OKANAGAN SUN ADD ANOTHER BCFC TITLE WITH A HARD FOUGHT 37 – 24 BATTLE OVER WESTSHORE REBELS

Story Courtesy Eric Stansfield

It was billed as the showdown for first place, a battle between the two conference heavyweights, featuring the league’s top quarterbacks…the participants didn’t disappoint!

When all was said and done, the Sun, 8 and 0, eclipsed the visiting Rebels, 6 and 2, to the tune of 37 – 24 to nail down the club’s third BCFC regular season title in four years and more significantly, the all-important home-field advantage in the post-season.

To begin the game all eyes were focused on the two league leading quarterbacks, Sun’s Liam Kroeger and Rebels Gavin Session, yet it was Okanagan kicker Liam Attwood who stole the spotlight when he put this third field goal of the night thru the uprights.

With his 38-yard FG late in the fourth quarter, Attwood became the CJFL’s all-time leader with 74 field goals…a record that has stood since Brian Demug of the Calgary Colts booted 73 between 1985 and 1988.  Attwood kicked 3 FG’s and was 4 for 4 on converts.

The Sun got right to work from the opening kick-off, Kroeger marching the offense downfield capping off the drive with a 22-yard pass to R Seth Famakinde for an early 7 – 0 lead.

The Sun closed out the first quarter with a crowd pleasing and always highly entertaining pick-six…this one for 98 yards by DB Tariq Brown to make it 14 – 0 Sun.

Okanagan increased their lead in the second quarter to 21 – 0 after league leading rusher Gerren Hardisty scored his 8^th rushing touchdown of the year.  Hardisty had 20 carries for 109 yds, giving him 943 yds on the season with two games left to crack that magical “1000 yard” mark

Despite being down by three touchdowns, Session and the offense found some life mid-way thru the quarter with running back Carter Williams scoring from six yards out and Session calling his own number powering in from five yards to close the gap to 21 – 14 at halftime.

The Rebels added a field goal in the third quarter to close to within four points, but that’s as close as they would get.

Kroeger engineered a six-play drive at the end of the third quarter moving the ball down to the Rebels two-yard line where short yardage specialist and back-up QB Marcus Christos crossed the goal line for his 8^th rushing touchdown of the year.  31 – 17 Sun after three quarters.

Attwood closed out Sun scoring in the fourth with two field goals, including his record setting 74^th career three-pointer.

While team offenses and defenses seem to collect all the accolades, “Special Teams” can make or break games as well…especially the kick returners.

Take last nights performance from return specialist Jordayne Falconer…7 punt returns for 140 yards, 3 kick-off returns for 93 yards and then toss in 53 receiving yards, and you have a night of 286 all purpose yards.

Kroeger was 15 of 26 for 238 yards and 1 touchdown and a net offensive total of 419 yards.

Top receivers were Famakinde with 92 yds on 4 catches, 1 TD, Jasiah Haliburton, 4 for 63 yds.

Once again, the Sun defense played a vital role in the win.  The D-line duo of Jarveon Williams and JaQuintis Summers had their eyes set on Session all night, picking up two sacks each.  D-linemate Mitchell Hickingbottom added a sack for a team total of five. Summers continues to lead the league in the sack department with 12, Williams has 10.

Not to be outshone by the defensive line, the Sun DB’s were stepping up with three interceptions on the night from Vincente Ferreira, Ahmed Borhot and the spectacular 98 yd pick-six from Brown.

The Sun have two regular season games remaining with Saturday, September 20^th the final home game when they host the visiting Langley Rams.

Game time is 4:00 PM which is the club’s annual Burn Fund game, raising funds for both Kelowna and West Kelowna Fire Departments. This year marks the 4^th annual event which has been renamed the “Terry Britton Memorial Burn Fund Classic” in honour of the former KFD and Okanagan Sun Football Club member.

The Sun will also be celebrating the 25^th anniversary of the 2000 CJFL Champions with a whole weekend of planned festivities.