BCFC  

Okanagan Sun score 38 points on turnovers in lopsided win in Kamloops

Sun manhandle Broncos

Photo: Contributed

The Kamloops Broncos took the opening kickoff, marched down the field and put seven on the board against the Okanagan Sun Saturday.

Unfortunately for the winless Broncos, it was the lone bright spot in an otherwise miserable evening.

The Sun scored the next 66 points in a 66-7 shellacking of the Broncos in the home opener. The Broncos have played the first half of the season away from home while Hillside Stadium underwent renovations.

Saturday was not a happy homecoming.

The Sun took advantage of several miscues, turning interceptions, blocked punts and turnovers on downs into 38 points.

After Colton Meikle put the Broncos on the board with a 10-yard touchdown reception, the Sun took over.

Following a conceded safety, starting quarterback Adam Rocha quickly marched the team 75-yards downfield capped off by an eight-yard Aidan Wiberg run.

The Sun got the ball back off a Michael Jourdan interception, leading to an 11-yard sprint into the end zone by Rocha.

A turnover on downs led to A 26-yard Rocha strike to Sam Melanson putting the visitors up 24-7.

Back-to-back safeties and a 10-yard Liam Attwood field goal put the Sun up 31-7 at the half.

Rocha and the offence continued to churn following the break.

Rocha and Melanson hooked up from eight yards out on the opening drive of the third quarter before Tristan Peddle got into the act scoring a pair of six-yard touchdowns before the quarter was over.

Fourth string quarterback Hunter Norman came in for the fourth quarter, hooking up with Ethan Marshall on a nine-yard touchdown before Kyle Dennis hit paydirt from four yards out.

The win improved the Sun to 5-1 entering their final bye week of the season.

Following the bye the Sun will travel to Prince George Sept. 30 before hosting the same Kodiaks back at the Apple Bowl Oct. 7.

Okanagan Sun lose starting quarterback in lopsided win over VI Raiders

Sun rebound in a laugher

Photo: Marissa Baecker - Shoot The Breeze

Liam Kroeger

The Okanagan Sun scored early, and often in a 68-22 dismantling of the winless VI Raiders Saturday night at the Apple Bowl.

But, the win could have come with a high price tag when starting quarterback Liam Kroeger was knocked out of the game late in the first quarter with what head coach Travis Miller called a strained shoulder.

"It was more precautionary. Just wanted to pull him to make sure nothing more happens to him," said Miller.

"We'll see what happens tomorrow. It could be worse, it could be better."

Kroeger was seen after the game in a sling Miller said to keep the shoulder immobilized.

During his brief time in the game he did struggle to find his receivers, connecting on just two of six passes for 43 yards.

He did lead the team on two touchdown drives in the opening quarter, both by running back Aiden Wiberg.

Wiberg took the second snap of the game and broke free up the middle before outrunning the secondary for a 56-yard touchdown.

He capped a five-play, 60-yard drive following a partially blocked punt with a four yard scamper to put the Sun up 21-0.

Prior to that, Romareo Reid took an interception 14-yards to the house as the Sun dominated the Raiders on the defensive side of the ball during the opening 15 minutes.

The Raiders did show some life in the second quarter. Quarterback Ben Chomolok connected with speedy receiver Paul Romanoff for 46-yards for the first of their three touchdown connections.

The Sun got that one right back when Ethan Marshall took the ensuing kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown.

On the Raiders next possession, aided by 45 yards in penalties, the Chomolok and Romanoff hooked up again from five-yards out.

A needless penalty on a fourth quarter drive also helped set up the Raiders final touchdown of the night.

"We will run. If that continues it will be one of the downfalls of our program," said Miller of the penalty parade.

"It's something are going are going to deal with...we have to deal with it because you saw it on two drives. It just negates everything positive that we are doing when we continue to take needless penalties."

Rocha, in for the injured Kroeger engineered four touchdown drives of his own. Late in the second quarter he snuck in from a yard out before hitting Kenny Williams from 15-yards out to put the Sun at 45-14 at the half.

Wiberg from a yard out and Tristan Peddle with a 62 yard scamper both scored in the third as the Sun grabbed an insurmountable 59-14 lead.

Things almost erupted late in the game with fourth string quarterback Hunter Norman tossed a 25-yard touchdown pass to Josh Guenther with just six seconds left on the clock.

The Raiders bench took exception to a passing play so late in a lopsided game, but Miller saw it as backups getting a chance to play.

"Our fourth string quarterback and one of our third string receivers get an opportunity to throw the ball. I mean, we threw short and the guy caught it.

"Just playing the game."

Wiberg ran for 128 yards after amassing more than 100 in the first quarter alone. Unofficially, the team ran for 276 yards in the contest while throwing for 221 yards.

The win puts the Sun back in the win column after that embarrassing 52-23 loss in Victoria two weeks ago.

At 4-1, they sit alone in second in the BCFC, behind the 6-0 Westshore Rebels.

The Sun hit the road next Saturday to take on the 0-5 Kamloops Broncos.

