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BCFC  

Sun try to control emotion

The Okanagan Sun have, at times, let emotions get the best of them early in this BC Football League season.

You need look no further than the number of penalties assessed during the first two weeks of the season. The team has been flagged 47 times for 489 yards. Thirty of those penalties came last week in Kamloops.

"It is a concern, mainly for the reason that some of the stuff we can control. And, for the ones we can control we have to do a better job of being disciplined," said Sun head coach Ben Macauley.

"That's been a focus in practice this week, discipline. Guys are really fired up to play, and they need to be able to control that chaos a little bit."

There won't be a lack of emotion on or off the field Saturday when the Sun host the Westshore Rebels, a team, like the Sun, with a perfect 2-0 record.

It's not only an early showdown of the top two teams in the league, but marks the return of former Sun head coach Shane Beatty, now the assistant head coach in Victoria.

Beatty and team parted ways in less than amicable fashion after last season, bringing what should be some heightened emotion to a game that won't be lacking in that department.

Macauley said those who played under Beatty last year are BCFC champions, should play accordingly and hold themselves to a higher standard.

He wants players to focus on the task at hand.

As for the game itself, Macauley said a decision hadn't been made Friday afternoon as to who would get the start at quarterback.

Both Keith Zyla and Foster were able to move the team and generate points in a half of football last week against Kamloops.

He said he's seeing signs of steady improvement from his offensive group, as indicated by more than 200 yards gained on the ground last week.

Defensively, the Sun have given up more points than usual, but continue to have success stuffing the run.

They'll need to do that Saturday against a Rebels offence that features Jamal Lyles, the leading rusher in the BCFC.

Lyles has rushed for 338 yards over two games, including a career high 270 a week ago against the VI Raiders.

Kickoff Saturday night is 7 p.m.



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