Sun ready to open new season

The Okanagan Sun kick off a brand new BC Football Conference season Saturday in Chilliwack.

The Sun, coming off an 8-2 regular season record will look to get the season started on the right foot against a Chilliwack team which has never beaten the Sun on the field in 27 meetings.

Photo: Wayne Moore - Castanet File Photo

Alex Bradley ran roughshod over the Chilliwack Huskers with four touchdowns in a 61-0 at the Apple Bowl last season.

The Huskers were awarded a 1-0 forfeit in the opening game last year when the Sun were deemed to have used an ineligible player. The Sun won that game handily on the field 66-10.

It was a decision that cost the Sun first place and a chance to host the BCFC semi-final...a game they would lose 24-13 in Nanaimo.

"We're way ahead (of last year)," second year coach Shane Beatty says on his weekly coaches show.

"Way ahead on special teams, way ahead on defence and I would say with the offensive line and the blocking schemes we're way ahead in that respect as well."

Beatty expects a dominating special teams squad to be even better this year.

"We've changed a couple of returns and obviously we are going to go after the kicks every time as well," says Beatty.

"Our goal is to block 20 kicks. We got 15 or 16 last year. We set a record last year and that's our goal again this year, to set another record."

Defensively, the Sun also established a record to close out the 2013 regular season, pitching three straight shutouts to close out the campaign, outscoring opponents 142-0 in the process.

On offence, Cam Bedore comes into his third season with the Sun as the starting quarterback.

Bedore was the starter during the disastrous 2012 season before giving way to Theo Deezar last year.

In limited action last season Bedore threw for 294 yards and four touchdowns. He ran for for another 108 yards and a touchdown.

Last season, the Sun were able to feast on the bottom feeders in the BCFC going a combined 7-1 (including forfeit) against the lowly three of Chilliwack, Kamloops and Victoria.

They were 2-1 against the VI Raiders and Langley.

In the unbalanced world of the BCFC, the Sun will face Langley and the Raiders six times and the other three four times.

Beatty says the team will have to step up this season and improve the mental side of the game.

"Consistency, less mental errors. We're going to be physical, we're going to be fast," says Beatty.

"We just have to cut down on the mental errors and play our game, our style. Dictate to them, don't let them dictate to us."

As for the season opener, Beatty says if the team does their thing and reacts to what Chilliwack gives them, they'll be fine.

"Let us take it to them on defence and let the offence adapt, slowly come around and take some shots when we can."

The Sun will play in Langley the following week before opening up the home portion of the schedule Aug 9 against the defending BC champion Raiders.