Okanagan Sun host Raiders in annual 'Burn Fund' charity game

Sun Look to bounce back

Photo: Marissa Baecker - Shoot The Breeze

It will be a busy night at the Apple Bowl Saturday when the Okanagan Sun return to the field after a break over the Labour Day long weekend.

Along with a key home date with the visiting VI Raiders, the game will also serve as the second annual Burn Fund charity classic.

The game will give fans a chance to honour the brave men and women from fire departments across the Central Okanagan who have battled wildfires throughout the region the past three weeks, while at the same time contributing to firefighter supported charities.

Festivities include a tailgate party in the East parking lot starting at 5 p.m. as well as halftime entertainment by country singer Dawson Grey.

Firefighters will also be selling specially designed t-shirts and taking donations to support the BC Burn Fund and Central Okanagan Fire Relief Fund.

The fire relief fund which is supporting those people and organizations affected by the McDougall Creek wildfire, has already distributed $48,000 to community organizations helping those in need.

Meantime, on the field, the Sun will look to rebound following a sloppy 52-23 defeat at the hands of the unbeaten Westshore Rebels two weeks ago.

Numerous mistakes, specifically over the final five minutes of the second quarter, put the Sun in a hole they couldn't escape.

Working on cleaning those up was likely a focus during this week's practice.

The Sun come into the game third in the BCFC with a record of 3-1. The Rebels continue to lead at a perfect 5-0 while the Valley Huskers sit at 4-1.

The Huskers travel to Victoria this weekend.

The Raiders meantime are looking for their first win of the season after dropping their first five.

The franchise has fallen on hard times of late after winning just once in 10 tries last season.

Kickoff Saturday night is at 7 p.m.

West Kelowna Warriors send veteran defenceman to Prince George

Warriors deal defenceman

Photo: Tami Quan

The West Kelowna Warriors have completed a deal with the Prince George Spruce Kings.

The Warriors Thursday sent 18-year-old defenceman Noah Laframboise to the Spruce Kings in exchange for future considerations.

Laframboise suited up for 47 games during his lone season with the Warriors scoring once and adding seven assists.

The move comes as the Warriors get set to open up their exhibition schedule.

The Warriors head to Merritt for a pair of games Friday and Saturday before wrapping up the pre season schedule with back-to-back games against the Vernon Vipers next weekend.

They open up the regular season at home against the reigning league champion Penticton Vees Friday, Sept. 22.

Single game tickets go on sale next Tuesday.

Westshore Rebels run all over the Okanagan Sun, 52-23 Saturday

Mistakes Sun undoing

Photo: BCFC TV

Te Jessie flies through the air for a Rebels touchdown Saturday.

The game was billed as a clash of the titans - the top two teams in the BC Football Conference in an all out war.

It was anything but.

The Westshore Rebels put themselves in the driver's seat to host a potential BC title game during a 52-23 dismantling of the visiting Okanagan Sun Saturday afternoon.

It was a game that was probably closer than the score indicated, but too many mistakes and missed opportunities by the Sun gave the Rebels and their high-powered offence too many chances deep inside Sun territory.

Quarterback Te Jessie took full advantage, tossing five touchdown passes and flying through the air for a sixth on the ground in leading the Rebels to the lopsided victory.

The loss also snapped the Sun's 18-game regular season winning streak and, since Saturday's showdown was the only regular season meeting between the two teams in a oddly designed schedule, the Rebels would have to lose twice for the Sun to have any chance of repeating as regular season champions.

The Sun actually led 7-3 after answering an early Rebels field goal with a long drive of their own on their first possession, capped off by Liam Kroeger's one-yard plunge after a defensive penalty placed the ball on the one.

Jessie Hit Cairo Berry for the first of his two touchdowns on the afternoon on Westshore's next possession to retake the lead.

Then the mistakes began.

Liam Attwood's 32-yard field goal attempt knuckled under the bar after it appeared to be partially tipped, then on their next possession, Aiden Wiberg was stuffed on a third and goal from the one.

The Sun did earn a safety when Jessie was sacked in the end zone of the ensuing play to cut the deficit to one.

But late in the half, Jessie and Berry hooked up from seven yards out just two plays after Joey Reaume blocked a punt, putting the ball on the Sun 10.

A blocked punt on the Sun next possession again put the Rebels in excellent field at the Sun 13.

That drive stalled and this time it was the Sun who blocked an attempted field goal, but an ill-advised lateral on the return went directly into a Rebels defender, setting up a third touchdown toss from Jessie.

A conceded safely on the Sun final possession of the half put the Rebels up 26-9 at the half.

The Sun marched the opening kickoff of the second half to the Rebels 18, but a Wiberg fumble ended that drive and any chance of a Sun comeback.

The Rebels took a 42-9 lead into the final quarter before the Sun made the score respectable with touchdown runs from Wiberg (9 yards) and Connor Bjorgan (21 yards).

The loss drops the Sun into a second place tie with the Valley Huskers at 3-1.

They get the Labour Day long weekend off before hosting the VI Raiders Saturday, Sept. 9.