In a sea of purple at Westshills Stadium is an oasis of red.

The proper football-size 64-locker Westshore Rebels dressing room, located beneath the newly-risen end-zone grandstand, is swanky and red and an inside feature of the new stadium design. There are big-screen TVs and a large “W” is woven into the carpeting on the floor.

article continues below

(The stadium’s otherwise overwhelmingly purple theme is in support of Pacific FC, which operates on a professional level in soccer, while the Rebels are a junior team in football).

“We love the stadium. It’s magnificent,” said Rebels president Rob Lervold.

“We’ll just pretend the seats are red [and not purple],” he quipped.

The Rebels break in the new-look Westhills with their inaugural home game of the 2019 B.C. Football Conference season tonight at 7. Such an occasion could only have one opponent for the Rebels — the arch-rival Vancouver Island Raiders from Nanaimo.

“This is a highly-contested rivalry,” said Rebels head coach Shane Beatty.

Beatty said it with a deadpan delivery, knowing he was being purposely understated.

The feelings in this Island derby run deep.

The player who probably knows that best is standout Rebels receiver Brycen Mayoh, who joined Westshore following two seasons with the Raiders. Interspersed was last season in U Sports and Canada West with the University of Calgary Dinos.

“It’ll be nostalgic, but I’m happy I’m here now,” said Mayoh.

Especially in the new digs.

“It’s a new-look stadium from when I remember it coming down with the Raiders, and it looks fantastic,” said Mayoh.

“I remember the atmosphere was always crazy here, even when there was only the original grandstand.”

Mayoh said he will be happy to have that support in red tonight and against his former Raiders in black.

“I still know a few guys on the Raiders, but there are no friends on the field,” he said.

Chief among the frenemies is Raiders quarterback Jake Laberge, who used to throw bombs that Mayoh would run under in Nanaimo. Both came across to the Island from the Terry Fox Secondary Ravens in Port Coquitlam.

“I have the mentality, when I’m going for the ball, that I’m getting mine [receptions] before you’re getting yours [interceptions or ball knockdowns],” said Mayoh.

Mayoh had 44 catches for 805 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2017 for the Raiders in being named the Canadian junior football offensive player of the year. Whether in Rebels red or Raiders black, Mayoh has the talent to legitimately dream about the pros.

“My goal is to be drafted by the CFL,” he said.

Westshore quarterback Colby Henkel found Mayoh deep in the end zone for a converted touchdown with 2:20 remaining as the Rebels rallied for a 21-20 victory in their season opening game last weekend in Chilliwack against the Valley Huskers.

Zach Lubin ran in for two touchdowns in the opener.

“We have good running backs, and that gives us balanced execution on offence,” said Mayoh.

On defence, the Rebels get after the ball.

“We’re fast on defence and our eight sacks and five turnovers last week against the Huskers showed it,” said Westshore bench boss Beatty.

The Raiders opened the season last week in Langley with a 42-30 loss to the defending BCFC-champion Rams.

The Raiders showed they can score, despite the opening setback, as Laberge hit Mike West for two touchdown strikes and Jared Braun for another.

cdheensaw@timescolonist.com