 22 for 309 yards and three TDs.

All the scores went to veteran Blake Draper, who led the Huskers with eight grabs for 124 yards.

Mike West caught seven for 97 and Keenan Godden had six for 76.

Falconer saw a three game run of no interceptions end when Victoria’s Brandon Ihanza picked him off.

Liam Zurfluh handled the place-kicking duties for the Huskers, booting two converts and a 23 yard field goal.

The Husker D had its hands full trying to halt the Rebel ground game.

Lyles ripped off a 40 yard run and found the endzone once, but otherwise the BC Football Conference rushing leader had his quietest game of the season.

Campbell counted a 55 yard scamper among his 173 yards and found the endzone twice.

Rebel quarterbacks Ashton MacKinnon and Scott Borden combined to complete 14 of 26 passes for 212 yards and two TDs.

Kain Melchior and Nathaniel Pinto hauled in the scoring strikes, both from MacKinnon.

Chilliwack produced four turnovers, with Travis Dietrich, James Sturgeon, Mike West and Josh Wice recovering fumbles.

Sturgeon and Landon Rayburn each had quarterback sacks and Rayburn added a blocked kick.

Sturgeon and Mason Paleck led the D with five solo tackles apiece.

The Huskers come out of the game with their winless record intact.

Now 0-5 halfway through the campaign, they travel to Victoria this weekend for a rematch with the Rebels. Their next home game is Sept. 10 against the Kamloops Broncos.



Eric Welsh

About the Author: Eric Welsh

I joined the Chilliwack Progress in 2007, originally hired as a sports reporter.
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