Sports

The Okanagan Sun rode a 27-point third quarter to a convincing 42-18 victory over the visiting Kamloops Broncos Saurday afternoon at the Apple Bowl.

Photo: Wayne Moore - Castanet

Alex Bradley breaks free on one of his long third quarter runs during the Sun 42-18 win Saturday

The win, the first in five weeks for the Sun, snapped a franchise worst four game losing streak. It was also the clubs first win at the Apple Bowl in four tries this season.

Clinging to a 15-5 lead at the break, the Sun made several adjustments at halftime and jumped on the Broncos scoring three touchdowns in the first five-and -a-half minutes.

Sun head coach Gavin Lake said after the game he told the players to play fast, play loose and don't beat yourself.

"Come on guys, we're in a ball game. We know what they do in the second half. If we just do our thing, tighten up our ship, we'll be fine," said Lake of his halftime instructions.

Running back Alex Bradley got the ball rolling with a 15 yard scamper off the right side following a Bryan Ralph interception, one of four interceptions on the afternoon.

Three minutes later linebacker Sheldon McDonald picked off Steve Schuweiler and scampered 63 yards for another major.

The Broncos fumbled the ensuing kickoff and one play later Cam Bedore hit Ben White for a 35-yard touchdown strike to give the Sun a comfortable 35-5 lead.

Bradley rambled in from 30-yards out after Brandon Donkers had gained 37 yards on a fake punt late in the quarter to close out the Sun scoring.

After gaining just 14 yards on the ground in the first half Bradley turned his game up a notch picking up 75 yards on just five carries in the third quarter alone.

"They (Kamloops) were hitting gaps and going low and you can't block a guy who is already on the ground," says Lake.

"They were keying on some things and we made some adjustments. We got outside and Bradley made some great plays outside the box."

Robert Giorno (3 yards) and linebacker Adam Hohmann (1 yard) both ran in touchdowns in the first quarter.

The Broncos got a field goal in the second quarter and two late majors in the fourth when the game was already out of reach. The Sun also conceded a safety in the first quarter.

Bedore finished the game 11-21 for 244 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. The second pick came late in the first half with the Sun driving deep in Bronco territory.

White hauled in three of those passes for 84 yards and the one touchdown.

He says it was important for the Sun to jump out to an early lead in the game.

"It was good to get ahead from the start and have that confidence that we can put it in the end zone," says White.

"Once we got rolling we could see the confidence in everyone. We just need to do that every game."

The Sun defence forced seven Broncos turnovers including a key third-and-a-foot gamble late in the second quarter.

"Our defence is coming up big every game," added White.

"As an offence we need to capitalize and not put the defence in a position where they always have to come up big.. We really have to thank the defence for coming up big in every game."

Unofficially, the Sun held the Broncos to just 98 yards on the ground and 178 yards through the air.

The Sun (2-5) now sit in sole possession of the fourth and final playoff spot in the BC Football Conference.

They will look for their first two game winning streak of the season next weekend in Nanaimo.

The Raiders sit atop the BCFC with a 6-0-1 record after a 41-29 victory Saturday over the previously unbeaten Langley Rams.