Photo courtesy of Greystoke Photography

Sunday afternoon the Sun punched their ticket to the BCFC Cullen Cup championship game for the first time since 2010 after beating the Vancouver Island Raiders 47-16.

The Sun used a 20 point first quarter on route to their first playoff win over the Raiders in franchise history, previously 0-6.

Thomas Huber put the Sun on the board first just over two minutes into the game.  Quarterback Cam Bedore kept a play alive, scrambling away from trouble, before throwing a 51 yard touchdown strike to Huber.

Three minutes last Brennan Van Nistelrooy recovered a Raiders fumble on their three yard line.  The very next play, Alex Bradley punched it in for his first of two touchdowns on the afternoon.

Two plays after the Raiders missed a field goal, Bedore connected with Lerone Robinson on a 74 yard touchdown pass to give the home side a 20-1 lead after the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Sun continue to dominate on defense not allowing the BCFC’s All-Star quarterback Liam O’Brien time to find a receiver down the field.  He finished with 18 completions for 253 yards, threw a late touchdown and intercepted by Robbie Yochim.

Huber connected on a 20 yard field goal halfway through the quarter, before Bradley sprinted 69 yards for his second major of the game.

Just prior to halftime the Raiders scored a touchdown as running back Nathan Berg drove in from a yard out.

The Sun led at the half 30-8.

The second half wasn’t as exciting as both defenses took over.  However Dillon Fortune scored the lone points of the third quarter on a determined 61 yard touchdown run, breaking a number of tackles.

In the fourth quarter KSS grad Elias Rodriguez jumped on a fumbled punt in the Raiders end zone for his first career touchdown, putting the exclamation point on the scoring.

Huber kicked  a 22 yard field goal in the late stages of the game.

The Raiders did score late touchdown as O’Brien hit the BCFC’s top receiver Marshall Cook from 47 yards out, but it was too little too late.
The Sun defense sacked O’Brien seven times, led by the three of Zac

Ironstand.  They held the Raiders to 97 yards on the ground.

Averaging 260 yards on the ground during the three regular season meetings with the Raiders, the Sun collected 233 yards, led by Bradley’s eight carries and 79 yards.

Through the air, Bedore was 12 of 18 for 226 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

The win means the Sun will host the BCFC’s title game, the Cullen Cup on Sunday October 26th at 1:00pm.  They will host the Langley Rams who squeaked by the Kamloops Broncos 48-46 on Saturday night, allowing 693 yards of total offense, including 543 yards through the air.

It’s the first time the Sun will host the title game since 2010.

Tickets are available HERE