Okanagan Sun host Kamloops Saturday at the Apple Bowl

Story Courtesy Wayne Moore Castanet

Two teams at the opposite ends of the spectrum face off Saturday night at the Apple Bowl.

The Okanagan Sun, 5-0 and leading the BC Football Conference standings midway through the regular season, play host to the Kamloops Broncos, 0-5 and at the bottom of the standings.

You need look no further than the stats sheet to see the difference between the two teams.

Over five games, the Sun have scored 165 more points, have the league’s leader in rushing and the number two quarterback and have allowed 110 fewer points, led by a ferocious front seven and a deep defensive line.

But, with a road trip to Prince George to face the vastly improved Kodiaks and a home date with the rival Westshore Rebels on the horizon, could lack of motivation be a factor?

“I don’t think our guys need a lot of external motivation…a lot of them are intrinsically motivated,” said head coach Travis Miller.

“They are very easily motivated. They know what this is about and what we’re expecting.

“They are just working their butts off to make sure they’re ready to go for the weekend.”

Offensively the Sun have had success both running and throwing the ball, but it’s no secret running back Gerren Hardisty is the key to unlocking the offence.

“I think Gerren is as important to us as (Elelyon) Noah was last year.

“He isn’t the same player but he has some other things and attributes that Noah didn’t. Noah isn’t a game breaking, run away from guys on the outside where Gerren can do that.

“It’s a different dynamic, going from being an inside team to an outside zone and a stretch team.”

It will be the first of two tests for the Broncos this season against the top-ranked Sun.

“Kelowna is always strong, and especially tough to beat not heir home field,” said Broncos head coach Braden Vankoughnett.

“Our focus this week is to limit the points the Sun put on the board and to capitalize on our own opportunities to score. It’s going to be a battle, but our guys are ready to compete.”

Vankoughnett said the broncos are continuing to find their momentum on offence and are showing steady improvement each week, whole the defence has been holding strong.

The Sun will be missing some key players when they take the field Saturday.

Linebacker Grayson Statham will miss his second game as he rests up some bumps and bruises while receiver Sam Melanson will also get some rest.

Defensive end JaQuintis Summers, who sat out last week’s game in Chilliwack, returns to the lineup Saturday.

Despite missing last week’s game, Summers still leads the BCFC in sacks with eight.

Kickoff Saturday is 7 p.m. at the Apple Bowl.