SUN PULL OFF ANOTHER COMEBACK WIN OVER WESTSHORE

Story Courtesy Eric Stansfield

This was a game for the ages…one that will be discussed, dissected and deliberated over for a very long time!

Going in…it had all the ingredients for a classic battle, both teams undefeated, league stat leaders on each team, and a mutual dislike for one another.

Before we move forward, lets step back a year to August 10th, 2024…with just over 11 minutes remaining in the game, the visiting Okanagan Sun were down 14 points to the Westshore Rebels…then the clouds parted, the sun shone brightly, and the Sun engineered a spectacular comeback for a 33-30 victory to remain undefeated at 4 and 0.

Back to present day…Hollywood couldn’t have scripted last night’s game any better. Trailing by 13 points with 11:00 minutes left, the Sun pulled another gritty comeback from their bag of tricks and when the final whistle blew and the dust had settled it was a thrilling edge of your seat 43-39 victory.

It was just after Rebels QB Gavin Session found his favorite target WR Zion Brown for his 4th touchdown of the game that Sun QB Liam Kroeger went to work.

First up it was Kroeger connecting with RB Gerren Hardisty on a 55-yard catch and run down to the Rebels 15 yd line.  Next play, Kroeger hit R Jasiah Haliburton in the end zone…39-33 Rebels with just under 10 minutes to play.

The turning point of the game came on a Rebels third and one at their own 29-yard line, looking like they were going to punt, they direct snapped to a running back who bobbled the ball and was buried for a loss and turnover on downs.  It was Sun ball at the Westshore 27.

Kroeger once again chipped his way toward the end zone, with some penalty assistance, and with the ball at the 2, called his own number for the touchdown…Sun ahead 40-39 with 6:24 left.

The Sun defense stood tall in the closing minutes chasing Rebels quarterback Session from the pocket for three straight sacks.

K Liam Attwood kicked a 29-yard field goal with 2:14 remaining to seal the win…43-39 Sun.

Like games vs VI Raiders and PG Kodiaks, the Sun dug themselves some deep holes with undisciplined penalties, which allowed the Rebels to put up 10 points in the first quarter.  Sun finished the game with 17 flags for 194 yards.

Back-up QB Marcus Christos added two more rushing touchdowns giving him a league leading five on the season.  Kroeger, with his best performance of the young season, went 20 of 29 for 309 yards and 2 TDs. Kroeger leads the league in Total Passed Yards with 901.

Speaking of league leaders, Gerren Hardisty continues to pile up the yards.  With 149 yards on 26 carries, he now has a league leading 549 rushing yds with a 137.3-yard rush average.  Hardisty added 64 yds on 2 receptions for a game offensive total of 213 yds.

The Sun net offensive totals were an impressive 478 yards to the Rebels 303 yards.

On the defensive side of the ball, D-linemates DL JaQuintis Summers and DL Jarveon Williams were stirring it up once again.  Summers finished with 2 sacks for a league leading total of 8, while Williams chipped in with 2 pass knockdowns and 1 sack.  DB Tariq Brown hauled in two interceptions for a league leading total of 4.

This is a bye week for the 4 and 0 Sun, returning to play on Saturday August 23rd when they face the Valley Huskers in Chilliwack.  Okanagan returns home to the friendly confines of the Apple Bowl on Saturday August 30th to welcome the Kamloops Broncos.