Sun secure home field

The Okanagan Sun offence, the same group which managed just one touchdown the last two games, showed up when they needed it most Sunday.

Losers of three in a row, and needing a win to repair a shaky psyche and secure home field in the BCFC semi-final, the offence amassed 512 yards in offence and scored six times in a convincing 44-24 win over the Langley Rams.

The Sun will host the Rams in two weeks in one league semi-final.

Along with the offensive outburst, the Sun also managed to secure five plays of 40 yards or more, three of them going for touchdowns.

"We've got play-makers, and it's about time we started turning first downs into touchdowns," said Sun coach Ben Macauley.

"That's something we've been missing most of the season. When guys like Rashaun (Simonise) and Shamar (Donelson) get going and they get an opportunity, they're going to turn those plays into big plays."

Simonise, who joined the club three weeks ago from the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals, led the receiving core with five catches for 133 yards and an eye-popping 58 yard touchdown.

"It was probably the most complete game we've had with him.

"He's still learning how things go here and learning the system. We're figuring out the best way to use him."

The Sun led 9-0 after the opening quarter and built that to 16-3 at the half.

The Sun blew open a close game at halftime into a near rout in the second half.

Liam Wishart caught his second touchdown of the game, a 49-yard strike from Foster Martens in the third quarter before Keith Zyla came off the bench to find linebacker Layne Hull with an 8-yard strike seconds in to the fourth quarter to put the Sun up 30-3.

"It feels good honestly," said Hill of the touchdown in his final home regular season game.

"I used to play slot in high school, so it feels good to touch the ball again once in a while."

Kelton Kouri on a 15-yard run and Donelson on a 41-yard strike from Zyla also found the end zone for the Sun.

The win snaps a three game losing streak and allows the Sun to finish the regular season 7-3.

"It was huge to get that monkey off our back. I think we had lost our mojo a little bit there," said Macauley.

"There were some emotional letdowns the last few weeks, so it was good to be on the other side of that."

The league will take the Thanksgiving weekend off before getting the playoffs underway.

The Sun will host the Rams in one semi Sunday, Oct. 16 at 1 p.m.