Sun rally late, dump Rebels 46 - 23

Any time the Okanagan Sun and Westshore Rebels do battle, wild momentum swings and improbable comebacks are usually the order of the day.

So, why would Saturday afternoon at Starlight Stadium be any different? And, why would the final score, 46-23 favouring the visitors, tell only a fraction of the story?

Because, it’s the Sun and the Rebels.

This one appeared to be over at the half with the Sun leading 26-7 after rattling off 19 unanswered points.

The Rebels looked to have all the momentum early in the fourth, putting 16 straight on the board, cutting the deficit to three.

Unable to move the ball and giving up two long touchdown drives, all the momentum the Sun had built was gone.

Until it wasn’t.

Leading 26-23 after giving up a touchdown 2:30 into the fourth quarter, the Sun needed someone to step up.

Vincente Farreira answered the call.

As quickly as the Rebels had cut the deficit to three, Ferreira swung the pendulum back in the Sun’s favour, taking the ensuing kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown, restoring the 10 point lead.

The Rebels never threatened again.

Liam Kroeger, returning to the field after missing the last two games with a leg injury, started slow.

His only competition of the first quarter was a 51-yard touchdown strike to Davontae Mozee, who also returned from injury.

He rolled in the second and the four quarters, running for an 18-yard touchdown and hitting Noah Borhot on a six-yard strike and Tyler Craver in stride for a 69-yard strike that put the game away late in the fourth.

Grady Hay booted three field goals and converted all five Sun touchdowns.

On the other side of the ball, Rebels first year quarterback Anthony Cancellare kept the defence off balance at times with his arm and his legs, evading the Sun rush on numerous occasions for big gains.

Carson Graham scored on an 11 yard run to even the score in the first quarter, then led the Rebels on long touchdown drives, hitting Jeremiah Beckwith from one year out and handing off to Graham for another one-yard plunge.

But, he also threw three interceptions, one killing a drive deep in Sun territory in the final moments of the first half.

The Sun again were the authors of their own destruction on numerous occasions, taking needless penalty after penalty to either keep Rebels drives going or helping to stall one of their own.

Despite all the penalties, the Sun improved to 4-1 while handing the Rebels a crucial second loss.

They join the VI Raiders at 3-2 after the Raiders fell 31-12 at home to the unbeaten Langley Rams.

The Sun will host the Raiders next Saturday at the Apple Bowl, as they try to keep pack with the Rams.